Ok time for a different tennis post, this one is on the Davis cup, which took place this weekend, which is basically the world cup of men's tennis, and players from their respective countries play as a team, with most of the world's top players doing their bit.
So as a quick update, I'll start with the main world group tie results, with the defending champions, the Czeck Republic, who managed to maintain their defence, as they beat Kazahkstan 3-1, with Lukas Rosol finsihing things off to take the lead they need to reach the semi finals. In another tie result, France lost in a tight tie against Argentina as the victory was sealed by the loud grunting Carlos Berlocq (who cheesed off Andy Murray when they played in Indian Wells! ;-)) with a 3-2 result.
And in another world group tie, Serbia, the former defending champions took on the USA, with Novak Djokovic headlining the team. With Nole in the team for Serbia, they had to be the favourites for the singles matches, however the Yanks have the Bryan brothers for the doubles, the best doubles team in the world. So to get onto the singles matches, the first one was between Nole and the big John Isner, and after a tight first set, it was Djokovic that went on to take full control of the match, with only a small chance of Isner fighting back in the 3rd set, but Nole went on to break to win in 7-6, 6-2, 7-5, to win the first point for Serbia. In the 2nd singles rubber, Sam Querrey battled it out to level the scores as he dug out a 5 set win against Viktor Troicki with a 7-6, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory.
However the real fate of the contest would be decided on the doubles day as the world's best doubles team, the Bryan brothers took on the Serb team, Nenand Zimonjic and the unknown Illija Bozoljac. Naturally the Bryans looked to be the hot favourites to win the match and take the 2-1 lead they needed to move ahead. However the Serb team put together an inspired performance, particularly from the unknown Bozoljac, and took a two sets to love lead against the Americans, before the double duo fought back to level the scores at two sets all. And the decider was a real marathon as both teams refused to budge on serve until the Serbs managed to get the crucial break at 14-13, with Zimonjic finally serving it out to gain the vital 2-1 lead against the USA, coming through an epic encounter in 7-6, 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 15-13. This was a real upset and totally unexpected, and while Zimonjic is a well established doubles player, Ilija Bozoljac (I'll resist the temptation to nickname him as Bozo!) was a total unknown, who's double ranking was in the 1000s! So it was quite an incredible performance from the Serb who served brilliantly throughout the match and pretty much in a way was the hero of the tie for their country.
As for what was to be the deciding singles rubber, between Novak Djokovic and Sam Querrey, it promised to be an intruiging one. However Djokovic early on in the first set twisted his ankle, which put the match under threat, but after taking a medical timeout and having his ankle strapped, Nole fought on and dug in to take the first set. In the 2nd set, Novak was clearly struggling with his ankle somewhat, which allowed for Querrey to dominate some of the points, and the set went to a breaker, which Querrey won to level the match. However from the 3rd set onward, Nole took total control of the match as Querrey fell to pieces in spectacular fashion, dropping his serve no less than five times (or maybe six!) to let Djoko seal his country's place in the semi finals with a triumphant 7-5, 6-7, 6-1, 6-0 victory, and a 3-1 score for the tie.
It just goes to show even if he looks down, you can never ever count Novak Djokovic out, and after turning his ankle, things did look pretty dodgy for him. But like all great champions do, Nole toughed it out and obviously he wanted to fight to try and get the win for his country, which he certainly did, as he romped to victory taking 11 of the last 12 games. As for Djokovic's ankle well it remains to be seen if there will be any damage as a result of his playing on it in this match. However I'm sure that Nole will be fine for the clay court season as it starts up in a week's time at the Rolex Monte Carlo masters.
So now moving onto Great Britain's tie against Russia, as both teams were competing to try and win a place in the world group play offs in September. And obviously Great Britain, given their lack of Andy Murray in this tie, and their lower ranked players, were the underdogs going into this tie, so to pull off an upset victory seemed a big big ask.
And from the first day it looked to be just that, as despite fighting valiantly in their first two rubber matches, it was Russia that took the early 2-0 lead on Friday. In the first match Dan Evans, the British No.6 (ranked outside the top 300!) faced the Russian No.1 (well in the absence of their actual No.1, Mikhail Youzhny) Dimitri Tursinov. Tursinov despite his much higher ranking of 67, was given quite a good run for his money from Evans however, as Evo took the opening set, and despite dropping the 2nd and 3rd, fought back to level things in the 4th. And in the 5th it was Tursinov's experience that finally got him through to take the first rubber, after a hard fought 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 battle. And James Ward, the British No.2, took on Eugene Donskoy, and it was Wardy that got off to the better start as he took a confident two sets to love lead. However from here it was Donskoy who fought back to level the match at two sets apiece, and in the 5th, we were treated to a real tight contest, but it was the Russian that made it over the line, edging Ward in 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 8-6, to take an ominous 2-0 lead.
On the second day however, the Brits started their fightback as the doubles partnership of Colin Fleming, and current Wimbledon doubles champion, Jonathan Marray put in a great performance in thrashing the Russian team Kunitsyn and Baluda in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, to keep GB's hopes alive. And on Sunday, with the odds firmly against team GB it was down to James Ward and Dan Evans to try and come up with two inspired performances to try and pull off a massive upset.
Which brings onto the first match of the day between James Ward and Dimitri Tursinov, and despite their gap in rakings by about 150 places, it was Ward that got off to a great start, breaking Tursy to take the opening set. However things started to look sticky for GB when Tursy fought back, and started to cut down on his errors, and get his fearsome forehand working as he went on to take a 2 sets to 1 lead. But Wardy was not done yet as in the 4th set he found more inspiration as he broke Trusy early on and went on confidently to hold his serve to level the match. And in the decider, it was with one of the best performances of his career so far that Ward once again managed to break the Russian, and held his nerve to serve it out to level the tie for GB with a much needed and thrilling victory in 6-4, 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. And in the final and decisive rubber, between Dan Evans and Evgeny Donskoy, it was Dan, who once again showed off his skills and his new found nack at sealing crucial tie matches for his team, as he raced to victory and outplayed his significantly higher ranked opponent with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 win.
It has to be said that I myself was hugely sceptical of GB pulling off this one, as the contests continue, the teams get tougher and the opponents become higher ranked. But the Davis cup GB team deserve nothing but credit for their terrific efforts and performances this weekend at the Ricoh arena in Coventry. And even in the first day Dan and James put in terrific gutsy efforts, despite their losses they came very close indeed, and to turn it around on the final day was nothing short of superb. Its also even more incredible an achievement considering just the gulf in rakings between the GB and Russian singles players, with Dan Evans ranked 325 in the world, having taken down Evgeny Donskoy who is ranked 80, and James Ward ranked 215 beating Tursinov who is ranked 67 in the world! And on the basis of this, its more than safe to say that both these guys are playing well above their ranking, and if anything they should be ranked even higher. But I suppose that is also the advantage of playing for a team in Davis cup, as it brings the best of its players, given the right support and attitude, they can pretty much do anything.
And while it was a terrific collective effort from the team and another terrific victory for Leon Smith, who has enjoyed six out of seven wins in his tenure as the Davis cup GB team captain, the real hero of the tie this weekend was James Ward. Ward by beating Tursinov to level the match no doubt gave his team the inspiration and belief they needed and no doubt it urged on Evans to the team's victory. And it showed great guts and determination from Ward to fight back from 2 sets to 1 down, and throughout the match he put in a superb serving performance, as he fired down 31 aces in all. And with performances like this it would be great to see Ward try and push his ranking even higher in the future, and if he can try and maintain a similar level he can just that.
As for the next tie, well it will be in September and it says team GB reach the world group play offs, and hopefully Andy Murray will be set to play in the tie, and let's hope he does as they sure will need him. And while I appreciate that the top players, such as Andy have hectic schedules throughout the year, I do find it disappointing at times when he doesn't play in Davis cup, so let's hope he can adhere to his promise as sooner or later his team really will need him, and with his help they should definitely make that transition into the world groups. And it is yet to be confirmed but there is a chance out of the eight teams GB could face in the world group play-offs in September could be either Switzerland or Spain! Now, do we know any players from those countries???? Maybe! And if the GB team are to face either team in September then they will definitely need Andy Murray on their side! Although it depends on who they play, it could be either a home or an away match, as if they play Spain it would be away, and if it were Switzerland it would be at home. But the chances of a match up with Andy and Roger or Rafa would no doubt prove too tantalising for Andy to turn down, and he has so far said he will play in September, so let's hope for the sake of his team that he does.
So that's it for now, a big well done again to team GB and of course to the world group teams, the Czecks, Serbia and Argentina in making through with Canada facing off Italy just now for the final place in the semis. So more to follow next week once the clay season kicks off for the men in Monte Carlo.
Until next time, bye for nowww!
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