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#Post#: 13111--------------------------------------------------
Davis Cup 2014: QuarterFinal Quests
By: masterclass Date: April 5, 2014, 2:41 am
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The Quarter Finals are in action this weekend with the following
matches and results thus far:
JAPAN d. CZECH REPUBLIC 5-0
Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan (hard - indoor)
Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Tatsuma Ito (JPN) 67(5) 76(5) 61 75
Lukas Rosol (CZE) d. Taro Daniel (JPN) 64 64 36 46 62
Radek Stepanek (CZE) / Lukas Rosol (CZE) d. Tatsuma Ito (JPN) /
Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) 6-4 6-4 6-4
Lukas Rosol (CZE) d. Tatsuma Ito (JPN) 6-3 3-6 6-4
Jiri Vesely (CZE) d. Taro Daniel (JPN) 6-4 6-4
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FRANCE d. GERMANY 3-2
Venue: Palais Des Sports Jean Weille, Nancy, France (hard -
indoor)
Tobias Kamke (GER) d. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 76( 8 ) 63 62
Peter Gojowczyk (GER) d. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 57 76(3) 36
76( 8 ) 8-6 - saved 2 M.P.
Michael Llodra (FRA) / Julien Benneteau (FRA) d Andre Begemann
(GER) / Tobias Kamke (GER) 6-1 7-6(5) 4-6 7-5
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) d. Tobias Kamke (GER) 6-3 6-2 6-4
Gael Monfils(FRA) vs. Peter Gojowczyk (GER) 6-1 7-6(0) 6-2
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ITALY d. GREAT BRITAIN 3-2
Venue: Tennis Club Napoli, Naples, Italy (clay - outdoor)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) d. James Ward (GBR) 64 26 64 61
Andy Murray (GBR) d. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 64 7-5 6-3
Colin Fleming (GBR) / Andy Murray (GBR) d. Simone Bolelli (ITA)
/Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-3 6-2 3-6 7-5
Fabio Fognini (ITA) d. Andy Murray (GBR) 6-3 6-3 6-4
Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs. James Ward (GBR) 6-4 6-3 6-4
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SWITZERLAND d. KAZAKHSTAN 3-2
Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland (Hard, Indoor)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 76(5) 62 36
76(5)
Roger Federer (SUI) d. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 64 64 62
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) / Aleksandr Nedovyesov (KAZ) d Roger
Federer (SUI) / Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-4 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(6)
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) d. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-7(4) 6-4
6-4 6-4
Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 76( 0 ) 62 63
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Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 13113--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davis Cup 2014: QuarterFinal Quests
By: masterclass Date: April 5, 2014, 3:05 am
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Despite the criticisms it takes for its format, scheduling, etc.
Davis Cup remains a test and proving ground for players who are
otherwise ignored on the tour as you often see them playing well
above their level when competing for their country, while others
fold under the pressure. We saw both yesterday.
Spartan Stan disappointed himself and his huge audience
yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland. Before 16,000 screaming
Swiss, who cheered the new Australian Open champion wildly when
coming out, Stan looked quite nervous at times, quite frustrated
at other times, even breaking his racquet, and just seemed
uncomfortable in his current role of Swiss #1 and lost to a very
strong and steady #161 in the world, Andrey Golubev, who really
played better than I've ever seen him play. On a medium pace
indoor court with Wilson Australian Open balls (tend to slow
after a couple of games), Stan committed a whopping 70 unforced
errors and 55 winners as opposed to Golubev's 45 UE's and 50
winners. But this picture of Federer watching his countryman
tells the whole story:
HTML https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BkZXeZXCUAAddMe.png
Sometimes the expectations of fans, fellow players, and
themselves can just overwhelm a player. Stan needs to relax,
needs to use the crowd in a good way, not be so anxious to win
points too soon. His serve was pretty good after the 2nd set.
He should build on that. It's a mental thing now. He knows he
is good enough, but sometimes that can work against you and make
you more frustrated than you should be. He needs to just focus
on his game, stop bickering and complaining with his captain and
go to that calm place in his mind that his main tour coach
Magnus Norman helped to solidify. Stan needs to take some
pressure off himself, as he himself has recognized that this
might be the Swiss team's best chance for a Davis Cup win, but
he needs to focus on one match at a time.
If the Swiss lose again, you can't help but feel for Roger
Federer, who has had the improbable task over the years of
trying to carry the team on his shoulders to get that Davis Cup
win. One cannot win Davis Cup by oneself, no matter how good
one is. The team has to contribute. Stan has clearly not done
as well in the past as his ranking would indicate, as nerves
have often unsettled him, but here is his chance to again prove
his mettle in a different setting. Let's see what happens and
hope he can deliver his best tennis.
Current Swiss #2, Roger Federer, showed Stan the way. Federer
played solidly and calmly against a very good Kukushkin. If
Federer had slipped at all, Kukushkin could have also proved a
problem as he was defending very, very, well, but Federer used
his variety very well, as well as his serve, where Kukushkin
could never make any inroads with 0 break points, and often love
service games for Federer. Kukushkin was in trouble almost
every one of his service games, but valiantly pulled many of
them out at the last moment with his strong defense. The
difference in mentality between Roger and Stan was evident.
Federer rarely displayed any reaction, was calm sitting on his
bench and often his and Davis Cup coach Severin Luthi didn't
even talk or sit with him during changeovers.
The Brits have their work cut out for them in their tie with the
Italians. Fabio Fognini showed up to play despite being heavily
taped up for his rib injury. After a lengthy rain delay in his
country's city of Naples, he beat James Ward in 4 sets and
started off the Italian fans in delight. Andy Murray, OBE, came
out second to play the Italian #2, Andreas Seppi, who can be
formidable on clay. We saw a couple of years ago how he just
failed to beat Djokovic at Roland Garros. The Naples clay itself
was rough from the rain and clumped in spots well behind the
court making a bit dangerous to play in the back. Andy took the
first set with solid play and a break. Seppi played stronger in
the second set, and drew first blood with a break to go up 4-2,
but Murray came right back with his own break. Seppi had set
points with Murray serving at 4-5, but Murray saved them to draw
level at 5-5 where the match was stopped due to darkness. It
will resume today in a couple of hours. I believe Andy needs
to calm down a bit, his complaining and ranting attitude is
going back to pre-Lendl times.
Assuming Murray beats Seppi to draw level at 1-1, the task for
both Italy and Great Britain is clear. Win the all important
doubles. Therefore I think you'll see both teams put their best
doubles players out there unless they are really hurting. So
Murray will have to finish his singles and then probably play
doubles with Colin Fleming. My guess is that the Italians will
send Fognini out to play with Bolelli, but it's possible Seppi
might play if he is not too tired. Both Fognini and Seppi are
ranked pretty high in doubles, 68 and 51, whereas the others are
over 200.
The singles match will be completed first at 9:30 GMT, 10:30 am
Italian time.
The Czech Republic has blanked Japan 3-0 thanks to Stepanek and
Rosol who just won the doubles today. The Japanese were without
their two best players, Nishikori and Go Saeda who are injured.
The French just couldn't do it against the injured German team
who is playing without Haas, Kohlschreiber, and Mayer. #96
Tobias Kamke beat #50 Julien Benneteau, who caved in, losing in
straight sets, and then in the shocker of the day, #119 Peter
Gojowczyk upset #12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a real battle, 7-5
6-7(3) 6-3 6-7( 8 ) 6-8 saving 2 match points. Tsonga's
comment after the match tells it all: "It's clear that this was
one of those matches one can classify as unlosable and yet I
lost it", said a very disconsolate Tsonga. Tsonga played much
better than he has been, as he discarded the new racquet he has
been playing with this year, and returned to his old stick, but
it didn't help enough as Gojowczyk played out of his mind. But
he is a interesting character. Remember he was the one who made
it to the Doha semifinals this year, and gave Rafa an unexpected
battle, taking the first set, before Rafa came back to win it.
The remainder of the doubles matches will be played just a bit
later today! The French absolutely need it to stay in the tie,
with favored Llodra/Monfils expected to do the job over
Kamke/Begemann. The Swiss aren't quite sure yet who will play
with the tie all square with KazakhSTAN, but I'm guessing it
will be Federer/Wawrinka, unless Wawrinka is hurting, and I
already mentioned the Italians and Brits lineups.
Good luck to all the remaining teams in their ties!
Davis Cup Great Britain vs. Italy at the Tennis Club Napoli,
Naples, Italy Beautiful, looks a bit like the Monte Carlo
setting.
HTML http://www.napolistyle.it/immagini_articoli/arenamare21.jpg
Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 13160--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davis Cup 2014: QuarterFinal Quests
By: masterclass Date: April 6, 2014, 10:33 am
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Original post updated with completed results.
Czech obliterates Japan 5-0.
Italy spears Great Britain 3-2 behind an excellent effort by the
Fab Fognini who simply outplayed Andy Murray, OBE, in straight
sets. Andreas Seppi sealed the deal as expected, also in
straight sets.
HTML https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BkHzSvKIgAAsNUr.jpg
France and Germany knotted at 2-2 behind Tsonga's straight set
win over Kamke, but Gael Monfils looks like he's got this tie
won.
Switzerland and KazakhSTAN all square at 2-2 behind Stan's win
today over Kukushkin.
Federer vs. Golubev in the decider starting now.
Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 13161--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davis Cup 2014: QuarterFinal Quests
By: masterclass Date: April 6, 2014, 1:23 pm
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Federer finishes off the Davis Cup quarterfinal ties with a
straight set win over the tough Andrey Golubev, who played a
great Davis Cup QF.
It was a tight first set until the tiebreaker, and then Federer
simply turned it up and bageled Golubev in the tiebreaker, as
Andrey looked a bit nervous as well. With that, Federer had
control of the match, especially as Golubev double faulted at
the worst time. I believe he had 7 or 8 double faults in all.
Federer let up here and there, twice getting broken after
breaking Golubev, but he bore down, and broke back again in both
the 2nd and 3rd set to roll to victory for himself and the Swiss
team before a packed screaming Geneva crowd. Federer was
impressed with Golubev, and gave him credit for his overall fine
performance. However, the eyes were on Stan in the early
match, as his form had not looked good. But in the crunch he
came through and had a brilliant serving match against Kukushkin
winning 94% of his first serves in and 60% of his second serves
won. Kukushkin never saw a break point, and you can't win if you
can't break.
Congratulations to the Swiss team and their fans. Condolences
to a game Kazakhstan and their supporters.
So that wraps it up the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
Semifinals in September will be:
Czech Republic vs. France in France
Italy vs Switzerland in Switzerland
Good luck to all the remaining teams!
Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 13184--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davis Cup 2014: QuarterFinal Quests
By: Clay Death Date: April 6, 2014, 8:06 pm
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great stuff general masterclass.
great win by Switzerland. I think they have a very good shot at
defeating Italy at home.
I am sure the swiss team will contest that one on fast hard
courts.
#Post#: 13185--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davis Cup 2014: QuarterFinal Quests
By: Clay Death Date: April 6, 2014, 8:12 pm
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Czech team has done quite well in davis cup but their run is
probably coming to an end. I expect the French team to manage a
win at home.
stepanek is really getting up in age.
bottom line: how about a France vs Switzerland final? I think it
is happening.
#Post#: 13217--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davis Cup 2014: QuarterFinal Quests
By: masterclass Date: April 7, 2014, 2:31 pm
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Good observations and question general. I'll fire up a thread
about the semifinals at some point.
It's a bit far away yet. We have no idea who will be healthy
and on fire in September or perhaps hurt or out of form.
France, Italy, and Switzerland scraped by this time. Czech
rolled over a injury ridden Japan.
We are going to see what's going on come September. ;D :) ;D :D
Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 13218--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davis Cup 2014: QuarterFinal Quests
By: Clay Death Date: April 7, 2014, 3:16 pm
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affirmative general.
at this moment in time I have to favor the swiss team to take
home the davis cup title. the stars seems to be well aligned for
them as it stands now.
they will get the Italian team at home so we know the surface
wont be clay. they are most likely going to steamroll the
Italians in that environment.
I am looking forward to the semis and the final.
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