Seville Davis Cup due to set attendance record

Dec 1, 2011, 19:50 GMT

Seville, Spain - More than 27,000 spectators are due to watch Friday's start of the Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentine, with the attendance figure setting a new record in the team competition, according to the International Tennis Federation.

'We achieved a new milestone: more than 27,500 spectators will attend each day of the battle between Spain and Argentina in the Davis Cup final in Seville,' ITF head Francesco Ricci Bitti told dpa.

'This improvement is at least 300 spectators, (beating) the record set in 2004 in Seville,' added the official, who noted the 'powerful and unique environment' of Davis with its 111-year history.

The previous record was 27,200 in the stands at the Olympic stadium for the 2004 between Spain and the US.

More than 6,000 extra seats were put on sale this week, some with 'reduced visibility.' But they all count in calculating the final attendance totals for the tie.

Ricci Bitti said that the worldwide tournament remains a hugely popular competition, which the Italian said 'attests to the unique and powerful atmosphere of Davis Cup where players compete for their country.

'I want to congratulate Spanish federation and their president Jose-Luis Escanuela for the efforts to make this final one of the greatest-ever.'

Spain's Rafael Nadal begins the weekend tie on Friday when he starts against Argentine Juan Monaco, with David Ferrer taking on Juan Del Potro in the second rubber.