[DC]Youzhny Ensures Tie is Level Overnight
Mikhail Youzhny is becoming something of a five-set specialist. The
22-year-old Russian has played in six so far in his career and won
five, his most recent victory coming against Czech Radek Stepanek in
the second match of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas 2003 World Group first
round tie between Czech Republic and Russia in Ostrava - 36 76(8) 67(6)
62 63.
At the end of the first day the score in Ostrava is tied at 1-1, Jiri
Novak winning the day’s opening singles match against Nikolay Davydenko.
Stepanek had a great start in his Davis Cup debut in Davis Cup by BNP
Paribas. He lead 3-0 in the first set and had a breakpoint for 4-0 against
Youzhny, the hero of last year's final in Paris-Bercy. The break of serve
by the Czech No. 2 in the second game of the first set was, however, one
of just two for Stepanek in the whole match which lasted four hours and 15
minutes. It wasn't enough.
"I felt pretty comfortable on the court in the fourth and fifth set having
a lot of confidence," Youzhny said. Immediately after the match Stepanek
could barely find the words to explain his loss. "I am sorry. I am not sad,
but I know that I had some chances," he said after one of the longest matches
of his career.
Stepanek won the first set but the 20-year-old Russian set up a 3-0 lead at
the beginning of the second. The Czech No. 2, four years older than his
opponent and ranked 55 on the ATP Entry Ranking, fought back to level the
set at 3-3 and despite also leading in the tie-break failed to take a set
point, eventually losing the tie-break 10-8.
"This was one of the most important points of the match. I tried to focus
on the tie-break although I was 0-4 down," Youzhny said. Tie-break drama
also resolved the third set – the home player supported by a noisy crowd
turning the tables on Youzhny.
Ultimately, success for the younger but more experienced Youzhny was built
on more aggressive play in final two sets. The Russian started to use his
good serve and strong backhand more and more and Stepanek didn't have an
answer to it. "I knew the best parts of his game were his movement and his
backhand. I tried to attack some of his backhands but I wasn't successful
enough. "I was little bit afraid to take the risk," Stepanek said afterwards.
With the tie now level at 1-1 the decision as to whether Russia can continue
to defend last year's title will be made on Sunday. In tomorrow’s programmer
Czech pair Martin Damm and Cyril Suk will take on Yevgeny Kafelnikov and
Youzhny in the doubles. After today’s marathon five-setter much will depend
on how Youzhny recovers overnight. "Radek played his best tennis on this
surface and I can probably thank him that he made Youzhny tired for Saturday's
doubles," joked Czech captain Robert Krechler.
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喂喂，捷克的老大，你.....
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我是一隻小火雞，
快樂的生活在沙皇的農城裡~~
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