Chile Defeats Czech Republic to Win ARAG ATP …
ARAG ATP WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, MAY 24, 200
Chile Defeats Czech Republic to Win ARAG ATP World Team Championship
Undefeated Fernando Gonzalez helps Chile capture the 26th edition of the event.
Saturday Chile defeated the Czech Republic to claim the 26th edition of the
ARAG ATP World Team Championship in D餷seldorf. Fernando Gonzalez scored a
7-6(4), 7-6(5) win over Jiri Novak. The Chilean became only the second player
after John McEnroe (1984) to go undefeated through the tournament, winning his
four singles and four doubles matches (losing only one set in doubles).
In the second singles match Czech Radek Stepanek evened out the score by
defeating Marcelo Rios 6-3, 7-6(5).
Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu won the decisive doubles match defeating Novak and
Stepanek 6-4, 6-2.
This marked Chile's first appearance in the final of the World Team
Championship in four participations (1978, 1983, 2000).
The two final teams were undefeated in their respective groups. Chile finished
ahead of Argentina, Germany and Sweden in the Blue Group, while the Czech
Republic won the Red Group consisting of Australia, Spain and the United
States.
Czech Republic were aiming for their first crown at the ARAG ATP World Team
Championship competing in their third final (1996, 1998).
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Rios: "First of all, it's a really great feeling being the best of the world
and to win a trophy like this. It's going to be great for Fernando and Nicolas
who are at the beginning of their careers. If they hadn't played that well, we
wouldn't have won the trophy. It's a great tournament and we hope to come back
next year."
"For sure, before we came here there was a lot of expectation about the
tournament. It's the first time that the three of us play together. It's the
first time, we can be together the same week."
Gonzalez: "Tennis is an individual sport. This victory means everything for
us. I am not only happy to win for my team but also for my country. In tennis
you don't have many opportunities." "This year was a tough year. I had an
injury at the beginning of the year. So, last week, I've been playing really
good and this week even better. So, I'm very happy, I'm very happy for my team
and for my country." About being only the second player to win all eight
matches he played
"Yes, I heard it before. It's an honor for me. John McEnroe was a great player
and I'm just in the beginning of my career."
De la Pena (Chilean Captain): "Last year, I had three of my players on court
for the winning team (Argentina), that was a great experience. But, I felt
that something was missing, because I was not the captain. But, this year,
being able to be the captain (for Chile), I fulfilled everything."
Stepanek: "For sure, it's disappointing to lose the final, but we had a really
great week. And it's a big satisfaction to be in the final."
"The highlight was that I played good matches. Every match was close. I think
the doubles was the most important for us. I think it has been a very good
week to compete with the best players in the world in every match."
Novak: "I would like to say that we had a really great week, with great
hospitality from everybody. We played some great matches. We didn't think that
we would make it to the finals because we saw that we saw our group and it was
strong. But, we won all matches except for the final."
"Gonzalez played very well and very powerful, unfortunately I did not succeed
to take the lead in the first and second set. That was the key for his win. Up
to my 4-0-lead in the first set I was playing very fast and immediately found
my rhythm, but then Fernando got into his game. I don't think he played that
much better, he just had more luck."
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