To the world of bullfighting, the Plaza de Toros Las Ventas in Madrid is known as one of the most famous bullrings in the world. In 1996 to the Australian rock band AC/DC, it was known as a place for them jam in front of a sold out crowd. Today in front of 22,000 people, Patrick McEnroe’s United States Davis Cup team was looking to rock the house in their own way, in hopes of beating a heavily favored Spanish team led by four-time defending French Open champion Rafael Nadal (pictured) and World No. 5 David Ferrer, who is no stranger to success on red clay.Earlier in the week James Blake withdrew from this week’s Davis Cup semifinal tie due to physical and mental exhaustion, then came the news that doubles great Bob Bryan would be withdrawing due to an aggravated left shoulder injury. If the defending champions wanted to shock the world by defeating host Spain and win a match that people think is impossible, veteran Andy Roddick and team rookie Sam Querrey would have to do the unthinkable.
Three weeks ago in New York, Querrey gave Nadal all he could handle in their fourth round encounter at the US Open. Although Querrey played an incredible debut Davis Cup match against the world’s greatest clay court player, Nadal was the one who came out victorious. Despite the loss, Querrey can feel that his Davis Cup debut was a successful one. The current World No. 1 and defending Wimbledon champion came back from a set and a break down to beat the California native, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, to put the Spaniards ahead 1-0. Nadal broke the young American on four occasions, while smashing 59 winners, including 25 off of his forehand side. The 6’6” American, who won his first career title in the spring in Las Vegas, slammed 17 aces and 76 winners, but sprayed 74 unforced errors in the loss.
In an instant classic, David Ferrer came from behind to end Andy Roddick’s nine match Davis Cup winning streak, as he beat the American for the fourth time in six tries, winning, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2, 4-6, 8-6. In the over three hour battle, Ferrer was the one who was able to rise to the occasion at the big moments, as he was able to break serve three times on four chances, while Roddick broke serve six times on thirteen occasions, but hit 54 unforced errors. In the fifth set, Ferrer found himself up a break at 2-1 as the Spanish fans were cheering loudly for their man, but quickly Roddick broke back and then held to take a 3-2 lead. As the momentum shifted towards Roddick, it quickly turned into a serving battle as the American missed out on several opportunities to break serve and close out the match. At 6-6, Roddick missed some shots he isn’t accustomed to missing and Ferrer took charge breaking serve to go up 7-6, and then easily served out the match to give the Spaniards a commanding 2-0 lead. Roddick now falls to 0-7 lifetime against Top 10 players on clay courts.
In a huge match for the Americans tomorrow afternoon, Mardy Fish will team up with Mike Bryan and will most likely take on the Spanish duo of Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. Spain Captain Emilio Sanchez hinted however, that he might flip around his lineup before the lineup card needs to be set. That line up could include either Nadal or Ferrer or even both of them.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Argentines had little trouble earning a 2-0 lead against Russia, as David Nalbandian and Juan Martin Del Potro were both victorious.
Nalbandian defeated Igor Andreev, 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-4, to improve his singles Davis Cup record to 16-3, while his overall record including doubles is at 26-6. Nalbandian smashed 53 winners, including three aces, while saving all three break points he faced.
Del Potro, currently ranked No. 13 and one of the hottest players on the ATP Tour since mid summer, steam rolled World No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. Since losing at Wimbledon, Del Potro has won 24 of his last 25 singles matches.
Nalbandian defeated Igor Andreev, 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-4, to improve his singles Davis Cup record to 16-3, while his overall record including doubles is at 26-6. Nalbandian smashed 53 winners, including three aces, while saving all three break points he faced.
Del Potro, currently ranked No. 13 and one of the hottest players on the ATP Tour since mid summer, steam rolled World No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. Since losing at Wimbledon, Del Potro has won 24 of his last 25 singles matches.
The Argentine’s have not lost on home soil in 10 years and will host either Spain or the United States if they can win one more match this weekend. The Davis Cup finals will be played the weekend of November 21-23.
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2 comments:
What a performance from both David Nalbandian and Juan Martin Del Potro. Neither did had much that much touble against the Russians.
I was expecting a close game between Del Potro and Davydenko. But the Russians just proves that he does not have the motivation to be in this team.
Now we will look forward to the double and I do hope that Argentina will close this tie by today.
So what did you think about Nalbandian and Del Potro performance? Would certainly love to hear fom you.
http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com/2008/09/david-del-potro-gives-argentina-2-0.html
Nalbandian and Del Potro both came out firing on Day One of Davis Cup in Argentina, which I thought would be the case. The Argentine's haven't lost on home soil in 10 years.
Nalbandian has had a average year so far, but you know he can ALWAYS step it up when he needs to. An example of that was last year when his ranking dipped to the 20's and he then won two straight Masters Series titles to finish the year in the Top 10.
Del Potro has a very bright future if he can keep this high level of tennis up. He has been playing remarkable tennis since Wimbledon. Winning four titles leading up to the US Open and the very impressive winning streak is amazing for someone so young, with not a lot of match experience in the later rounds of tournaments.
I knew both Argentine's would take care of the Russians on Day One, but I didn't expect Del Potro to dismantle Davydenko, so easily.
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