[DC]Defending Champions Russia Ousted by Arg …

看板ALL-RUSSIANS作者MARSAFIN (Don't Dream It's Over)時間22年前 (2003/04/06 11:38)推噓0(0推 0噓 0→)

留言0則, 0人參與討論串1/1

http://www.daviscup.com/popup/mediagallery.asp?id=12394&current=1595 ↑圖 http://www.daviscup.com/news/interviewaudio.asp?id=12397 ↑小弟的interview http://www.daviscup.com/news/interviewaudio.asp?id=12398 ↑阿根廷家的Arnold的interview Russia’s defence of the Davis Cup is over after Argentia won the doubles rubber in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterinal in Buenos Aires today. After Lucas Arnold and David Nalbandian’s 36 64 63 63 victory over Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Mikhail Youzhny (a late replacement for the injured Marat Safin), achieved today in two hours 36 minutes, the Argentines now hold an unassailable 3-0 lead and are through to the semifinals. There they will face Spain, with Spain holding the home advantage September 19-21, although as both countries favour clay this may not be as much of a decisive factor as it often can be in Davis Cup. "Spain has a good team and will be favourites because they are at home," said Argentina Captain Gustavo Luza. "I hear they plan [to hold] the final in Madrid, so I think they believe they will beat us, but we will do our best." The Russians began today as you would expect a team desperate to hold on to its title would: determined, aggressive and clearly ready for a struggle. Nalbandian and Arnold by contrast seemed a little lacklustre, and Arnold in particular appeared to find it hard to get into the tie, having not played singles yesterday. A couple of double faults in his opening service game also suggested some nerves; the game was lost and Russia had an early 2-0 lead. The match then settled into a pattern of: frequent breaks of serve punctuated by the occasional hold. Arnold lost his serve again at 3-2 to Argentina, a weak double fault again to blame, and it was then that the Russians – for the first time in the whole tie – strung several good games together. After breaking Nalbandian for 5-3, some brave serving by Kafelnikov, including an ace at break point down, closed out the set 63; game and tie on. Stung into action, the Argentines responded by upping their consistency, and were soon 3-0 up having broken the Kafelnikov serve. The only period in the match where service was routinely held then followed, and the Argentines levelled at one set all after taking the second 63. Normal service was soon resumed, so to speak: the first five games of the third set were all breaks of serve. Finally, Nalbandian held convincingly for 4-2, and despite a wobble on Arnold’s serve yet again they kept the advantage to win the set 64. Although Argentina were now only one set away from the semifinal, there was still no real momentum or pattern to the match. Occasional brilliant exchanges were too often separated by rather ordinary passages of play, and the crowd was clearly finding it difficult to get into the match, despite Nalbandian’s energetic encouragement. Breaks were again exchanged at the start of the fourth set, and then yet again to leave the score level at 3 all. The match was there for someone to take it by the scruff of the neck, and Nalbandian duly obliged. A flashing forehand crosscourt pass broke Kafelnikov, before Nalbandian himself held serve for 5-3. This time, the crowd didn’t need his encouragement, as the temporary stands shook with Argentine excitement. Russian resistance flickered at 15-40 on Youzhny’s serve, as two of the best points of the match brought it back to deuce. But again Nalbandian was the difference, a winning return setting up a third match and tie point. This time Argentina was not to be denied, and a stinging drive from guess who – Nalbandian – forced the error from Youzhny. "In my heart I expected it," said a delighted Argentine captain, Gustavo Luza, aftewards. "I knew it would be a tough match with lots of service breaks, but it turned out well for us in the end." As the crowd danced, music blared from the loudspeakers and champagne flowed on court, the Russians trudged off almost unnoticed, a sad end to their reign as Davis Cup Champions. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw) ◆ From: 61.225.197.74