If you follow this blog you know I have a little thing for Arnie.
I was sad when he retired last year. But look, he's still around.
He's the new French Davis Cup captian. Woo hoo.
First day of round 1 he led his boys Jo-Willie and Reeeeshard to wins.
One more rubber victory and it's on to the quarterfinals.
Spain d Austria 4-1
The defending champions prove that they don't need Rafa to cruise.
The Spanish Armada are looking for their 6th DC since 2000.
US d France 3-2
Hey Spain, you may not want to play on clay...
This was another big DC weekend for John Isner. And the Bryan Bros.
The American boys are looking for their 1st DC title since 2007.
Czech Republic d Serbia 4-1
Whatever.
Argentina d Croatia 4-1
Argentina has never won the DC. Nalbandian has been to 3 finals.
I doubt many would mind if he retired with a win on his resume. This year?
It's definiately a strong enough team.
Photos: Getty Images & Reuters
Davis Cup 2012 - First Round
Ryan Harrison d Michael Lammer - 76(0) 76(4)
A sweep of Switzerland seemed improbable 3 days ago.
And possibly even more significant...
Today was Ryan's debut match and win in DC play.
Sure it was a dead rubber but welcome to the club.
He may just be the new Andy Roddick for the US DC team.
Definitely one to watch.
Davis Cup 1st Round: US d Switzerland 3-0
There's no way I would have ever thought RF would lose 2 matches in 2 days.
That's just crazy.
And they made the American's play on clay in Roger's home country.
In both matches (singles & doubles) he won the 1st set and lost in 4.
I doubt it'll sting for too long...
Roger is the top seed at Rotterdam next week - with a nice draw.
As for the surprised US team - well done guys.
Big, big win for Isner yesterday - biggest win of his career, in fairness.
The US will play the winner of Canada/France - away, again.
Forget Spain - this may just be the best looking Davis Cup team ever.
Team Serbia will continue to defend their title in July against Sweden.
Photo: Stevanovic/Milosavljevic
Sorry guys, busy weekend. Couldn't quite keep up...
***
Serbia d India --- 4-1
Sweden d Russia --- 3-2
Kazakhstan d Czech Republic --- 3-2
Argentina d Romania --- 4-1
USA d Chile --- 4-1
Spain d Belgium --- 4-1
Germany d Croatia --- 3-2
France d Austria --- 3-2
Congrats. I love Jim!
Let me qualify that - I love him now.
I was hating him when he beat my man Andre Agassi in the French final.
And I was hating him even more when he beat my other man Stefan Edberg...
in back-to-back Australian Open finals.
I guess if I had it my way Jim would only have one Slam - his 2nd French.
As the new Davis Cup captain it was nice to see him start with a win.
The US team traveled to Santiago and beat Chile 4-1.
They will next play Spain in the US...
Andy Roddick factor: Something tells me it might just be held in Austin.
That would be a class touch.
Enjoy the win boys. Next stop: Indian Wells.
Thiemo De Bakker tweeted this photo of Robin Haase today.
He captioned it: Fed Cup team is ready to go.
Thiemo and Robin are in Ukraine playing the Davis Cup playoffs.
Thiemo won his match today, Robin alas, lost.
Even still guys - LOL.
Ready. Set. Tomorrow.
Photos: Reuters/ Getty Images
I love that he doesn't have 'people' to lug his bags around for him.
Just like me. Except my watch is worth about $30.
Rafa: I'm here because i'm 100% fit.
This weekend will be good prep for the Indian Wells and Miami swing.
Where he was a semifinalist at both events last year.
Nice to see Rafa back. Where he belongs. On a competitive tennis court.
Cool.
Photos: AP
Serbia beats France: 3-2
R4 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) d Gael Monfils (France) - 62 62 64
R4 Viktor Troicki (Serbia) d Michael Llodra (France) - 62 62 63
Serbia came back from 1-2 deficit heading into today's matches.
Smart money was always on a live 5th rubber.
Captain Forget subbed Troicki for Tipsarevic.
It was an inspired moved as he mowed down French sub Llodra.
And so a national hero was born.
Djoker's Hall of Fame checklist: Slam, check. DC win, check. #1, coming...
Novak: This is the best moment of my career and probably of my nation.
This is like winning the World Cup for us.
Afterward the team made good on their promise: shaved heads in victory.
Well done - time to celebrate boys.
Photos: Reuters/Getty Images
R3 Arnaud Clement & Michael Llodra d Nenad Zimonjic & Viktor Troicki -
36 67(3) 64 75 64 - EPIC.
Great win for Arnaud this late in his career...
Captain Guy Forget called his performance, "a lighthouse in the fog."
The last 5 finals have been won by the winners of the doubles point.
Remember: The team of Clement & Llodra won Wimbledon in 2007.
Also 'memba: Serbia did come back from 1-2 in the Sf's against Czech team.
If you regularly read this blog than you know I'm totally gay for Arnaud!
Eff it. Here's one more. Cuz he done me sooooo proud:
Photos: Reuters/Getty Images
Pretty much as expected, no?
R1: Gael Monfils (France) d Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) - 61 76(4) 60
R2: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) d Gilles Simon (France) - 63 61 75
Doubles tomorrow... decisions, decisions, decisions.
Brewing: I am always happy when Davis Cup ties are decided on Sunday.
***
Photos: Gael from Getty Images / Novak from Reuters
The fun begins tomorrow in Belgrade. Live on Tennis Channel in the States.
R1 Janko Tipsaervic (Serbia) vs Gael Monfils (France)
R2 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs Gilles Simon (France)
R3 Zimonjic/Troicki (Serbia) vs Llodra/Clement (France)
R4 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs Gael Monfils (France)
R5 Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) vs Gilles Simon (France)
Photos: Taken from the Davis Cup website
Team Captian Obradovic: The surface is, of course, prepared for my team. They like to play on it. We already beat a couple of teams on this surface.
Obradovic: I spoke to Janko and Viktor. Tomorrow they're going to have one more practice and then we're going to make the decision.
Novak Djokovic: I came here on Sunday so I’ve had time to rest a little bit. Now I'm ready to practice and give my best throughout the weekend.
Photo & Quotes: Getty Images & Davis Cup Twitter page
Guy Forget: We wish we would have a big stadium like this in France. It's very nice. I think it's made for big moments like this one.
Michael Llodra: It's always an honour to play for your country. I beat Djokovic in Bercy but Davis Cup is totally different than ATP events.
A journalist asked about Gasquet not liking Llodra which produced a kiss. Mmm, didn't a kiss get you in some trouble before?
Arnaud Clement: I'm ready for doubles. I don't know yet if I'm going to play, that's a question for the captain, but I'm ready to go on court.
Action begins Friday - live on Tennis Channel.
Handsy: What exactly is going on there Gilles?
Photos: Davis Cup & Gael Monfils Twitter pages
Gael tweeted this pic today, captioned: On our way back to the hotel.
Look! '07 Wimbledon doubles champs Arnaud Clement & Michael Llodra.
Above you got your team captain Guy Forget with Richard Gasquet.
Below you have the top ranked Frenchman, Gael Monfils.
OK, twist my arm - another pic of Arnaud. J'adore!
And Gilles Simon. Hmm, 3 singles players for 2 slots. What's a Guy to do?
Photo: Getty Images/Reuters/Gael's Twitter
Davis Cup 2013 Quarterfinal Results
Serbia d USA: 3-1
Major props to Ilija & Nenad for that stunning upset of the Bryan Bros.
I don't think anybody saw that coming.
It's been 20+ years since a #1 has played Davis Cup on US soil.
Boise got him. And then Nole twisted his ankle in his 2nd match.
Hope he's not too hobbled to play Monte-Carlo.
Argentina d France: 3-2
This was the only tie this weekend that went to a 5th rubber.
Berlocq's epic upset of Simon turned him into the unlikely team hero.
I hope he bought up all those newspapers.
Czech Rep. d Kazakhstan: 3-1
Bleh.
Finally Lukas Rosol has something else to talk about.
Canada d Italy: 3-1
This was the other tie with an insane doubles rubber - 15-13 in the 5th set.
Canada had never advanced to the Qf's before. Why stop there?
Their Sf will pit them against Serbia - in Serbia. Hmmm.
Posted at 08:34 AM in Commentary, David Nalbandian, Davis Cup, Juan Monaco, Milos Raonic, Novak Djokovic, Scores, So Sexy Man, Viktor Troicki | Permalink | Comments (0)
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