Swedish pride at stake

STOCKHOLM, SEPT 23: Six-time champion Sweden will be bringing Viking pride into this weekend's Davis Cup World Group semi-final against S...

STOCKHOLM, SEPT 23: Six-time champion Sweden will be bringing Viking pride into this weekend8217;s Davis Cup World Group semi-final against Spain.

While the United States-Italy tie across the Atlantic may have trouble drawing a crowd in Milwaukee, there will be no such problems at Stockholm8217;s temple of tennis, the Kungliga Tennishallen, traditional home of the game in the Swedish capital.

The hosts and last season8217;s defending champions come into the three-day tie with a full squad, three of whom reached the quarter-finals a fortnight ago at the US Open.

Swedish number one Jonas Bjorkman, Thomas Johansson and Magnus Larsson all played well at the Open to reach the final eight. Captain Carl-Axel Hageskog has brought in Nicklas Kulti for possible doubles duty.

Thomas Enqvist will not play due to an ankle injury he picked up over the summer.

Spain arrives with Carlos Moya, Alex Corretja, Julian Alonso and Javier Sanchez for the indoor hardcourt clash.

The visitors can take some heart in their nation8217;s win through Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Conchita Martinez last weekend in the Fed Cup final in Geneva over a team featuring Martina Hingis.

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The 1997 Davis Cup champion Swedes are more than ready for their date with Spain indoors.

8220;It8217;s definitely going to help us to have a strong team, everyone is in good shape,8221; said Bjorkman.

8220;We always seem to have good timing into Davis Cup matches. It is an advantage for Sweden to have three strong guys coming in with a lot of confidence.8221;

Motivation will not be a problem: 8220;We definitely feel Swedish and we definitely want to represent our country.8221;

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Sweden swept the US 5-0 In last year8217;s final, which left Pete Sampras injured and vowing not to play the worldwide competition again as it interfered with his ATP Tour schedule.

Bjorkman, who played more matches than any other player on the tour in 1997, finds that attitude hard to swallow. But there is a lot about American tennis which leaves Europeans bewildered.

8220;Comparing Sweden and the US is big difference,8221; said the 25-year-old. 8220;We are a small country, we are really happy with all the success we have in different sports.8221;

World number 13 Bjorkman can be expected to be given the lion8217;s share of work when singles begin on Friday. The national number one clinched the quarter-final tie over Germany in July as he won the deciding reverse singles over Nicolas Kiefer in five sets.

The draw will be made tomorrow.

Larsson8217;s participaton in doubt

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Magnus Larsson, one of Sweden8217;s potential singles players in this weekend8217;s Davis Cup semifinal encounter against Spain, may be ruled out because of injury.

Larsson, was admitted to a local hospital for a hurting wrist earlier yesterday, national news agency TT reported.

After a training session Larsson had his injury X-rayed but there were no reports how serious it was.

8220;I hurt the wrist when we were playing Germany in the Davis Cup quarter-finals earlier this year and since then I have had problems,8221; Larsson said.

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8220;It may be a ligament problem, but I hope I will be fit in time for the semi-finals,8221; Larsson added.