Olympic Stadium to host Davis Cup Final
The ITF announced that the 2006 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas
Final between Russia and Argentina will take place at Moscow’s
Olympic Stadium, subject to a successful site visit by the
ITF Event Operations department.
This will be the third occasion that the Olympic Stadium
has staged the Davis Cup Final, following back-to-back finals
in 1994 and 1995. Russia suffered defeat in both of those
finals, before capturing its first Davis Cup title with a
3-2 victory over France in Paris in 2002. Argentina is seeking
its first Davis Cup title having lost to USA in its only previous
Final appearance in Cincinnati in 1981.
Russia and Argentina have faced each other on three previous
occasions in Davis Cup, with the Russians holding a 2-1 advantage.
They have met only once in Russia, with Marat Safin leading
the hosts to a 3-2 victory at the Sports Palace Luzhniki in
Moscow in 2002. The tie will be best remembered for its dramatic
doubles rubber, in which Lucas Arnold and David Nalbandian
defeated Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin 64 64 57 36 1917.
At 6 hours 22 minutes it remains the longest doubles rubber
in Davis Cup history.
Mike Morrissey (GBR) has been appointed referee for the final,
while the chair umpires will be Andreas Egli (SUI) and Pascal
Maria (FRA). Further information, including start times and
ticket information, will be announced in due course,
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