Look Out – Some of the Russians Aren’t Coming
03 Apr 2003 - Club Atletico River Plate, Buenos Aires, ARG - Andrew Rigby
Look Out – Some of the Russians Aren’t Coming
The Russians pulled something of a surprise for their Davis Cup by BNP
Paribas quarterfinal against Argentina in Buenos Aires by omitting Marat
Safin and Mikhail Youzhny from their singles line-up.
Instead Nikolay Davydenko will face David Nalbandian in the Friday’s
first singles, followed by Gaston Gaudio against Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
At a packed draw ceremony today, held in the plush surroundings of the
Hotel Emperador, captain Shamil Tarpischev was somewhat reluctant to be
drawn on why he had decided to nominate Nikolay Davydenko and Yevgeny
Kafelnikov – yes, the Yevgeny Kafelnikov who said he would retire at
the end of the last year if Russia won the Davis Cup, which they did,
and who then also said he would only play doubles for Russia this year
– for the singles matches.
Certainly he did say yesterday that Safin had aggravated an ankle injury
in practice at the Club Atletico River Plate, and anyone who watched
Youzhny practising yesterday could see that he was far from happy with
his form: more than one ball felt the force of his frustration.
For their part, the Argentines stuck to the script, nominating David
Nalbandian and Gaston Gaudio for the singles and Nalbandian and Arnold
for the doubles. Since Safin is nominated alongside Kafelnikov for the
doubles, there is the prospect of a repeat of the epic doubles from last
year’s semifinal in Moscow, when Nalbandian and Arnold won after five
sets and six hours twenty minutes of play – the longst doubles rubber
in Davis Cup history and the longest rubber of any kind since the
introduction of the tie-break. A repeat in the heat of Buenos Aires, on
the clay in front of a noisy Argentine crowd, would test Safin’s ankle
and Kafelnikov’s resilience.
As things stand, Nalbandian would face Kafelnikov in the fourth rubber
on Sunday while Gaudio and Davydenko could be thrust centre stage to
play the potentially decisive fifth rubber. However, with uncertainty
surrounding Kafelnikov’s readiness, physical and mental, to play three
best of five set matches on clay in three days, Safin could find himself
called upon on Sunday, as could the hero of last year’s final Mikhail
Youzhny.
Similarly, Mariano Zabaleta is ready to step up for the Argentine team,
who seem very relaxed and to be enjoying each other’s company. Star
of the show so far has been Lucas Arnold’s young child, who was present
at the official dinner last night and also at the draw today.
Of course it would be unwise to underestimate a Russian team, even one
lacking form and away from home on clay.
“I am surprised but not happy,” said Argentine Captain Gustavo Luza
on Safin’s absence from the singles.
“The Russians beat the Czech Republic on clay [in the first round]
without Safin, so it will be very tough.
“I will be happy only on Sunday [if we win].”
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It looks like being a tense and highly competitive weekend. The action
gets underway at 10:30am local time (1330 GMT) on Friday, and you can
follow the scores live here at www.daviscup.com.
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