Davis Cup Review: Day 1 action
July 10, 2009 · Print This Article
Fighting for your country is never easy. By the same token, there is no greater thrill than carrying home pride through five sets of vigorous tennis on an annual basis. Regardless if there are partisan and boisterous crowds behind you. With the 2009 Davis Cup competition narrowing down eight World group teams this weekend, the pressure will be on each and every player—their quest for D.C. supremacy lives on.
Let us now take at look at the four quarter-final matches, and their results after Day 1.
Spain vs. Germany—Plaza de Toros de Puerto Banus, Marbella
Tied: 1-1
A Nadal-less squad has left an ever-so-competent Spanish team against the Germans. Spain is one of the far and few Nations which can afford to have the absence of a superstar or two. With Rafa and David Ferrer on the sidelines this weekend, a team comprised of Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo, Feliciano Lopez and Juan Carlos would be more than ready to defend their 2008 title.
Starting proceedings off in a positive manner on Friday, the Spanish teams highest ranked player Verdasco took care of, but struggled past Andreas Beck 6-0, 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-1.
Strictly basing the outcome of this match on namesake, one would have given the easy win to Spaniard. But if tennis has taught tennis writers and avid fans alike any lessons throughout the years; matches are won on the court, and not on paper my friends.
This years Davis Cup competition has rekindled many fond memories for Verdasco. It was during the 2008 final, where the Spaniard came through in epic fashion to propel his team to their third title overall. It was also during that final in Argentina where Verdasco began what is still his rise to prominence.
With the first set easily in the bag, with a bagel no doubt, Fernando and his Spanish hombres where sitting pretty for a 1-0 tie lead. However, Beck had other ideas going forward, using his slap-shot ground strokes to unsettle his opponent; showing flashes of the form which took him to the quarterfinals of the Monaco earlier this year.
With the tables turned, and a two-sets-to-love lead for Beck, the Spaniards were in danger of losing the all important first rubber. Verdasco is not ranked seven in the world for nothing, and on the heels of defeat, the fit 25-year-old stormed back to take the fourth and fifth sets in convincing fashion. Thrusting Spain to a 1-0 lead.
Final score: 6-0, 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-1.
Would a 1-0 lead be enough for the Spaniards to gain momentum into Saturday’s doubles play? Apparently not.
German Philipp Kohlschreiber had never been an easy opponent for any player. His solid, but non-overpowering game, brought forth day-to-day consistency centered around a killer one-handed backhand.
His opponent today Tommy Robredo was also known for a sweet one-handed backhand of his own, but the mental inconsistency required to pour in week-in and week-out results was lacking. T-Rob would once again be a disappoint in Marbella this afternoon.
In clean-cut fashion which ironically mirrored his straight set win over Novak Djokovic at the French Open this year, Kohschreiber pounced all over Robredo to defeat him 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
The 2:03 constant featured a workmanlike effort from the German throughout. It was straight to work, and then straight home for Philipp, never questioning his tactics with Robredo never responding with any sort of adversity. One break in each set was enough for Kohschreiber to level the tie at one match a piece. Dead solid even would be the scoreline heading into Saturday’s doubles.
Saturday’s doubles affair will feature: Verdasco pairing with Feliciano Lopez vs. Nicolas Kiefer and Mishca Zverev. The win be even more important to Germany, with the Spaniards holding the edge in singles competition on Sunday.
United States vs. Croatia—Sportska Dvorana “Zatika”, Porec
Croatia leads 1-0
The days most epic encounter saw the tours gentle giant Ivo Karlovic race back from a two-sets-to-love deficit to defeat American James Blake 6-7 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5. Going into this contest, Blake knew his task would not be easy. On the serve alone, Karlovic would be dangerous, with Roger Federer being perhaps the only player on the planet to relish returning the big mans delivery.
With that in mind, Blake came out poised and secured the first two-sets with pin-point serving, while dictating from the back of the court. But Karlovic was far from out of this thing—the server was anger.
A momentary lapse in concentration forced JB to lose set number three, allowing Karlovic to feed off of his home-country support—more importantly his arm was becoming loser by the moment.
Set four was close, with Karlovic stepping up his historic weak return of serve to gain a double mini-break in the tie-breaker. A cushion of a 6-3 lead, coupled by the serve of Ivo meant the match was going five sets. The belief in Karlovic was on the rise; the often slump in concentration was ever present in the eyes of the American.
On the strength of 47 aces, Karlovic would gain double match point at 5-6 in set five. Blake could not count on his opponents serve to recover, saving one elimination point, succumbing to the second.
The broken record of a year for Blake would continue; he just lost to Kalrovic on clay! By no means are any efforts taken away from the big man, he played with heart today and displayed his improved fitness, and more than decent net game. But Blake did have every opportunity to come through the victor in this encounter, with the demise of many recent losses standing before him on every serve return. Not a good feeling for a professional.
The win gives Croatia a significant advantage going forward, with Marin Cilic next up against Mardy Fish. Fish was a late call for an injured Andy Roddick, and will be the underdog against a more savvy Cilic on clay.
Win or lose the Americans will have the pleasure of calling upon the Bryan brothers during Saturday’s doubles, with Mike and Bob taking on Ivo Karlovic and Lovro Zovko. One would have to give the nod to the Bryan bro’s in that one, but you never know.
Israel vs. Russia—Sport Palaces Ltd (Nokia), Tel Aviv
Israel leads, 2-0
With an obscure decision by team captain Shamil Tarpischev to leave his most dangerous player Marat Safin off of the singles roaster, the Russians find themselves in a mighty whole after Day 1.
Starting off the days proceedings, one-time Masters 1000 Canadian finalist Harel Levy achieved one of his best wins to date, after dispatching tour work horse Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. This was truly an upset on many counts, with Andreev being the much higher ranked player, as well as coming off of his best ever finish at the All England Club. Andreev also held the advantage in every category except perhaps court speed, with his topspin forehand causing chaos throughout his career.
With the Tel Aviv crowd firmly behind their man, Levy used his court craft and 81 percent of first serve points won, to give Israel a 1-0 tie lead in 2:51 minutes. Undoubtedly one of the most significant wins of the 30-year old Kibutz Nahshonin natives career.
The good times did not stop there for Israel.
Following in the foot steps of Levy, Israels highest ranked player Dudi Sela, who was coming off of a fourth round appearance at the Big W, comprehensively took out Mikhail Youzney after dropping the first set, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1, 7-5.
Youzney known to implode under the slightest hint of adversity, completely crumbled after capturing the first set. The angles in Sela’s game were becoming more prominent, with the Russian losing control of the center of the court.
The win by Sela added to a fantastic 12 months, which saw him raise his ranking from 66 at the start of 2008, to a current high of 33. Israel will now take the comfort of a commanding 2-0 tie lead into Saturday’s doubles contest.
The two on two contest will see Johnathon Erlich and Andy Ram vs. Igor Kunitsyn and Marat Safin. If the Russian squad thought they were in trouble after Fridays singles losses, wait until they get on court on Saturday, where Erlich and Ram are two of the best in the business in the four man show.
Shamil Tarpischev sure has a lot of explaining to do.
Argentina vs. Czech Republic—Cez Arena, Ostrava
Czech Republic leads 1-0
More bad news for a favored team. With the absence Radek Stepanek from the Czech’s singles competition, the Argentines would only have to ponder the challenge of Tomas Berdych in order to move onto the semfinals.
Berdych has always been to give flaky performances, followed by swashbuckling efforts. His opponent today, Juan Monaco was no slouch from the baseline either. With both players fighting tooth and nail throughout, it was Berdych who was able to sustain two critical breaks of serve in the final set, to take the thrilling affair 6-4, 2-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. The 3:27 minute contest featured high quality tennis from both participants. Berdcyh was at his brute power best; Monaco was moving like cat out of a closet. In the end, it was the sledgehammer knocking the cat unconscious, proving once again that devastating velocity is often times just too good.
The days second match also underway with top ranked Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, allowing for some sort of order for his squad, thus far, by easily dismantling Ivo Minor. The unheralded Czech seems to be thoroughly out-classed.
Assuming that del Potro does advance in that one (again, assuming in tennis is to ones own discretion), the Argentines would head into Saturday’s doubles tied at one match a piece.
Doubles duty for each team would be granted to: Lukas Dlouhy / Radek Stepanek vs. Juan Martin del Potro/ Leonardo Mayer. Perhaps the best doubles contest throughout all the Davis Cup ties this weekend.
Please stay tuned, I will have a Day 2 review from the 2009 Davis Cup World Group draw on Saturday. Cheers.
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