Spain unworried by possibility of hostile Argentine crowd

Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario is not worried about the prospect of facing a hostile Argentine crowd in the Davis Cup final this weekend..

"We know the public here understand tennis, it's a sport which is well followed," Sanchez Vicario told reporters in the resort of Mar del Plata where the final will be played from Nov. 21-23.

"It's normal for them to support the home players and to want them to win. I hope it will all be within the sporting parameters in which tennis is played. We are more worried about the players."

Spanish player Feliciano Lopez also played down worries over a hot reception.

"We're used to playing away from home with the crowd against us," he said.

Argentina, unbeaten at home in 10 years, had mixed feelings about the absence of Spain's world number one Rafael Nadal, who has failed to recover from tendinitis in his right knee.

"Personally, I wanted him to be here because he's a friend and it's not nice to miss the Davis Cup final," said David Nalbandian, their most experienced player.

"It's a shame because to face the world number one in a Davis Cup final at home would have been really motivating."

Although Nadal's absence has made Argentina firm favourites, team captain Alberto Mancini was taking nothing for granted.

"It's still a strong team without Nadal, we can't relax, they have lots of experience," he said.

"It takes some spice out of the match but our motivation is still intact. I think all the rubbers are winnable."

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