Anthem mix-up sparks Spanish fury
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Gomez-Angulo (left) and Spain's Australian ambassador Jose R. Baranano protest.
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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Spain will demand a formal apology from the Australian government after the wrong anthem was played during the opening ceremony for the Davis Cup tennis final on Friday.
Spanish sports minister Juan Gomez-Angulo, who was attending the match at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, left the stadium in protest and instructed his players not to begin until an apology had been issued.
The final only commenced after an apologetic statement from Tennis Australia, who said the correct anthem would be played when the Spanish flag is raised prior to Saturday's doubles match.
"I will be asking the Spanish ambassador to approach the Australian government to inquire as to how this intolerable offence could happen at the inaugural ceremony of an event as important as the Davis Cup," Gomez-Angulo told a news conference.
"We are demanding a formal apology through the Spanish embassy in Australia and an explanation to the Australian government, so that at a sports level the root of the problem can be corrected for this offence to the Spanish nation."
Tennis Australia said the mix-up had occurred because a compact disc of national anthems supplied to the performer was incorrect. Trumpet soloist James Morrison played a tune dating from Spain's pre-civil war republican era.
"It is unfortunate the outstanding opening ceremony was marred by this regrettable occurrence and, as a mark of respect, Tennis Australia will be playing the Spanish and Australian anthems before play tomorrow and again on Sunday," Tennis Australian president Geoff Pollard said in the statement.
Spain finished the day tied at 1-1 in the best-of-five format after Carlos Moya downed local favorite Mark Philippoussis 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-6.
Earlier Lleyton Hewitt had given the home side the lead by beating Juan Carlos Ferrero 3-6 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-2 in a four-hour match.
World No. 3 Ferrero described the incident as "serious" but said it had not affected his game.
"Mr Gomez-Angulo was very upset," he said. "He was more upset than anyone else and I can understand that.
"I was upset but not to that extent because I was trying to focus on playing the game. I do consider that it was serious but I don't want to create a big problem out of it."
