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Maradona in Moscow for Cup final
December 01, 2006 16:53 IST

Former soccer World Cup-winning captain Diego Maradona arrived in Moscow on Thursday for this weekend's Davis Cup final between Russia and Argentina.

"His plane just landed, so he'll attend the (Davis Cup) final to root for Argentina," Diego Gomez, a spokesman for the Argentine Davis Cup team, told Reuters.

Argentina, chasing their first Davis Cup title, take on 2002 champions Russia in the Dec. 1-3 final at Moscow's Olympic arena.

Maradona, one of soccer's greatest players, has become a big tennis fan and has attended several of Argentina's Davis Cup ties in the past.

His last visit to Russia was in 1990 when his club team Napoli lost to Spartak Moscow 5-3 on penalties in a European Cup second round clash.

Russia will have their own big-name supporter as former President Boris Yeltsin will attend all three days of the final, team captain Shamil Tarpishchev said.

Yeltsin, an avid tennis follower, has been to all of his country's Davis Cup home matches in recent years.

Davis Cup final draw:

Friday, Dec. 1, first match at 10:00 GMT
Nikolay Davydenko v Juan Ignacio Chela
Marat Safin v David Nalbandian

Saturday, Dec. 2, 11:00 GMT

Doubles: Mikhail Youzhny/Dmitry Tursunov v David Nalbandian/Agustin Calleri

Sunday, Dec. 3, 10:00 GMT

Reverse singles:
Nikolay Davydenko v David Nalbandian
Marat Safin v Juan Ignacio Chela

Source: REUTERS
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