[DC]Kafelnikov and Youzhny Edge Russia Closer to Victory
http://www.daviscup.com/news/matchreport.asp?id=12296#
The Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev explained at Thursday's draw why
he hadn't nominated Yevgeny Kafelnikov for Friday's singles. He wanted
to save the four-time Grand Slam doubles champion for doubles.
And it was a good solution, Kafelnikov combining for the first time with
Mikhail Youzhny to defeat the experienced Czech pairing of Martin Damm and
Cyril Suk 76(1) 46 63 63 in their Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first
round tie in Ostrava. The title holders now go into the final day with a 2-1
lead.
"There was no turning point in the match, not even from 1-3 to 6-3 in the
third set. All sets were decided on one or two points. The team which played
consistently on the most important points won," Kafelnikov said after the
match. He was the dominant player of the Russian pairing and proved why he
has won 25 ATP doubles titles.
Kafelnikov used the whole clay court in the Palac Kultury Sportu Vitkovice,
and his finesse at the net and lobs were breathtaking to the 5000 fans in
the venue. "He had some ups and downs but he played really well on the
important points," said Damm.
The Czechs were the first to lose serve when 36-year-old Suk double-faulted
in the seventh game of the first set. But Kafelnikov failed to serve out for
the set at 5-4, making two double faults, and the Czech pair levelled at 5-5.
The tiebreak was completely in the hands of the visitors. The Russians played
more aggressively to lead 4-0 and went on to convert their first set point.
The Czechs didn't lose hope, breaking Youzhny immediately in the first game
of the second set. With no more break points in the set, the experienced
thirty-year-olds went on to level the match and also built up a 3-1 lead in
the third set. But that was still not enough to beat the Russians.
"That [the third set] was probably the turning point of the match," Suk said.
"We were not very lucky in the first set tiebreak, but after we lost a 3-1
lead in the third set, Russia started to play better and more aggressively,"
the world’s eleventh-ranked doubles player added.
His partner agreed. "We lost my serve a strange way, and in the next games,
especially Youzhny started to play really great. He served well and his
returns were beautiful," said Damm, who has lost all of his five doubles in
Davis Cup.
Youzhny's consistent play, not only at the net, and Kafelnikov's doubles
experience helped the Russians make the two vital breaks in the third set
and another three in fourth. The Czech duo saved the first match point when
Youzhny sent a return into the net, but a down-the-line backhand winner from
Kafelnikov guaranteed the second point for the away team.
But Suk didn't regret changing his role of non-playing captain for a role of
an active player. "It was a team decision when Jiri Novak confirmed that he
wouldn't like to play doubles. We didn't want to let Stepanek play in Davis
Cup for the first time on all three days. And you can never know if any other
doubles pair would play better than me and Martin. We played a good match but
the Russians were just better.”
The defending champions need just one point for a place in the quarterfinals
but Kafelnikov doesn't expect a change of nominations for Sunday's singles.
"As I said before I don't feel prepared enough for best-of-five sets matches.
And Mikhail (Youzhny) and Nikolay (Davydenko) are in a good shape," he added.
The last time the Czech Republic made a successful comeback from 2-1 down was
in a World Group first round tie against India in Pribram in 1997.
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小弟這次和FILA簽約真是簽對了，這次的衣服不錯看XD
捷克的...是隊服？
--
我是一隻小火雞，
快樂的生活在沙皇的農城裡~~
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