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Post by Annie on Apr 10, 2008 11:01:40 GMT 3
Tarpischev was on TV last night. He said Marat will most certainly play on Saturday in doubles. Igor will play singles on Friday for sure and he is still thinking about the second player, so I suppose he is trying to choose between Marat and Misha. Kolya is most likely to play on Sunday  Draw is taking place as we speak so we will have the news soon |
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Post by Annie on Apr 10, 2008 11:04:35 GMT 3
Nikolay is in Moscow and his first training was held early this morning. He trained with Misha and his brother and coach Eduard as well as Misha's coach Boris Sobkin. Later Misha and Boris left and Kolya kept going tet-a-tet with his bro. Apparently he was in an excellent mood, highly concentrated but it showed that he was enjoying himself. This is a short report from www.championat.ru, their journalists were at the training. Good news I suppose ;D Let's wait for the draw  |
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Post by Anne on Apr 10, 2008 11:21:35 GMT 3
Thanks Annie ;D! I would love to see Marat as a single player but just doubles is fine as well. As long as he makes the team! kisses  |
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Post by Alya10 on Apr 10, 2008 12:00:00 GMT 3
You should be proud to play for your country. Davis Cup is not about self glory, or money! Bloody tv schedules will be dictating this as well. Phht. Who gives a toss if it encourages more players to take part? The Davis Cup stands for something outside of self interest. Phht. It always brings a smile to my wee face that the Big Yin rises to the occasion for DC. Bless him. Couldn't agree with you more Call me the ever optimist but I just hope this is just a sign that ATP/ITF are working to make DC more a part of the callendar, and not an extra players have to juggle to fit in their heavy schedules (bless those who do, yes!) |
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Post by Anne on Apr 10, 2008 12:50:10 GMT 3
The set-up for this weekend! R1 - M.SAFIN (RUS) v T.BERDYCH (CZE) R2 - I.ANDREEV (RUS) v R.STEPANEK (CZE) R3 - N.DAVYDENKO / M.YOUZHNY (RUS) v L.DLOUHY / P.VIZNER (CZE) R4 - I.ANDREEV (RUS) v T.BERDYCH (CZE) R5 - M.SAFIN (RUS) v R.STEPANEK (CZE) OMG!  ;D  Marat plays singles twice (at least that's the idea;))!!! Yeeeh:). Feel sorry for Dmitry though.. |
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Post by gennie on Apr 10, 2008 13:17:54 GMT 3
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Post by tinuviel on Apr 10, 2008 14:00:44 GMT 3
Let's hope this is a case of "Tarpy knows best" - he is usually spot on and he must have observed the players pretty well at training and know who is strong at the moment. Great to see Marat in singles - although I think the singles players on Sunday may depend on how the tie is going, how Kolya shapes up on clay etc. etc. I know all of the team will do their best. Getting really excited about Marat playing on Friday. WhooHoo!! |
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Post by Annie on Apr 10, 2008 14:07:59 GMT 3
This is the wisest draw that could have hapenned. Kolya just switched to clay this morning so he was definitely out for Friday, but I think we might see him on Sunday And for Marat to start it means that Misha is not 100% ready. Good luck my boys! |
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Post by Annie on Apr 10, 2008 14:24:57 GMT 3
It is wise under the circumstances. Youzhny is mega tired as I heard his coach say, Kolya just arrived so they had no other choice, putting others would be too risky. So we'll see... Here are some photos from the draw ceremony www.tennis-russia.ru/daviscup2008/photo.shtml |
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Post by Annie on Apr 10, 2008 14:40:30 GMT 3
I wish LOL ;D
Safin to start in Moscow
Yet another shrewd move by Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev sees Marat Safin named Russia's No. 1 singles player, with Igor Andreev as his wing man, when the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group quarterfinal between Russia and Czech Republic gets underway in Moscow on Friday.
The full draw, made on site at the Luzhniki Stadium, is as follows:
Friday
Marat Safin (RUS) Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Saturday
Nikolay Davydenko/Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Lukas Dlouhy/Pavel Vizner (CZE)
Sunday
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Marat Safin (RUS) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
A place in the semifinals awaits the winners and if the Czech Republic is to get to the last four, they will have achieved what no team has managed since 1995 - beaten Russia at home.
Tarpischev is known on the Davis Cup circuit as one of the games master tacticians, and he strung a massive surprise by nominating Marat Safin and Igor Andreev for the opening singles, despite having the world’s No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko and No. 11 Mikhail Youzhny at his disposal. The Czech Davis Cup captain, Yaroslav Navratil was certainly a happier man upon learning of his Russian counterpart’s selection.
It’s quite a gamble by Tarpischev to include Safin, who’s only won one match so far this season, way back in the Australian Open in January, while the former two-time Grand Slam champion has slipped to 87 in the world rankings. However, the Russian captain tends to get more of these decisions right, than wrong.
Intriguing match-ups anticipated for Friday
Up against Safin will be the Czech Republic’s No. 1, Tomas Berdych, who’s fresh from a good run in Miami. The world No. 9 expects a tough match, despite Safin’s recent woes, and believes the pressure will be well and truly on the Russian’s broad shoulders to win.
The second opening singles match-up sees Radek Stepanek against Igor Andreev, which will be a tough match to call for a number of reasons.
Both are more than at home on the red clay on which the tie will be played, while there is only one place separating the two in the world rankings. Stepanek is the more experienced, but Andreev will have the vast majority of the crowd behind him.
Davydenko given time to adjust
Despite winning his second Masters Series event last week in Miami, Davydenko wasn’t too surprised at being left out of the opening singles. He revealed that he’d only arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, and has only had a few days to adjust to playing on a completely different surface.
Davydenko is nominated for action on Saturday however, as the doubles sees a provisional pairing with Youzhny, both of whom are more at home playing singles, up against the Czech Republic’s doubles specialists of Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner. The doubles is always a crucial rubber in the Davis Cup, and the winner of this match-up could go a long way to deciding who will play either Argentina or Sweden for a place in the final.
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Post by Annie on Apr 10, 2008 15:43:05 GMT 3
 ;D |
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Post by Dina on Apr 10, 2008 15:47:09 GMT 3
OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have faith in you hbibi! you are given a chance to get a fresh new restart of this season, so proove what you're capable of! And Igoryok, you are our lucky charm!!!!!!
DAVAI ROSSIJA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Annie on Apr 10, 2008 15:51:07 GMT 3
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Post by lena on Apr 10, 2008 16:17:45 GMT 3
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Post by happy on Apr 10, 2008 16:21:43 GMT 3
Thanks Annie for your pics! About Nastya, I was thinking as I was last time (February) in moscow that she will birth her baby the next days, but I see I was wrong....hahahaha! Did she get twins?  I wish her all the best for her baby( babies)?!!!!!!!! |
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Draw is taking place as we speak so we will have the news soon 
;D 
Marat plays singles twice (at least that's the idea;))!!! Yeeeh:). Feel sorry for Dmitry though..
