DC final 2004

[sirius]

rafa in singles is taking quite a risk actually.... we're in for some excitement this weekend.....

[Damita]

sirius said:

rafa in singles is taking quite a risk actually.... we're in for some excitement this weekend.....

Sure it's a risk. But he showed good things during the semi against France, both in doubles and singles. He doesn't seem to feel under pressure at all. I dunnow if it will be enough against Roddick, but perhaps he'll surprise everyone... i wish i could see that match!

[SAFINNO1]

Too me it is not a suprise that Nadal beat roddick fairly convincingly, but roddick did give it all.

Summary of Day 1

Rafael Nadal gave Spain a 2-0 lead in their Davis Cup final with the USA with victory over Andy Roddick in Seville.
The 18-year-old beat the world number two 6-7 (6/8) 6-2 7-6 (8/6) 6-2 in a battle lasting nearly four hours to delight the 27,000-strong crowd.

Nadal squandered set points in the first set but his superior clay game gradually ground down the American.

Roddick had a set point in the third set tiebreak but Nadal edged it before racing away with the fourth set.

Carlos Moya had given Spain the perfect start with a straight-sets win over Mardy Fish.

Fish raced into a 3-0 lead in the first set as Moya seemed intimidated by the expectation of the huge crowd - a Davis Cup final record - at the Estadio Olimpico.

But the former world number one soon eased into his stride and broke twice himself to take the first set 6-4.

Moya also broke twice in both the second and third sets to wrap up a comfortable 6-4 6-2 6-3 victory.

"I turned up for the most important date of my life in front of so many people so at the start I was a little nervous," said Moya.

"But I played safely within myself, not taking too many risks. I knew he is a player who, if things are going well for him, can be very strong."

The USA must now win Saturday's doubles match to keep the final alive.

[annie]

WOW!!! unbelievable!!! that's a good one for Rafael...

[SAFINNO1]

America are back.

Summary of Day 2

Bryan twins keep US hopes alive

The United States kept the Davis Cup final alive with victory in Saturday's doubles rubber, leaving Spain 2-1 ahead going into the final day.
Masters Cup champions Mike and Bob Bryan thrashed Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo 6-0 6-3 6-2 in front of a partisan crowd in Seville.

Victory would have given Spain the title but they were outclassed.

In Sunday's reverse singles, Carlos Moya takes on Andy Roddick before Rafael Nadal faces Mardy Fish.

"It feels good, but it's not going to be as good if we don't win two tomorrow," said Mike Bryan.

"It feels good to give those guys another shot, and Spain has to go to sleep on that."

Bob Bryan added: "I'm really confident in Andy winning that first match, and then anything can happen."

Spain coach Jordi Arrese chose to rest 18-year-old Nadal in the doubles after his epic singles win over Roddick on Friday.

He was replaced by former world number one Ferrero, but the Spanish pair were out of their depth against one of the world's best doubles teams

The 26-year-old Bryan twins have won all four of their Davis Cup matches this year.

And they quickly silenced the huge crowd at the Olympic Stadium, racing through the opening set to love.



When Robredo dropped serve in the opening game of the third set the match was all but over, and the unflappable Bryan brothers powered on to an impressive win.

Ferrero, who was upset to be dropped for Friday's singles, hinted at further dissatisfaction after the defeat.

"It was a difficult game against the best doubles players," he said. "They have everything calculated and we had very little to do.

"I was a bit surprised that I was named to play the doubles match because I hardly play doubles."

Arrese said: "Juan Carlos hasn't played at all badly. He played the right way but the Bryans are great doubles players."

The Spaniards then twice surrendered breaks of serve at the start of the second before the Bryans broke to go 5-3 ahead and served out.

[Damita]

Congrats to Carlos and the Spanish team!! ;D

[MariaV]

Thank you a lot Steph! (for caring)
Carlos didn't choke YAY!!!!!!!!!

[sirius]

yaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPAIN WONNNN!!!!

[MariaV]

I just finished watching the ceremony! SOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!! ;D Arrese called Carlos Charly Moya!!!!

[SAFINNO1]

I knew spain would win. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Review of the last day.

Moya emotional at Davis Cup win
Carlos Moya described Spain's Davis Cup victory as the highlight of his career after he beat Andy Roddick to end the USA's challenge in Seville.
Moya made up for missing Spain's 2000 victory through injury by beating Roddick 6-2 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-5) to give the hosts an unassailable 3-1 lead.

"I have woken up so many nights dreaming of this day," said Moya. "All my energy has been focused on today.

"What I have lived today I do not think I will live again."

Spain's only other Davis Cup title came two years ago in Barcelona, when they beat Australia.

And Moya, nicknamed Charly, admitted: "The Davis Cup is my dream and I was a bit nervous at the outset.

"Some people have said that I am obsessed but I think that it is better this way. It helps me reach my goals if I am obsessed.

"It's really incredible - to get the winning point is really something."

Spanish captain Jordi Arrese said: "Charly played a great game. It was his opportunity and he hasn't let us down.

"He had lost three times to Roddick, and this was his day to beat him.

"He had been waiting years to be in this position."

Spain's victory was also remarkable for the performance of Rafael Nadal, who beat Roddick in the opening singles.

Aged 18 years and 185 days, the Mallorcan became the youngest player to win the Davis Cup.

"What a great way to finish the year," said Nadal afterwards.

US coach Patrick McEnroe wants Roddick and the rest of his team to play more tennis on clay and hone their skills on the surface.

"I think it will help these guys even on slow hard courts to learn how to mix things up a little bit and to play a little bit smarter and tactically better."

"Obviously it's unrealistic to say that we're going to just start playing constantly on clay, with the schedule.

"But certainly I think we can put the work in at the appropriate time and play a couple more events and play against these guys who are the best on this stuff," said McEnroe.

Roddick was left frustrated after losing both his singles on the slow clay of Seville's Olympic Stadium.

"It's just tough because I felt like I was in it the whole time against one of the top three clay-courters in the world," said the American.

"I had my chances and just didn't convert them. The bottom line is they were just better than us this weekend.

"They came out, took care of business and they beat us. It's as simple as that."

[christina]

omg that crowd was like WOW...thats all i have to say, apart from GO ESPANA!! ;D ;D yay!

[SAFINNO1]

just imagine this time next year we could all be praising russia.

Hopefully.

[ivy]

tall_one said:

ummm i dunno, i don't make a habit of watching Andy play, normally i go out of my way to avoid him lol so I will probably not watch any of it

One of the reasons I watched it was to see Roddick get his arse kicked on clay! Don't worry, he did. I watched.

But yay for Spain! The second title ever!!!! Great job Moya! Did you see this crazy streaker guy who came over to Moya and put a red hat on his head?

After when Moya won, Rafa was carrying champagne bottles and squirting it at the other players!

[alysha]

iknow i was soo excited to see roddick get owned on clay.......thats awesome for spain......haha i was cheering for spain the whole time, kinda weird considering i live in the us....but yeah they have nadal, who wouldnt go for them