New stars emerge following Davis Cup day 3 action
In Chile the home team faced defending champs Russia. Following a comfortable straight sets win by Fernando Gonzalez over Marat Safin 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 the tie was locked up at 2 rubbers each. Many expected Chile would complete a remarkable comeback coming from being 2-0 down entering day 2, however someone forgot to tell Igor Andreev. He followed up his surprise first rubber win over Gonzalez with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 victory against Olympic Gold Medallist Nicolas Massu. The defending champions now move into the quarter finals where they will meet France at home. The Russian victory ended Chile’s 10 match home tie winning streak much to the disappointment of the home fans. Ranked 147 in the world Andreev is the most unlikely hero as he was not even expected to play singles in the tie. That spot was to go to Dmitry Tursunov who was forced to withdraw from the tie due to a wrist injury. Andreev showed he was up to the challenge and emerged as a new conqueror for Russia.
Playing at home French captain Guy Forget has heaped praise on Richard Gasquet after his no. 1 player lead France to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Romania. Gasquet followed up his victory on Friday with a straight sets win over Andrei Pavel 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. With the tie already wrapped up Arnaud Clement beat Florian Mergea 7-5, 7-6(3) in the fifth rubber. The only highlight this weekend for the Romanian’s was their epic five set win in the doubles. Of all of the ties played this weekend this tie was probably the most comfortably won. After France setup a 2-0 lead on Friday most people would have expected the French to wrap up the tie in the doubles. France now faces a tough assignment against the defending champions to be played in Russia.
Croatia has crashed out of the 2007 Davis Cup at the hands of Germany. Tommy Haas lived up to my expectations and lead the German charge by winning both of his singles rubbers. Today Haas defeated Ivan Ljubicic 6-2, 7-6(7), 6-4 to take out the 2005 champions. Haas, who this weekend defeated two top ten players in Ljubicic and Ancic, probably played the best he ever has in Davis Cup competition. Young Croatian Marin Cilic was thrown into the dead fifth rubber where he defeated Benjamin Becker 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. The Croat captain was probably thinking of the fact that he needs a replacement for Ljubicic. Ljubcic had earlier this year announced his retirement from Davis Cup play and the loss to Haas brings to an end to the Croatian’s Davis Cup career. Ljubcic has decided to concentrate on his individual career. Germany will now travel to Belgium to contest the quarter finals.
Meanwhile in Liege, Belgium the tie between the home country and Australia was taken to a deciding fifth rubber following Lleyton Hewitt’s defeat of Olivier Rochus in five tough clay court sets. The final score was 6-2, 6-3, 6-7(4), 3-6, 6-1. The former world no. 1 would have been disappointed to have lost his first match of the tie as in the end it cost Australia. Today he was in better form and probably should have won in straight sets. He was just two points from doing just that before a strong comeback by Rochus. After Rochus won the fourth set it looked as though Hewitt was gone however in the end it appeared that Hewitt’s superior fitness helped him overcome the Belgium player.
The stage was now set for either Chris Guccione or Kristof Vliegen to step up to be the hero for their country. Much to the disappointment of the Aussie fans it was Vliegen who sent the local team through to the next round following his comfortable defeat of Guccione 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Guccione had experienced the exact same situation last year against Austria – on that occasion Guccione controlled his nerves and he took Australia through to the quarter finals – this time around he could not repeat his heroics. Vliegen who on Friday had surprised Lleyton Hewitt with a tough five set win was simply too good for the big Australian. Australia had been weakened by the absence of Mark Philippousis who was unavailable due to injury however in the end it was Vliegen that made the difference. The team from Australia like all first round losers will now have to participate in a play off to rejoin the world group.
The USA has won a clay court tie for the first time in 10 years. The last clay court victory came against Brazil in Brazil when Jim Courier helped the US overcome a team that included the soon to be French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten. This time around the tie was never really in doubt and top ten player Andy Roddick was able to claim victory for the US after a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(7) win over Tomas Berdych. In the dead rubber team USA captain Patrick McEnroe substituted James Blake with Bob Bryan – he took advantage of his chance to improve his singles record and defeated Lukas Dlouhy 7-6(5), 6-4. The US now plays host to Spain in the quarter finals. If the US overcomes Spain they could be faced with another tough clay court encounter against Argentina.
Spain has advanced to the quarter finals for the first time in three years following the away win against Switzerland. They did this without their top ranked player world no. 2 Rafael Nadal who succumbed to injury just before the tie started. In a tie that could have included the number one and two players in the world it was left to lesser known players to control the fate of their countries. Fernando Verdasco made amends for his first rubber loss by sealing victory for the Spaniards after he defeated Stephane Bohli 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. In the dead rubber Marco Chiudinelli beat David Ferrer 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Switzerland went into this tie without world no. 1 Roger Federer who has decided to concentrate on his own quest for glory and rest himself.
Like Chile, Belarus was unable add to an impressive home winning streak that stood at 10 wins when it faced Sweden in Minsk. Today the hero for Sweden turned out to be Robin Soderling who defeated Max Mirnyi in a dramatic and closely contested five set tennis match. Soderling came into the tie as the no. 26 ranked player while Mirnyi is ranked no. 55. Mirnyi is also the no. 1 doubles player. Given the rankings this match looked at though it could be a tight affair. The final score showed this with Soderling taking it 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-7(8), 7-6(3),6-3. In this match Soderling seemed to benefit from having a days rest on Saturday and in the end was too strong for Mirnyi. In the dead rubber Vladimir Voltchkov beat Thomas Johansson 6-3, 7-5. Sweden who was a Davis Cup powerhouse in the 80’s and 90s will now play host to Argentina in the quarter finals. Sweden will be looking to avenge the loss to the South Americans in the opening round in 2006.
Write down the name of Juan-Martin Del Potro who has emerged as a new star for Argentina – making his Davis Cup tennis debut Del Potro played a starring role in the South Americans win over Austria. The Austrians would have fancied themselves coming into the home tie as the Argentines were not at full strength however they could not take advantage of this to overcome the South Americans. The 18 year old Del Potro who is ranked 67 showed he is a player to watch when he defeated the no. 30 ranked Austrian Jurgen Melzer in five long sets. The final score was 7-6(4), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. The win for Argentina is even more impressive as they were missing the services of several of their better known players including world no. 11 David Nalbandian.
The 2007 Davis Cup first round proved to be one of great interest as for the first time in world group tennis all teams were alive going into the last day of action. The team from Russia showed that they will be difficult to take the cup from following their impressive away win in Chile. This was against a team that was riding an impressive ten match winning streak and Russia was without more highly ranked players. The 2007 Davis Cup quarter finals will be contested over three days starting on 6 April 2007.
