[DC]Belarus Crushes Argentina to Reach Semis

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Belarus Crushes Argentina to Reach Semis 10 Apr 2004 Belarus has crushed Argentina 3-0 to reach the semifinals of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas for the first time in the nation's history. Having both won their singles matches yesterday without the loss of a set, Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov teamed up to win today's doubles rubber defeating Argentina's Lucas Arnold and Agustin Calleri 63 64 61 in just under two hours. In the nation's first year in the World Group, Belarus will travel to either the United States or Sweden in September for the semifinal. "Now everything I have is great emotions," said Belarus Captain Sergei Teterin. "Right after our doubles victory, I remembered our pair's start in the Davis Cup. 10 years ago in Africa, 16-year-old Max and 17-year old Vladimir battled under the scorching sun [in Europe/African Zone Group III in the Ivory Coast]. "I'd like to say a big thank you to our guys who have been working for this achievement for ten years. I want to thank everyone who helped us to win: parents, trainers, doctors, our fans..." The situation generated after the first day of the tie became today a real sensation on a worldwide scale. Before the Minsk duel the majority of tennis experts had no doubt that Argentina, occupying fifth place in the ranking of the best Davis Cup teams on the planet, was the general favourite. But in the absence of their leaders Guillermo Coria and David Nalbandian, the Argentines became unprepared to resist the hosts. Both Agustin Calleri and Guillermo Canas did get accustomed enough to the fast surface of the Minsk Football Manege. Furthermore, Canas had some trouble with his injured knee and did not acclimatize for a struggle against the powerful Mirnyi. Three years ago in a World Group Play-off tie in Cordoba, Argentina duet Canas and Luis Lobo defeated Mirnyi and Voltchkov in a five-set match lasting four hours 35 minutes. Before today's rubber, a strong Argentine doubles pair - 29-year-old Lucas Arnold, the most experienced Davis Cup player, and their No. 1 player this weekend Agustin Calleri - had three wins together. As for the Belarusian team, Mirnyi and Voltchkov have been playing as a pair for nine years. Their statistics were impressive: 13 wins and only four lost matches. But more important was the fact that Mirnyi and Voltchkov had not lost any of the five doubles rubbers played in their native land, which is why Belarusian journalists and spectators were sure of their victory. The main aim for their opponents was to forget about Friday's failures and, now having had experience of playing on the Taraflex carpet, to try to save the quarterfinal tie. The doubles rubber was a crucial point in the tie. The presentation ceremony was opened by Mikhail Pavlov, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Mayor of Minsk City who stated the hope that this match between Belarus and Argentina would contribute to a closer rapport and friendship between the two nations. Belarus began the first set very confidently, easily winning two games on their own serve. Voltchkov received well, Mirnyi served strongly (highest 1st serve speed - 222 kph) and played powerfully from the baseline. The Argentines started the match slowly. Arnold was the obvious leader of the two, playing more sharply and precisely. In the fifth game, when the score was equal at 22, Calleri and Arnold had two break points on Mirnyi's serve. The situation repeated itself in the seventh game on Voltchkov's serve, but both times the Belarusian pair managed to level the score and to take away their opponents' serve. The next game became decisive: Volthkov operated at the net with a sharpness for 53, and soon the first set was theirs, 63. In the second set, Mirnyi and Voltchkov frequently played to Calleri, who was nervous and often made errors when he received the ball. The teams traded breaks for 44, but after that the Belarusians broke Calleri's serve and finished the set 64. The last part of the rubber went without any struggle. Arnold and Calleri were broken psychologically and lost the last set without serious resistance, 61, to end Argentina's hopes of reaching the Davis Cup semifinals. "The only song I'd like to sing now is[We Are the Champions]by Queen," said a delighted Mirnyi. "When we made our first steps in the World Group of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, I thought we had no chances in any tie against the world's best teams. First we have beaten Germany, then Russia. The team of Argentina like a soccer team, they have more than 20 players in the top 100." Meanwhile Argentine Captain Gustavo Luza cut an altogether more dejected figure. "Why did I leave Chela out of my team? Because he did not want to play. If I could, I would change only the surface, that played a big role in their victory. There is no other country which plays on such a quick carpet. "Belarus could win the Davis Cup on this Taraflex surface." The only good news for the USA or Sweden is that Belarus will be away in the semifinals. -- 原來Chela不想來啊.... -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.230.104.120