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Post by ARMgirl55 on Mar 4, 2005 20:40:23 GMT 3
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Mar 4, 2005 23:38:19 GMT 3
World No. 4 Marat Safin, titleist at the recently-concluded Australian Open, has squared host Russia’s first-round World Group tie with visiting Chile at 1-all. Safin, as expected, but not without some tense moments, defeated World No. 117 Adrian Garcia 61 36 63 76(4) in the day’s second singles rubber in a match spanning two hours and nine minutes. The win boosts the Russians’ chance of advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, with Saturday’s doubles and two singles rubbers to follow Sunday. The dual obstacles of playing without an injured Nicolas Massu and having endured a 24-hour voyage to arrive in Moscow had the visitors digging their way out of a hole from the outset, but Fernando Gonzalez gave Chile an early 1-0 lead with a four-set win in just over three hours over Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in Friday’s opener. Garcia, 26, was pressed into action by a right-foot toe injury to Chilean mainstay Massu, Gonzalez’ normal backstop, and gave Safin a rougher time than many might have expected with the glaring disparity in their respective world rankings. “It’s definitely not the best start we could have hoped for,” said Chilean captain Sergio Elias. “The best would’ve been to take both matches. “But most of our players raise their level when they play for their country, as they did at the Olympics,” Elias added, pleased that Gonzalez got through against Youzhny and that Garcia brought his game up a couple of notches against Safin. After Safin breezed through the opening set, Garcia roared back to square things at a set apiece before the sometimes-shaky Russian regained control in the third and closed out the match with an ace in the fourth-set tiebreaker. The unpredictable Russian benefited from 15 aces to overcome 62 unforced errors. Safin will sit courtside Saturday as his countrymen Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev face Gonzalez and Garcia in a doubles match that figures to be closely contested. The veteran Safin issued a word of caution to those expecting a Russian rout. “Everyone expects us to lead 2-1 after the doubles,” said Safin. “In the worst case, we’ll have to win two matches Sunday and it might be really tough, it’ll be a rough one [if it comes to that].”<br> Chile is back in the World Group after a 20-year absence from World Group play and is looking for its first win over Russia in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas competition. The countries have played twice previously, with the then-Soviet Union prevailing over Chile in Moscow in 1963 and 1967. For some pics www.daviscup.com/gallery/popup.asp?id=13166¤t=3851 |
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fina
New Member
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Post by fina on Mar 5, 2005 0:59:27 GMT 3
Hi all guys, nice to join you!  Supporting for Marat sometimes takes a lot of patience, so congratulations you're great if you are still with him nomatter what!  I'm too, but concerning the match today - SHAME!!! Really i hoped to see an easy ride, with straight sets victory, that will give us (Russians:), I'm from Russia) confidence after Misha's loss. But match after 1st set was just a disaster! His game just fell apart, he won only by his serve, almost all other shots were in out, or by net. It was extremely boring match, Marat even didn't try to get more difficult balls, just stay at his place and looked at balls coming aside! I couldn't believe that this guy fought for every ball against Federer and Hewitt in Aus Open! I hope it's just all about his not great mood or something (as always after bad game  , not his physical conditions (his foot was taped  ). Who saw the match, what are your thoughts? |
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Post by Teresa on Mar 5, 2005 4:54:38 GMT 3
Safinno1 >>>> thanks for the report ARMgirl55 >>>>>> for the pics Fina>>>> welcome, and thank you for your report. We love and support Marat no matter what, but you are right it takes a lot of patience I happy for you that you were able to see the match, and hope you get to see the other matches, Unfortunately I did not see the match, no chance where I live, but not sure if any of the other members did, It was disappointing that Misha did not win his match today, and I am concerned that your report re Marat's match was not so positive. Must have been difficult for him, the pressure you know, playing after Misha's loss the pressure for him to win his match would have been tremendous. Following the match on the live scoreboard was not boring at all!!! far from it! Its not going to be an easy ride by any means, the guys from Chile mean business. It will be very important I think that Nikolay and Igor really get off to a good start tomorrow, they really need to win that doubles match. Marat is still full of caution and keeps warning the guys to be careful, I hope they listen to him. Hope you will be able to give us some more reports Good luck Russia BTW I was so happy that Ljubicic beat Andre. Sadly now Andy is up a set againist Mario, and Andy just broke Mario in the 1st game of the 4th set, I was soooo hoping that Mario would beat Andy |
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Post by pau on Mar 5, 2005 5:10:55 GMT 3
Welcome fina!! ;D
I couldn't see the match either, coz, well, in mexico they're just showing the USA matches, they should support the latin players!!! (chile), of course I don't support Chile, I support Russia, but, wasn't it a good pretext to see Russian matches?? I really hope Mario wins!!! (he's soo cute) ;D
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Post by Teresa on Mar 5, 2005 5:17:26 GMT 3
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Post by pau on Mar 5, 2005 5:28:42 GMT 3
Thanks Teresa! ;D
Roddick just won.... I really wanted Mario to win...
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Post by ARMgirl55 on Mar 5, 2005 6:36:14 GMT 3
Thanks for the pictures Teresa, I didnt see them before.
I live in NY and they are showing only matches during Davis Cup that USA plays. I was wondering if anyone know where else I can see others, because I really wanna see others and they not translating anything, this is so stuped.
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Post by Jasmine on Mar 5, 2005 7:28:13 GMT 3
Thank you everybody for story and pictures. I'm glad that Marat can win the match. Seems that most of the big (tennis) country struggling a little bit in the round of Davis cup, such as the last year Champion and the Runnur-up. Welcome "fina" to TGFR !! ;D |
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Post by annie on Mar 5, 2005 9:54:39 GMT 3
The guy with the funny hair is a well-known Russian song-writer and singer (don't like him personally) |
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Post by annie on Mar 5, 2005 14:44:59 GMT 3
www.daviscup.com/news/matchreport.asp?id=13166latest report on Marat's yesterday match and and some photos from it. I am telling you it was wild there. When Misha lost people were starting to get really worried. Then Marat lost the second set and it was getting ugly. But he won't be Marat I guess if he didn't tickle our nerves for a while. Thank God it turned out as it did. Good luck to Igor and Nikolai for today and tomorrow back to the stadium I go!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For those who read Russian there's a site www.tennis-russia.com. All the latest news are usually there very fast so feel free to visit. I'll be back with more info.
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Mar 5, 2005 15:15:52 GMT 3
OKay late change towards the doubles i think Russia are hoping to get it sealed as Marat and Mikahil will now take on the chilean pair. I think Shamil wants to win it 1st rubber on sunday which marat should do.
GO RUSSIA GO.
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Post by Teresa on Mar 5, 2005 15:27:54 GMT 3
OKay late change towards the doubles i think Russia are hoping to get it sealed as Marat and Mikahil will now take on the chilean pair. I think Shamil wants to win it 1st rubber on sunday which marat should do. GO RUSSIA GO. Thanks for that info Safinno1...........Marat did not want to play the doubles but looks like he has to, poor guy the pressure the pressure and as you say GO RUSSIA GO Annie Thanks for the pics and the report I can well believe it Annie, the pressure on Marat must have been tremendous, and when the crowd gets ugly it must be even harder to concentrate and get the points. It can be very difficult playing in front of your home crowd. Thanks for the info about the 'long haired guy'!! Hi Jasmine |
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Post by Teresa on Mar 5, 2005 15:31:35 GMT 3
They are playing now
Marat and Misha are 4-1
first set
GO RUSSIA GO
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Post by Andrada on Mar 5, 2005 17:11:09 GMT 3
M. Safin/M. Youzhny 6 6 6 A. Garcia/F. Gonzalez 3 4 3 Great job!!!!!! GO,RUSSIA!!! |
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, not his physical conditions (his foot was taped 
).
