At least, that’s what Google Translation is calling what, I assume to be, tickets from this post on Facebook:

The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation has begun the process of selling season tickets for the final of the World Group Davis Cup final to face Spain and the Czech Republic at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona on 4 to 6 December.

Until November 9, the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation is now selling, with a 10% discount, and through its Regional Federations, a total of 4825 season tickets for the three days of the final. On the 9th also ended the period Sponsors International Tennis Federation and Tennis Federation of the Czech Republic have to withdraw its quota of fertilizers set by the rules of the competition and for the final adjustment of the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona requirements in the areas of media, protocol and services.

From 11 November, the RFET will release fertilizers to the general public. These fertilizers will be sold from November 11 through the normal channels of the RFET in Davis Cup playoffs: www.ticketmaster.es, Carrefour and FNAC stores and collaborators points.

Prices for fertilizers of the three days are:
First class background: 340 euros
First class side: 300 euros
Second category depth: 270 euros
Second lateral category: 220 euros
Bottom third category: 160 euros
Lateral third category: 100 euros

Sentence I never thought I’d say: I want some fertilizers!

While people may mainly remember Rafa’s win against Roddick from the 2004 Davis Cup competition, that wasn’t his first DC tie. He played in every round that year – playing doubles in all but the finals. Here are some highlights from the semi finals against France that took place in Alicante, Spain. He and Tommy Robredo teamed up and took on Clement and Llodra and won 7-6(7-4) 4-6 6-2 2-6 6-3. Rafa appeared to be suffering from some nerves at first as he wasn’t getting a single return in. He settled though. Boy, did he settle.

Photo by DIEGO TUSON/ AFP/ Getty Images

Day One
Day one of the Spain vs Germany tie is done and it sounds like it was an exciting day. Per the Davis Cup site the Verdasco/Beck match was a rollercoaster and the score sure looks that way. Verdasco went out to an easy 1 set lead by serving Beck a bagel in just 21 minutes. Beck fought back, however, and took the next two sets. It was then Verdasco’s turn to take things up a gear and he came roaring back to decisively take the last two sets.

It was rough going for Robredo who was broken once in each set and lost in straights to Kohlschreiber. So, day one of the rubber ends with things tied up at 1 each.

Verdasco defeated Beck: 6-0 3-6 6-7(4-7) 6-2 6-1
Robredo lost to Kohlschreiber: 3-6 4-6 4-6

Day Two
Today was the often crucial doubles match and Nando and Feli came through in style – how else? In the bits I could see before my stream died, they were playing crisp doubles tennis. They’ve been a team for quite a while now and seem to suit each other well on court. They beat Kiefer/Zverev 6-3 7-6(7-1) 6-7(6-8) 6-3.

Day Three
I didn’t get to watch much today, but did see the end of the Verdacso/Kohlschreiber match. Oye. Nando fought back from a 2 sets to love deficit, but just couldn’t pull it out in the end. It was his third day of tennis in a row and it was showing. He lost 4-6 2-6 6-1 6-2 6-8. I had to leave right after that and missed the last match. Ferrero stepped in for Robredo and gave Spain the match they needed to clinch the tie – defeating Beck 6-4 6-4 6-4. He’s having a wonderful year and it’s great he was able to play such a pivotal part in this year’s DC.

Next up for Spain is Israel who spent the weekend demolishing team Russia.

As the Spanish Davis Cup squad takes on the German team today, let’s take a look back at an old DC match – the one that, for many people, put Rafa on the tennis map: his defeat of Roddick in the 2004 DC finals.

Match highlights posted by perowenooie.

That last video cut off the celebration and it’s not right to deprive the world of happy bouncing Spanish boys, so…

Photo by EFE

An article at Marca.com talking about Rafa not playing in the Spain/Germany tie in Marbella. (Google translation)

“Nadal has done everything in their power to play the round and we spent time talking to him until the last minute. He has made every effort and asked us to wait until the last minute to see if it recovers but ultimately was not the case, although I know that was totally committed to the Davis Cup, “espeto.

However, Escañuela recalls the quality of the other players from the ‘Armada’, comprising Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez, headed Albert Costa and Francisco Roig, with which the Spanish Federation also signed The next week the contract with a duration of two years, which would end a similar period in the absence of such a link between the two sides.

So Roig is coaching as well?

Posted by vamosrafelnadal.

(AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

According to this article, Rafa will not play in the upcoming Davis Cup tie Marbella.

It has been confirmed that the tendonitis in his knees will stop him appearing against Germany next month

Disappointment for Marbella with the confirmation that Rafa Nadal will not be part of the Spanish Davis Cup team when they meet Germany in the quarter finals of the competition in the Puerto Banús bullring between the 10th and 12th of July.

Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images Europe

RC sent in a “To Not Davis Cup” article:

His doctor, Ángel Ruiz Cotorro, is not very optimistic that Nadal will be recovered for the July dates. He stated that it would take two to three weeks before the tennis ace can contemplate returning to competitions. With the Davis Cup quarter finals just two weeks away time appears to be against Nadal.

Here is the Spanish translation provided by vamosrafelnadal who posted this video.

Renuncio a Queen’s, se ha perdido Wimbledon, pero todo llega, Rafa se plantea jugar los cuartos de final de la eliminatoria de Copa Davis contra Alemania de aqui a 2 semanas. Nadal sigue con el tratamiento, entrena todavia de manera suave y se pasa horas y horas en el gimnas y en la piscina haciendo ejercicios de recuperacion. Si todo va bien y las rodillas responden quiere estar en Marbella para jugar contra Alemania en 10 de Julio.

Which, according to Google, translates to:

Waive Queen’s, Wimbledon has been lost, but everything comes, Rafa is playing the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup tie against Germany here in 2 weeks. Nadal followed with treatment, trains still so soft and spends hours and hours in the Fitness Center and doing exercises in the pool for recovery. If all goes well and your knees want to be responsive in Marbella to play against Germany on July 10.

Thanks to Jimmy for sending in the video link.

Here’s a nice photo set from the recent Davis Cup tie.