Moya: 'I told myself that I could not fail'

Spain wins Davis Cup as Moya knocks out Roddick
Roddick: 'I'll kick myself a little bit, but I have nothing to be ashamed of'

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Fred Mullane/Camerawork USA

Carlos Moya reaches his great goal: winning the Davis Cup for Spain.

FROM THE DAVIS CUP FINAL IN SEVILLE – When you are America's No. 1 player, you're expected to win matches in the Davis Cup final, regardless of the circumstances.

Andy Roddick failed to do this weekend in Seville and consequently, the US fell 3-2 to Spain. That's not because Roddick didn't leave his heart on the court, because he did. It's just that at age 22, he simply isn't a good enough clay court player to go mano a mano with the supremely talented Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya on la tierra batida, as they call orange mud in Spain.

That's why he lost to the 18-year-old Nadal on Friday and fell 6-2, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5) in the clinching match to Moya on Sunday. (Mardy Fish later won the dead rubber match over Tommy Robredo.)

Roddick can walk away proud that he gave it everything he had. But he's now at the head of his nation's team, one that has been lead by the like of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and John McEnroe. All those men got it done in Davis Cup finals. Andy has to find a way, too.

"I'll kick myself a little bit, but I have nothing to be ashamed of," Roddick said. "I gave it my all. I came out here. I prepared myself as best I could. I'm obviously upset with myself that I couldn't get a win. But I'm not going to walk out of here with my head down, that's for sure."

No one on the US team should, but they should look to Spain for inspiration. Spanish captain Jordi Arrese made a very gutsy call on Friday, subbing Nadal for Juan Carlos Ferrero and then watching the youngest player ever to play on a Davis Cup-winning squad steal the match from Roddick. Moya played the best tennis of his year this weekend, schooling Mardy Fish on Friday and then, against Roddick, looking like a strategic genius, mixing in nine drop shot winners with three lob winners. He matched him forehand for forehand and big shot for big shot. He held his nerve in the tiebreaks while Roddick lost his focus.

MOYA WILLED HIMSELF TO WIN
"I was mentally prepared for it," Moya said. "I told myself that I could not fail. I had told myself that if I didn't take this opportunity and win, I would not be a good player. So, there was a lot of pressure on my shoulders."

Moya zoned in the first set and Andy couldn't find his fifth gear. Roddick stood toe-to-toe with him in the next two sets but once he got into the tiebreaks, only his serve really came through. In the 20 points that were played in the breakers, Roddick hit one ace, one service winner and one forehand winner. He also committed three unforced errors to end the second-set breaker and five to end the match. That's simply not going to get it done against Moya, who had 27,200 deliriously enthusiastic fans behind him and found the level that brought him to the '98 Roland Garros crown.

"I felt like I had to go for my shots," Roddick said. "I'm not going to beat these guys just sliding around playing loopers and doing all types of that on this surface. I'm not that good on the surface yet. I went for my shots, and I just missed them. What you see is what you get."

In many ways, history dictated this glorious weekend for Moya, who, at age 28, knew very well that he didn't have many chances left to lead his nation to glory. In 2000 when Spain won its first Cup over Australia at home, Moya was injured and couldn't play in the final. With Juan Carlos Ferrero out most of this year, Moya became his team's leader again. Spain had the opportunity to play its last three ties at home on clay and made the most of it.

In last year's final, this southern European giant had to travel Down Under to face Australia on grass. Moya won his match against Mark Philippoussis, but Ferrero dropped two contests and Spain lost the doubles. Moya never had the opportunity to face Lleyton Hewitt in the fifth and deciding match, a contest he was fairly confident he could win. But, on Sunday, he was given another chance against Roddick. There was no way he was letting it go.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," Moya said. "I cannot ask for more. Since I was not [on the 2000 team], this was my biggest goal and my dream. Today, it came true. Almost two months ago, I started dreaming about this tie. All my efforts since then have been focused on today. And many, many times I woke up in the middle of the night dreaming about today. It was absolutely incredible. People have told me many times before that I was becoming completely obsessed with this tie, but I think it's good because it's my way of dealing with things. I get obsessed with things to reach the goals that I set."

Fred Mullane/Camerawork USA

Andy Roddick went 0-2 in the Davis Cup final.

81,600 SPAINARDS ROAR
For Spanish tennis, it was remarkably successful weekend. Not only did they win their second Davis Cup crown, but also they broke every attendance record in sight, drawing in approximately 81,600 fans. While the crowds at times were a bit inappropriate in their cat calling, for the most part, they were well behaved and turned the event into fun-filled, giant fiesta.

"The crowd was great," Moya said. "It's not great to have 26,000 people against you like Roddick had, but I think they were very respectful to him. The only thing that maybe wasn't that good is that when he was missing the first serve, they were screaming. But, well, this is Davis Cup and it's going to happen wherever you go."

Roddick had almost no criticisms of the crowd on Sunday. He understands that he doesn't participate in the world's most popular sport and that when a Davis Cup final draws as well as this one did, you have to take what comes with the new fans.

"It's one thing to sit on the sideline, but it's another thing to kind of feel it and be a part of it. … This weekend was unlike anything I've experienced before."

What Roddick would love to do is to be the man who can fist pump and ride the waves of cheers at home. Next year, the US could have four ties at home, so he might have the chance. But, if he is to be the team leader, he has some improving to do with his strokes and his mental game.

"I've been at the finish line a couple times this year and haven't crossed it first," Roddick said. "It's disappointing. But, at the same time, you have to look at what it took to get there. Last year was almost too easy. I didn't get there that often, but when I did, I made it happen. This year I felt like I got there more often, and it didn't happen for me. I guess that happens sometimes. I'll just work harder."