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Post by Annie on Apr 6, 2006 14:35:11 GMT 3
Russia has withdrawn from the Cup again, so Chile is now in. Here is the latest entry list  |
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Apr 7, 2006 18:43:59 GMT 3
Yeah i was notified of this a couple weeks ago by the Tournament Director Holger Tromp , and by the fact the Koyla entered himself into the St Polten tournie in Austria.
I dont see why they could'nt have just sent any other Russian players like Andreev or Youzhny instead of just withdrawing themselves.
Oh well should be a good tournie anyway with some good clay courters involved
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Post by Annie on May 22, 2006 12:33:43 GMT 3
Germany Begin Defense With Win
Germany begins the defence of their ARAG ATP World Team Championship title with a nail-biting win Sunday. The four-time winners beat Italy 2-1 in the first meeting between the two nations since 1981.
Michael Kohlmann and Alexander Waske sealed the crucial points for Germany courtesy of a 6-4, 6-4 doubles victory over Italians Davide Sanguinetti and Filippo Volandri.
Earlier in the day, Nicolas Kiefer had got host nation Germany off to an excellent start at the Rochusclub in north-east of Dusseldorf.
Kiefer, ranked 41 places above Volandri in the INDESIT ATP Rankings, needed one hour and 48 minutes for a 7-6(10), 6-3 win to give Germany a 1-0 lead.
For the first time in the 29-year history of the event, Kiefer became the first player to wear a number on the back of his shirt. The 28-year-old wore ‘Kiefer 69’ as an indication of his support of Hannover 96 football club.
Without the services of Tommy Haas, who withdrew on Thursday due to an illness he picked up at ATP Masters Series Hamburg last week, German captain Patrick Kuehnen looked to Philipp Kohlschreiber.
But Kohlschreiber was unable to give the four-time winners an unassailable lead in the second singles match losing to 33-year-old Davide Sanguinetti 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Twenty-five years ago, the two nations met on the last round robin day of the “Red Group”, with Germany triumphing 3-0 thus ensuring third place in the group after two defeats by Australia and the United States.
Turning out for the German team that day was Uli Pinner, Rolf Gehring and Klaus Eberhard, while Italy was represented by Corrado Barazzutti and Paolo Bertolucci.
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Post by Annie on May 22, 2006 12:35:11 GMT 3
Today's OOP
USA-Croatia
J. Blake I. Ljubicic
R. Ginepri I. Karlovic
Doubles Rubber
Argentina - Czech Republic
G. Gaudio R. Vik
D. Nalbandian T. Berdych
Doubles Rubber
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Post by Annie on May 22, 2006 12:36:27 GMT 3
Two-times Former Champions Chile Beat Spain
Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez spearheaded the Chilean squad to an opening win against Spain in the first round robin tie of the Blue Group of the ARAG ATP World Team Cup in Dusseldorf on Sunday.
Massu got the 2003 and 2004 winners off to a flying start with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in two hours and 24 minutes.
With a vocal support high in the stands on Center Court II, Fernando Gonzalez gave Chile an unassailable 2-0 lead with a 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-3 win over David Ferrer.
Afterwards Massu explained to reporters “there are no favourites in our group, but as a team we Chileans have always been very strong at this event.
“The World Team Championship can boast very good entries this year, there are only Federer and Nadal missing. All other players who are here, want to win the title. I was quite happy with my game against Verdasco today.”
Paul Capdeville and Adrian Garcia made it 3-0 Chile in the doubles rubber, beating Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-2 just as light began to fade on the Rochusclub.
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Post by Annie on May 22, 2006 18:41:51 GMT 3
Oh my...just turned on my TV and there are the Bryan brothers playing Ljuibicic-Karlovic  You can just imagine the serving of Croatians LOL  Ljuibicic looks so short compared to Ivo LMAO ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by Annie on May 22, 2006 19:48:45 GMT 3
Czechs Sweep Past Argentina in Red Group
Radek Stepanek arrived at the ARAG ATP World Team Championships undecided as to whether he would compete for the Czech Republic this week.
On current evidence the ATP Hamburg Masters Series finalist won’t need to play, as Robin Vik and Tomas Berdych stormed to an unassailable 2-0 lead over Argentina in Red Group round robin action at the Rochusclub Monday.
Vik record only his eighth win of the season exacting revenge on Gaudio, who beat the 26-year-old in Kitzbuhel last year.
Vik needed 91 minutes to beat the 2004 Roland Garros winner 7-6(5), 6-3. Afterwards Gaudio expressed his frustration, saying “I think I have to start again from scratch, that’s as bad as I’m playing at present. I am very frustrated and simply only bad on the court.”
This meant all eyes turned to reigning Tennis Masters Cup champion David Nalbandian, but despite holding a 2-0 career-record against Berdych, the Argentine lost 6-4, 6-4.
Nalbandian, who won the Estoril Open three weeks ago and has a 12-2 record on clay, led 4-1 in the second set.
Earlier in the day Stepanek explained his decision, saying; “I played no fewer than twelve matches in the last two weeks, my body presently does not allow me to perform a hundred percent.”
Tournament physician Dr. Ulf Michaelis was forced to agree too, insisting: “He can’t play!”
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Post by SAFINNO1 on May 23, 2006 20:48:38 GMT 3
USA lose opening tie
USA suffered opening group defeats at the ATP World Team Championship on Monday.
In the Blue group, Ljubicic beat American James Blake 5-7 6-3 7-6 (7/4) before Robby Ginepri levelled the scores with a 6-4 7-6 (7-1) victory against Karlovic.
But Ljubicic and Karlovic combined to upset top doubles pair Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan 6-4 7-6 (7/5) and seal a historic win for Croatia.
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Post by Annie on May 23, 2006 23:14:42 GMT 3
I watched the doubles match and was like I hope Marat and Mitya watched that match....the Croatians proved that the Bryans are beatable.... Oh and for once Ivan looked soooooooooooo small on court LMAO ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by SAFINNO1 on May 24, 2006 0:23:18 GMT 3
I watched the doubles match and was like I hope Marat and Mitya watched that match....the Croatians proved that the Bryans are beatable.... Oh and for once Ivan looked soooooooooooo small on court LMAO ;D ;D ;D Yh i watched that in between revising and i think with Marat's booming serve and Mitya solid serve showed that Bryans returns can be questioned but i dont want our boys to get involved in a volleying battle with these boys Also u see Karlovic's serve and think he should be unbeatable, it makes ljubo serve like a underarm!!!!! |
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Post by SAFINNO1 on May 24, 2006 0:23:38 GMT 3
Germany win knocks Argentina out
Waske and Kohlmann celebrate their clinching doubles win
Defending champions Germany will face the Czech Republic for a place in the final of the World Team Championship after winning their second match.
Germany overcame Argentina 2-1 in their Red Group match after Michael Kohlmann and Alexander Waske won the doubles in the deciding rubber.
Argentina's second straight defeat puts them out of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic won their doubles rubber to beat wildcards Italy 2-1 in the other Red Group match.
Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic thrashed Italy's Filippo Volandri 6-1 6-4 to put his country ahead but Italy levelled through Davide Sanguinetti's win over Robin Vik.
But the Czech Republic doubles pairing of Berdych and Leos Friedl saw off Sanguinetti and Volandri 6-2 6-1 to take the match.
The eight-nation field is split into two groups, with the winners of each group advancing to Saturday's final.
Argentina, the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy are in the Red Group, while the United States, Chile, Croatia, and Spain are in the Blue Group.
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Post by Annie on May 24, 2006 9:47:45 GMT 3
Oh naaaaaaah... Argentina out??? Pffftttttt  |
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Post by Annie on May 25, 2006 10:54:56 GMT 3
Croatia to Play Chile in Group Decider
For the second time this week Ivan Ljubicic and Ivo Karlovic secured the tie-winning point for Croatia, in a 2-1 victory over Spain, to set up a mouth-watering play-off with Chile in the final round-robin match of the Blue Group at the ARAG ATP World Championship on Friday.
Ljubicic cast aside the disappointment of losing the opening singles rubber 6-2, 6-2 to Spain’s David Ferrer, as he combined with 6-foot 10-inch Karlovic to beat Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 7-6(4).
Earlier, Mario Ancic won his second career match over Lopez, beating the 24-year-old 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and four minutes.
Spain play their final match against the United States on Friday, both looking to win their first tie of the week.
Czechs Set Up Group Decider With Germany
Tomas Berdych and doubles specialist Leos Friedl propelled the Czech Republic to a first-place tie atop the Red Group, clinching the 2-1 victory over Italy on Tuesday in Duesseldorf to set up an explosive Round Robin clash with home country Germany.
The Czech duo dominated Davide Sanguinetti and Filippo Volandri in the decisive doubles rubber, steamrolling their opponents to secure the 6-2, 6-1 victory in 47 minutes and place themselves in prime position for Saturday’s final.
It capped off a perfect day for Berdych, who moved the Czech Republic to an early lead against the wild card Italians with a powerful opening effort to start play.
Carrying the momentum from his straight-sets upset over World No. 3 David Nalbandian on Monday, the 20-year-old dispatched Italian No. 1 Filippo Volandri in convincing style.
With intermittent rain interrupting play throughout the early afternoon, Berdych made it a point of converting on the opportunities earned. He went a perfect 4 for 4 on his break chances to close out the 6-1, 6-4 victory.
But, as he had done on opening day against Germany, Sanguinetti once again stepped for his country. The veteran, who will be calling it a career at the end of the year, improved to a perfect 2-0 in Duesseldorf singles play, toughing out a three-set contest against Robin Vik.
Vik, who recorded an upset of his own Monday when he defeated Argentine Gaston Gaudio, battled to send the match to a third set. He succeeded in staving off two match points, but ultimately fell to Sanguinetti 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-4.
The Czech Republic has reached the final on three occasions, most recently in 2003 when they fell to Chile. A victorious tie against Germany on Thursday would earn the contingent a chance to vie for their first title at the ARAG ATP World Team Championship.
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Post by SAFINNO1 on May 26, 2006 0:36:41 GMT 3
Germany into World Team Cup final
The Germans had plenty to celebrate in front of 11,800 fans
Germany have booked a place in the World Team Cup final after defying a stunning Czech Republic fightback.
The hosts got off to a bright start in Dusseldorf when Philipp Kohlshreiber beat Robin Vik 6-3 3-6 6-1.
But the Czechs hit back via Tomas Berdych in an epic two-and-a-half hour 6-7 6-3 6-3 win over Nicolas Keifer.
The decisive doubles was even tighter, with Michael Kohlmann and Alexander Waske beating Berych and Leos Friedl 6-4 6-7 10-5.
Afterwards, Kiefer described the event as a "great match from both of us and a very high level".
The Germans will now meet either Chile or Croatia, who play each other on Friday, in the final.
Also on Thursday, Argentina beat Italy 2-1 in a tie that had no bearing on the outcome of the World Team Cup.
Davide Sanguinetti lost 20 consecutive points in the first set en route to a 6-2 6-0 defeat by Jose Acasuso.
Italy's Filippo Volandri won his singles against David Nalbandian 6-4 7-5 before Argentina picked up a point for winning the doubles.
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Post by Annie on May 29, 2006 9:41:08 GMT 3
Well done to Croatians for winning the World Championships this year ;D ;D ;D ;D
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