Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - The Spanish Tennis Federation announced
Monday that the Davis Cup semifinal between the United States and host Spain
will be staged on an outdoor clay court at Parque Hermanos Castro in Gijon.
The best-of-five tie will be held September 14-16.
The U.S. and reigning champion Spaniards have met 10 times in Davis Cup play,
with the series tied at 5-5. Spain defeated the Americans in a quarterfinal
last year in Austin, Texas and in a 2008 semifinal on red clay in Madrid.
Team USA last beat the Spaniards in a 2007 quarterfinal on an indoor hardcourt
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina en route to capturing its record 32nd Davis
Cup championship.
The Americans are undefeated in three road ties under captain Jim Courier --
all of which have been played on clay -- including wins over Switzerland and
France this year.
Powerful Spain has won five of the last 12 Davis Cup titles.
The Spain-USA winner will face the Argentina-Czech Republic victor in the
World Group final in November. The Argentines lost to the Spaniards in last
year's finale in Seville.
The Sports Network