Nélia
Junior Member
Posts: 78
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Post by Nélia on Sept 24, 2004 19:28:00 GMT 3
Hope it work   |
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Nélia
Junior Member
Posts: 78
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Post by Nélia on Sept 24, 2004 19:31:50 GMT 3
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Post by Magda on Sept 24, 2004 19:39:54 GMT 3
Russia In Control After First Day
Heavy favourites Russia took a commanding 2-0 lead over Thailand after Igor Andreev and Marat Safin scored easy straight-sets wins over Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke on the first day of their Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Play-off tie on Friday.
Former world No. 1 Safin crushed Udomchoke 64 61 62 in the second match to put the home team in complete control, after Andreev had dismantled Thai No. 1 Srichaphan 75 62 64 in the opening singles rubber.
Udomchoke, ranked 163rd in the world, was able to stay on serve with Safin until the tenth game of the first set when the powerful Russian finally secured the only break to take the set.
But it was enough to break the resistance of the little-known Thai as Safin took complete control of the match. He broke Udomchoke twice in each of the next two sets to wrap up the contest after 84 minutes.
"He was playing well, serving well in the first set, maybe even over his head a little bit, but I knew that sooner or later he would just run out of gas," said the 2000 US Open champion, who fired ten aces and made only one double fault in the entire match. "And that's what happened in the last two sets."
Safin won his first ATP title in almost two years when he triumphed at last week's China Open in Beijing, and said the win has given him the much-needed confidence for the future. "When you don't have confidence in yourself nothing goes right on the court, even against lower-ranked players," he said. "But after winning in China I feel like a new man again. I'll try to do well and qualify for the Masters Cup. This is my main goal for the remainder of this year."
Udomchoke said he felt nervous facing a top player like Safin for the first time in his life. "I was a bit nervous at the beginning, but I played well in the first set," he said. "Then he got to know my game more and started to move me around the court and I just couldn't keep up with his pace and power."
Chanachai Srichaphan, Thailand captain and Paradorn's father, added: "Before the tie I said that we would be satisfied if we took one point from Russia with Paradorn beating Andreev. It wasn't meant to be but we have nothing to be ashamed of. We still have doubles tomorrow and we'll give it our best shot."
Safin and Youzhny wil now take on Thai twin brothers Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana in Saturday's doubles as the 2002 Davis Cup champions bid to remain in the 16-team World Group for next year's competition.
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zita
Full Member
Posts: 381
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Post by zita on Sept 24, 2004 22:37:36 GMT 3
exactly! coz you never know with the Russians...  . but fingers crossed! Yep , u never know... LOL |
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Post by |-Safin_Coria-| on Sept 25, 2004 2:41:52 GMT 3
yaaaaay!!! go Russia!! thanx all for pix and articles  Marat still not shavin.....  i like the black outfit |
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Post by Magda on Sept 25, 2004 12:54:41 GMT 3
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Post by Annie on Sept 25, 2004 13:15:17 GMT 3
Just wanted to jump in here and say thanks again to everyone who's been posting all the news and photos - you're doing a fantastic job! Well, Russia seem to be showing Thailand who's the boss.. wonder if Marat, Youhzny & The Scrichaphan's flew back together?! I can imagine what kinda of a flight that would be! I was a little surprised at Andreev being used instead of Youhzny, but he's done the job, so well done Igor  |
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Post by Magda on Sept 25, 2004 13:20:31 GMT 3
I was a little surprised at Andreev being used instead of Youhzny, but he's done the job, so well done Igor yeah that's what I was telling Damita and Jiat. I think that Misha is still better than Igor, but Andreev did a great job so it's okay! |
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Post by MariaV on Sept 25, 2004 13:47:14 GMT 3
I was a little surprised at Andreev being used instead of Youhzny, but he's done the job, so well done Igor I wasn't surprised at all, actually I was pretty sure Andreev would play, as Shamil T. said Andreev was in the final of a clay-court tournament last week and Misha's injury wasn't completely healed yet and in best of 5 they didn't want to risk it. BTW, Andreev seems to be progressing pretty well. Shamil T. took him to train with the team last year already and some people in Russia criticized him for that but Shamil T. seems to have a great eye for good players.  |
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Post by sirius on Sept 25, 2004 14:02:03 GMT 3
Just wanted to jump in here and say thanks again to everyone who's been posting all the news and photos - you're doing a fantastic job! Well, Russia seem to be showing Thailand who's the boss.. wonder if Marat, Youhzny & The Scrichaphan's flew back together?! I can imagine what kinda of a flight that would be! I was a little surprised at Andreev being used instead of Youhzny, but he's done the job, so well done Igor igor's going back to thailand too. it'll be interesting if the whole gang flies in to bangkok together... and speaking of bangkok...sigh..... daddy's not headed that way next week...  not that he'd help me stalk players anyway. bah |
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Post by Vassily on Sept 25, 2004 14:32:32 GMT 3
Okay they won 6-2 6-1 6-4. And russia stays in the main group. Good.
I suppose that it's a good match, except for those 15 minutes of sleep in the last set.
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kasey
Full Member
Posts: 443
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Post by kasey on Sept 25, 2004 14:42:55 GMT 3
The black outfit is very very nice Good result for the Russians...Marat's really getting in shape |
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Post by Vassily on Sept 25, 2004 15:15:28 GMT 3
The black outfit is very very nice Good result for the Russians...Marat's really getting in shape On the contrary, Marat can't wear black attire. |
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Post by sirius on Sept 25, 2004 15:38:31 GMT 3
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zita
Full Member
Posts: 381
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Post by zita on Sept 25, 2004 15:56:37 GMT 3
I'm switching my browser to another mode so that it blocks all the pics. I can't see another pic of Marat with that unkempt mustache! Marat! You're not an 18 year old kid who needs to experiment! Shave Marat Shave! Lol |
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*sigh* 
. but fingers crossed!
