THERE are moments in the sport when history and coincidence conspire to lift the event into something approaching the ethereal. Such may be the case during the next three days when Stefan Edberg leads Sweden against France in the Davis Cup final in Malmo.
It is barely possible, given the emotions involved, to imagine that either Edberg or Sweden will lose. The French, naturally enough, propose to slip a large measure of vinegar into the Swedish celebration wine.
"We would all have gone to Stefan's farewell party wherever it had been," Yannick Noah, the French captain, said. "He chose to have it here this weekend and we will be doing our best to spoil it."
Edberg's final parting is a little different. Edberg regards his individual swan song as being the recent ATP tournament in Stockholm. Here he is merely a member of a team and his individuality, or so he believes, will be subjugated for the greater good of his country. "There will be no real pressure on me," Edberg said yesterday.
But the rest of Sweden, to say nothing of his three playing colleagues, do not see it like that. Thomas Enqvist, Jonas Bjorkman and Nicklas Kulti were asked What they saw as Edberg's main qualities for this tie. The one word answers, during which Edberg had his fingers in his ears with self effacing modesty, were rattled off as if rehearsed: "Concentration. Professionalism. Experience."
Whatever the ultimate outcome this final will be remembered for Edberg's last hurrah and everyone knows it the Swedes, the French, and in spite of all his words to the contrary, Edberg himself.
The Davis Cup remains this sport's most significant competition apart from the four Grand Slams.
It is under pressure. Many players, especially the Americans, believe it should not be annual but played every two or four years. That might raise its status, but in a sport when the individual reigns almost totally supreme, it is a blessed relief to have a team competition with all its concomitant pressure, demands and upsets.
Both Sweden and France have a rich history, France having won the cup seven times and the Swedes five. France's great days are chiefly historic with six successive wins from 1927-32. Then after 59 years Noah, a player, led France to their first modern victory.
By contrast, all Sweden's success has been since 1975, when their own BB snaked his seductive; winning shape across the tennis courts of the world. France watched Bardot; Sweden was agog with Borg.
Then came Mats Wilander to lead them to more triumph in 1984-5 and 1987 before Edberg was the shining spear two years ago in the final against Russia. This time Enqvist, ranked nine in the world, is Sweden's cutting blade.
It is the 11th meeting between France and Sweden with Sweden holding a 7-3 lead. Their last encounter was at Cannes two years ago when Sweden won 3-2 under the intense Riviera sun. Yesterday it was snowing in Malmo; perhaps the cold will have a reverse effect on the French.
The opening match today is between Edberg and the French number one, Cedric Pioline, and then Enqvist plays Arnaud Boetsch. The hard court here has been causing concern in practice with an uneven bounce but the French are relieved to find it is not super quick.
