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Post by SAFINNO1 on Feb 11, 2006 21:09:34 GMT 3
he he he, next time it's France vs Russia ;D ;D ;D And the result will be the same as last year.LoL  |
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Feb 11, 2006 21:12:18 GMT 3
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Feb 11, 2006 21:14:15 GMT 3
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Feb 11, 2006 21:14:45 GMT 3
Russians ease into quarterfinals
Russia has decided the first round Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie against the Netherlands after just three rubbers. Mikhail Youzhny and Igor Andreev beat John van Lottum and Raemon Sluiter 62 36 64 64. Sunday’s singles rubbers are now rendered insignificant.
Good day for Youzhny
Both Russians were in good form and eager to show it off, after captain Shamil Tarpishev had left them out of the singles. Youzhny was playing particularly well, playfully combining power and finesse to humiliate his opponents at some points. In the last game of the match, he served a 200 kph ace on his second serve for a match point, then finished it off with another ace. “I just decided to go for it,” Youzhny said.
The 23-year-old was happy to play again, after a series of injuries had troubled him for several months last year. “I played without pain today, which is nice for a change. And the level today was good, but I can't read too much into that. This is doubles and doubles is easy because you have only half a court to cover. I want to get back to the Top 20, but everyone tells me to take time to recover my usual level. Otherwise I may hurt my back again.”
In the first three matches the Russians never once looked like losing. “But it was a tough tie,” said Tarpishev, who as a member of the International Olympic Committee has to be diplomatic and gracious as part of his job. He is flying to the Olympic Winter Games in Turin on Monday morning. “The first rubber could have gone either way and you never know what had [sic] happened if Sluiter had won.”
Originally, Tarpishev hadn't picked Youzhny to play doubles. Nikolay Davydenko had said on Friday that he would ask his captain to leave him out of the doubles, since three matches in three days would cost him too much energy. However, Tarpishev said he and only he had decided who would play. “Davydenko didn't even have time to ask me,” he said with a grin.
Dutch fans impress
Russian tennis has a bright future ahead, said Tarpishev. A full-time Russian tennis channel made its first broadcast recently, with Yevgevy Kafelnikov commentating at this Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie. “What we miss are fans like the Dutch have,” said Andreev, who may have taken some diplomacy classes from his captain. “Tennis is getting ever more popular in Russia, but the support the Dutch guys got from their crowd is something else. Even when they were losing, the crowd kept going. I've never seen that before.”
Russians too good
Meanwhile, the Dutch could only conclude that the Russians were simply better than them. Sluiter and Van Lottum tried to make their greater experience in doubles count, but they couldn't mask the gap in class, with both Russians being in the ATP singles Top 50. Van Lottum somehow inspired the Dutch to take the second set with two breaks, but in the third set normal service was restored.
“They were just too good,” said Van Lottum, who had his serve broken three times. “We didn't even play badly. Andreev was serving like a mad dog and Youzhny's returns were deadly. Hats off to them.” Raemon Sluiter agreed: “Our strong point is the return, but they just served too good to make it count.”
Former Top 20 player Sjeng Schalken has told captain Tjerk Bogtstra that he is not eligible for the Davis Cup now that he is returning to the tennis tour after injuries and illness. Martin Verkerk, another former Top 20 player, is still to make his competitive debut after more than a year's absence due to a shoulder injury. With them being out, are the Netherlands good enough for the Davis Cup World Group?
“I don't know,” said Bogtstra. “No, I think so, I think we belong in the World Group.” Raemon Sluiter, however, disagreed. “Just look at the rankings. Currently I'm the highest-ranked Dutch player at No. 83. Compare that to the other 15 countries in the World Group. We have a difficult future ahead in Davis Cup.”
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Post by Andrada on Feb 11, 2006 21:19:12 GMT 3
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Post by Andrada on Feb 11, 2006 21:20:36 GMT 3
ILY, thank U so much for the wonderful pictures!!!! |
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marats
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Post by marats on Feb 11, 2006 21:32:23 GMT 3
Thanks for the great pics !
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Post by reese on Feb 11, 2006 21:34:53 GMT 3
 Congrats !! ;D Russia - France interesting! Great pics!!! Thank you!!  |
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marats
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Post by marats on Feb 11, 2006 21:36:58 GMT 3
Looking out for the next DC duels !!!
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Feb 11, 2006 23:30:26 GMT 3
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marats
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Post by marats on Feb 11, 2006 23:35:34 GMT 3
Great pic !
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Post by Annie on Feb 12, 2006 10:50:50 GMT 3
he he he, next time it's France vs Russia ;D ;D ;D And the result will be the same as last year.LoL Too bad Annie won't be able to scream her lungs out at the stadium  But hey, I don't mind beating them in Bercy at all!!! LOL I bet they'll lay clay again ;D |
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Post by Annie on Feb 12, 2006 10:53:25 GMT 3
I am soooooooooo very proud of my boys!!! Misha played an incredible match yesterday!!! The way he received serves was unreal!!!! Brillliant game Teddy  Igor - great serving boy!!!!!!!!! Annie is one happy girl ;D ;D ;D Ily thanks for the photos, they are great!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Post by emma on Feb 12, 2006 10:54:23 GMT 3
I don't care if they're beaten as long as Marat is there!!!
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marats
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Post by marats on Feb 12, 2006 14:50:22 GMT 3
I've seen hinghlights from the doubles match with misha ! We'll done !!!
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;D 
