Hi there, guyz.
Just to say I was basically to whole weekend glued to the satellite TV following too many Davis Cup matches.
It was not boring at all. But I'll go in order of importance, starting from where we left off on last Friday.
Safin and Youznhy cruised past A Rod and Blake respectively in the first 2 rubbers on Friday; then, the Bryans’ gave Americans a chance to come back from 0-2 down; in the fourth and decisive rubber, just try to ask yourself rubber who was picked by captain Tarpishev to carry on his shoulders Russian hopes to reach the final of the Davis Cup World Group. Neither Youzhny nor Davydenko. The Russia’s captain chose the worst (on the papers) player on clay he had at disposal, he chose Dima Tursunov. And we must say his strategy, in the end of the day, was so scarily good:
Dima played 2 sets and a half of brilliant tennis, with a perfect mix of power and tricks, and then, after an unbelievable fight back by A Rod who wasn’t played badly at all, won a 4 hours and 48 minutes epic battle (6-3 6-4 5-7 3-6 17-15) and gave “the country of his birth” the ticket to the DC final. Just for the record: Dima was born in Moscow nearly 24 years ago, moved to California at the age of 12, took a green card and was just a step away to take the US citizenship. For the record again: A Rod and Dima equaled the longest-ever singles fifth set in the history of World Group (ex aequo with the final set played in 1985 between the German Michael Westphal and the Czech Tomas Smid).
Hence one may come to one conclusion: Tarpishev is the strategy king! A gambler movin’ on the razor edge whose all the picks worked out. Congrats Shamil, and good luck for December, when Russia will host Argentina to play its third Davis Cup final ever.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Davis Cup: Russia pulled through after dramatic moments.
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Just came back from Moscow and WOW-- I feel like I watched the match of my life!!!
I was there and sensed it all-- don't know if anything could be compared with this match! It's not only 17-15 in the fifth set-- it's fighting deadly for the country's pride, nothing more! Something we lack now... Maybe Davis Cup has right to exist in the selfish tennis world even though it does cause damage to many tennis players...
The crowd was AMAZING!!! Mitya fought because he sensed it (Roddick sensed it too! Boy, did he hate it! ), he had no right to lose... When Roddick was serving for the match at 6-5, believe me, he did not choke! He did the best he could-- it's Tursunov and the crowd that did not let him win!!! And then, game after game, game after game--- Turso kept having problems at his serve (several times started at love 30!) and Roddick had not (most of his games looked easy!), but still, Mitya was playing as that was the last match in his life, as nothing else mattered, and the crowd cheered as it was the last battle for all the Russians...
You should have seen that-- Youzhny and Andreev cheered so hard, jumped up after each point won by Mitya and turned to the crowd that went just crazy! Everyone wanted to kiss Tursunov at that moment! Yeltzin hugged him so hard! Fetisov hugged him too! It looked so personal! All the people were saying "spasibo" to Tursunov because that is how everyone felt!
And finally, don't throw stones into Davydenko-- he wanted to play, he was real sick with the flu, when we saw him on the second day, we knew he could not play! Great wise Tarpishev! He put his bet on character and won!
Frankly, the best thing about this victory is that each player won one match, each participated! The best team Russia ever had! Argentina has no chance!
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