Post by Annie on Jun 28, 2005 19:56:47 GMT 3
Davis Cup Final 2002: Russia v France
29/11 to 01/12/2002
Report by Denise (Dendy)
Please do not reproduce this without the owners permission
When the script for the Davis Cup 2002 was written at the beginning of the year - who would have predicted the ending and such a dramatic one too! Last year was a real barnstormer in that Australia were beaten on grass at home by France in the last match - no ways that could be repeated! Says who? Davis Cup has always provided lots of thrills and excitement and this year was no exception - the semis provided lots of excitement - France at home on the clay of Roland Garros beating the USA and Russia at home in Moscow beating Argentinia - the three hour final set tiebreak in the doubles being a world beater!
So here we were in Paris for the final between France the holders and Russia the pretenders to the throne - third time in a Final and Yevgeny Kafelnikov had said " if we win the Davis Cup I will retire - that will be the top". France opted for the "red stuff" - they had won on it in the semi but one drawback - indoors takes away the weather factor on clay and the Russian players liked clay! But the French had team spirit - the Russians didn't even socialise! So the arguments went back & forth - on paper the Russians were the team with their top players Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov but the French had home ground and their supporters and their magic!
The stage was set for a thrilling encounter and I was lucky enough to be there!
Decided that I needed to be with the Russian supporters - after all I was going there to support Russia. I have been a Marat fan for many years and this was his country and very important to him. So I did not want to sit dotted amongst the French crowd. Through the kind favour of a fellow Russian fan I managed to get a seat via the Russian Federation. Cost a lot but it was worth it.
So Thursday after work packed up fast and on the plane back to the Sofitel! Felt so familiar been there before - even the waiter at the bar remembered me - as I asked for a drink he smiled and said what I wanted - now I wonder which way to take that??
So all was set to go and watch the tennis! Lots of Russian being spoken in the hotel lobby and Russians everywhere - was I really in Paris or had I somehow ended up in Moscow?
When I first got downstairs and ordered my drink - sat down and who is sitting at the table opposite looking very bored as she tries to read - Katya in mini skirt - ultra short and boots - nearly put me off my drink and food!! So what happened that night - Mama & Papa Safin came downstairs and had dinner behind me - later in walked Dinara and joined them and then Denis Golovanov came in mobile in hand - maybe he learned how from Marat!! Guy Forget and Santoro were at another table - quite a cosmopolitan crowd! Later Marat came down followed by Denis and as he walked past back to his room - turned, looked at me and said with a smile "Hallo!"
Next day tennis due to start at 13.00. Had arranged with Maxim that he would give my ticket to Christiane who would meet me at the hotel at 11am. In between I ended up with an "unofficial" job - carrying a couple of banners in to the stadium!! Supposedly because I wouldn't have any problems with the security - especially as the plastic sleeve had all Israeli airline stickers on it!! What I do in the name of Marat!! Well got in no problem just before 13.00 hours and found my seat. In the queue to go through the security check got asked about the posters - one word Safin?? Oui!! The fact that I had on a red top made sure everyone knew which team I was supporting! Inside met up with Maxim and Christiane- seats in the same area as at Masters just higher up in Row 13 - actually had a great view. Maxim presented me with a white cap with Russia on it which I wore for the next 3 days! Russian flags to wave - red, white & blue noisemakers - Maxim had a large Russian flag and of course this huge banner with Marat and his Masters trophy and the words "I love Paris". Also had one with YK and I love Paris for his match.
Well the tennis was spectacular - Marat was calm and focused - he knew what he had to do and he stuck to his plan - apart from a slight hiccup in the 3rd then back on course. We shouted Marat Marat or Rassiya - we sang we clapped - we blew hard on the blowers - 1500 fans against 13500 French - we had to make ourselves heard and encourage Marat - the noise when he won was deafening! Unfortunately YK's match was rather tame in comparison but was good that at least it was 1-1 and the doubles to come. And that night Marat went out to dinner with mom & sister - it was lovely to see!
Well the doubles was heartache - felt so flat afterwards - Russia needed that advantage now Marat had it all to do again. I was down but it was amazing how upbeat Marat was when he arrived back at the hotel! Stopped to chat with some friends at the table next door - I got up to hand over something from a fan and said Bad Luck - I've been shouting so hard I've nearly lost my voice! Marat says "I've been losing my years!!" His way of saying this tie is giving me grey hairs I guess.
The banners had been causing a lot of interest - for the doubles had one of YK & Marat together and Good Luck Russia - everyone wanted a photo with that in the background! In the front row of the Russian seats sat Mama and Papa and occasionally Dinara but then she also sat with the team. Gerrard sat with them. Also Ayesha YK's daughter who is really lovely - I spent some of Sunday playing balloon games with her as waited to come back down to my seat. Other faces I recognised were all in the first 4 rows. Amit was doing a great job of clapping, blowing hard and bouncing up and down - then turning round and urging us all on to shout and blow like mad! We did - shouted ourselves hoarse.
The atmosphere was electric on Sunday - the French all excited expecting Grosjean to win and the Davis Cup would stay with France and of course the Russian supporters hoping Marat would stay focused and get them to 2-2. Then of course the news before we left for the stadium - YK was not playing Mikhail Youzhny would play instead - what would the French do? Lots of discussion and a bit of despair from some fans who felt that the only chance was for YK to play! Well you all know the game Marat played - he was brilliant - the shots he played - out of this world. He left us breathless and hammered Grosjean into the ground - the French had no answer. I think that the following from an article in the International Herald Tribune says it all
"Above all, Safin did a fine job, overwhelming the in-form Grosjean in every compartment of the game in the first two sets : treating the Frenchman's second serve as if it were an underhand toss.
It was a bit like watching a determined wasp trying to get the best of a bear. It's interesting to watch. It might bother the bear for a while. But you have a pretty fair idea of the outcome."
The third set was tighter and you could see that Marat was fighting fatigue after all he had played a lot of tennis again and of all the players on Sunday he was the only one who had played all three days. But with the shouts from the Russian supporters and the encouragement of the Russian team - he hung in there and saved 4 set points in the tiebreak and won - the relief was palpable - 2-2 now it was up to Mischa.
Well to start with the stadium was pretty empty and so not a lot of support and when he went down by 2 sets - some supporters started leaving. The Russian down bit - Maxim was not feeling well but he also said Marat did it for nothing and I said - stop this think positive - and believe he can do it - we have to shout. So I started waving the flag and shouting and got the young cheer leaders going and so we tried to get Mischa going. At first as they said only Stolbin and Andrei were really encouraging but then Marat came in from his match and at first he seemed a bit down and then when we started shouting he decided - we have to fight - so Marat the coach the encourager the blower of noise started. Clapping talking ever there - talking to Tarphischev - obviously giving the benefit of his experience playing Mathieu and Mischa started fighting. Every time he got a point - the fans chanted his name and waved the flag and he started feeding off them - by pumping his arm and waving on the fans. The support became more frenzied and the bench were jumping up and down - on their feet for every point - applauding and clapping and encouraging. And Mischa found that extra gear and played his game and despite being broken he broke back and then he got that mystical break in the 7th game and then held his serve to love to lead 5.3. Then he almost broke Mathieu to take the match but Paul-Henri hung on - the shame of losing would be bad enough but at least he would try to keep on fighting to the end. Then that last service game - each point had us on tenterhooks and finally the serve and the return forehand into the net - the Russian bench erupted onto the court and the Russian supporters were screaming - some were crying - Russia had done it - they had won the Davis Cup! That beautiful Silver bowl standing on its huge pedestal with 102 years history surrounding it was now the proud possession of Russia for a year - the dream had been fulfilled!
And of course those pictures of Boris Yeltsin clambering over the edge of the VIP box despite his wife's anxious pleas - he had sat there through thick and thin for eight hours and been through joy as Marat won and levelled the tie and the despair as Mischa went 2 sets down and then the joy when that final shot into the net meant the cup was Russia's - a truly great supporter of Russian Tennis!
One picture that I thought was beautiful in the French L'Equipe - Marat patting Mathieu on the head and Santoro patting Marat on the shoulder and Yevgeny giving Guy Forget a big hug. That was the main thing - the whole match over the three days was played in the most wonderful fair play atmosphere - each side's player accepting serves that were called out - clapping good shots - apart from a couple of queries - no histrionics - no tantrums - all in all three days of magnificent tennis!
The music played and we all danced in the stands and the players and officials were dancing on the clay and then "We are the Champions" played and down from the roof came thousands of gold and silver discs sparkling in the light and showering all below. Felt sad when I walked out to leave. Like had left the magic behind in that beautiful stadium. Walked back with my cap still on my head and the Russian flag draped round my shoulders through the fairly empty streets - it was after all about 10.30pm and I had been watching tennis since 1pm!!
When reached the hotel a party was in full swing - the Russians were celebrating - several had watched it all on the TV in the hotel lobby as they couldn't get tickets. Vee and Matt and Isabelle were there and rushed over to give me a hug. I had not eaten since breakfast - was high on an adrenalin rush and promptly downed two vodkas - I wanted to party!!
As each official and player arrived they were greeted with loud cheers. All the French team and players were clapped in as they arrived. Rausa arrived beaming from ear to ear - she and I had talked a bit during the banner hanging - yes I was working again!! And so I went up and said it was wonderful, fantastic and she said Yes it was! Got everyone to sign my cap - when Marat came in said I have worn this cap for three days and now everyone must sign it - it will never be worn again - gave him a big kiss and said congratulations - what a fantastic victory - signed and gave me such a big smile!
So as they all came down dressed up - Anatoli smiling and looking so cute - Marat looking absolutely gorgeous in white shirt and black jacket and long trousers as only he can - Mischa smiling bemusedly at everyone - think it was still sinking in as to what he had done - Mama grinning from ear to ear - Tarphischev looked so pleased - never one for much expression - suddenly he couldn't stop smiling - Dinara looking lovely in a long black quilted coat - she is so tall and is really attractive - all those memories of a truly magnificent victory. Well it is something I will treasure in my mind for years to come - my first Davis Cup tie and Final and if I never see another one again - I don't care - to paraphrase a certain young man!
Denise Morris
03 December 2002
29/11 to 01/12/2002
Report by Denise (Dendy)
Please do not reproduce this without the owners permission
When the script for the Davis Cup 2002 was written at the beginning of the year - who would have predicted the ending and such a dramatic one too! Last year was a real barnstormer in that Australia were beaten on grass at home by France in the last match - no ways that could be repeated! Says who? Davis Cup has always provided lots of thrills and excitement and this year was no exception - the semis provided lots of excitement - France at home on the clay of Roland Garros beating the USA and Russia at home in Moscow beating Argentinia - the three hour final set tiebreak in the doubles being a world beater!
So here we were in Paris for the final between France the holders and Russia the pretenders to the throne - third time in a Final and Yevgeny Kafelnikov had said " if we win the Davis Cup I will retire - that will be the top". France opted for the "red stuff" - they had won on it in the semi but one drawback - indoors takes away the weather factor on clay and the Russian players liked clay! But the French had team spirit - the Russians didn't even socialise! So the arguments went back & forth - on paper the Russians were the team with their top players Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov but the French had home ground and their supporters and their magic!
The stage was set for a thrilling encounter and I was lucky enough to be there!
Decided that I needed to be with the Russian supporters - after all I was going there to support Russia. I have been a Marat fan for many years and this was his country and very important to him. So I did not want to sit dotted amongst the French crowd. Through the kind favour of a fellow Russian fan I managed to get a seat via the Russian Federation. Cost a lot but it was worth it.
So Thursday after work packed up fast and on the plane back to the Sofitel! Felt so familiar been there before - even the waiter at the bar remembered me - as I asked for a drink he smiled and said what I wanted - now I wonder which way to take that??
So all was set to go and watch the tennis! Lots of Russian being spoken in the hotel lobby and Russians everywhere - was I really in Paris or had I somehow ended up in Moscow?
When I first got downstairs and ordered my drink - sat down and who is sitting at the table opposite looking very bored as she tries to read - Katya in mini skirt - ultra short and boots - nearly put me off my drink and food!! So what happened that night - Mama & Papa Safin came downstairs and had dinner behind me - later in walked Dinara and joined them and then Denis Golovanov came in mobile in hand - maybe he learned how from Marat!! Guy Forget and Santoro were at another table - quite a cosmopolitan crowd! Later Marat came down followed by Denis and as he walked past back to his room - turned, looked at me and said with a smile "Hallo!"
Next day tennis due to start at 13.00. Had arranged with Maxim that he would give my ticket to Christiane who would meet me at the hotel at 11am. In between I ended up with an "unofficial" job - carrying a couple of banners in to the stadium!! Supposedly because I wouldn't have any problems with the security - especially as the plastic sleeve had all Israeli airline stickers on it!! What I do in the name of Marat!! Well got in no problem just before 13.00 hours and found my seat. In the queue to go through the security check got asked about the posters - one word Safin?? Oui!! The fact that I had on a red top made sure everyone knew which team I was supporting! Inside met up with Maxim and Christiane- seats in the same area as at Masters just higher up in Row 13 - actually had a great view. Maxim presented me with a white cap with Russia on it which I wore for the next 3 days! Russian flags to wave - red, white & blue noisemakers - Maxim had a large Russian flag and of course this huge banner with Marat and his Masters trophy and the words "I love Paris". Also had one with YK and I love Paris for his match.
Well the tennis was spectacular - Marat was calm and focused - he knew what he had to do and he stuck to his plan - apart from a slight hiccup in the 3rd then back on course. We shouted Marat Marat or Rassiya - we sang we clapped - we blew hard on the blowers - 1500 fans against 13500 French - we had to make ourselves heard and encourage Marat - the noise when he won was deafening! Unfortunately YK's match was rather tame in comparison but was good that at least it was 1-1 and the doubles to come. And that night Marat went out to dinner with mom & sister - it was lovely to see!
Well the doubles was heartache - felt so flat afterwards - Russia needed that advantage now Marat had it all to do again. I was down but it was amazing how upbeat Marat was when he arrived back at the hotel! Stopped to chat with some friends at the table next door - I got up to hand over something from a fan and said Bad Luck - I've been shouting so hard I've nearly lost my voice! Marat says "I've been losing my years!!" His way of saying this tie is giving me grey hairs I guess.
The banners had been causing a lot of interest - for the doubles had one of YK & Marat together and Good Luck Russia - everyone wanted a photo with that in the background! In the front row of the Russian seats sat Mama and Papa and occasionally Dinara but then she also sat with the team. Gerrard sat with them. Also Ayesha YK's daughter who is really lovely - I spent some of Sunday playing balloon games with her as waited to come back down to my seat. Other faces I recognised were all in the first 4 rows. Amit was doing a great job of clapping, blowing hard and bouncing up and down - then turning round and urging us all on to shout and blow like mad! We did - shouted ourselves hoarse.
The atmosphere was electric on Sunday - the French all excited expecting Grosjean to win and the Davis Cup would stay with France and of course the Russian supporters hoping Marat would stay focused and get them to 2-2. Then of course the news before we left for the stadium - YK was not playing Mikhail Youzhny would play instead - what would the French do? Lots of discussion and a bit of despair from some fans who felt that the only chance was for YK to play! Well you all know the game Marat played - he was brilliant - the shots he played - out of this world. He left us breathless and hammered Grosjean into the ground - the French had no answer. I think that the following from an article in the International Herald Tribune says it all
"Above all, Safin did a fine job, overwhelming the in-form Grosjean in every compartment of the game in the first two sets : treating the Frenchman's second serve as if it were an underhand toss.
It was a bit like watching a determined wasp trying to get the best of a bear. It's interesting to watch. It might bother the bear for a while. But you have a pretty fair idea of the outcome."
The third set was tighter and you could see that Marat was fighting fatigue after all he had played a lot of tennis again and of all the players on Sunday he was the only one who had played all three days. But with the shouts from the Russian supporters and the encouragement of the Russian team - he hung in there and saved 4 set points in the tiebreak and won - the relief was palpable - 2-2 now it was up to Mischa.
Well to start with the stadium was pretty empty and so not a lot of support and when he went down by 2 sets - some supporters started leaving. The Russian down bit - Maxim was not feeling well but he also said Marat did it for nothing and I said - stop this think positive - and believe he can do it - we have to shout. So I started waving the flag and shouting and got the young cheer leaders going and so we tried to get Mischa going. At first as they said only Stolbin and Andrei were really encouraging but then Marat came in from his match and at first he seemed a bit down and then when we started shouting he decided - we have to fight - so Marat the coach the encourager the blower of noise started. Clapping talking ever there - talking to Tarphischev - obviously giving the benefit of his experience playing Mathieu and Mischa started fighting. Every time he got a point - the fans chanted his name and waved the flag and he started feeding off them - by pumping his arm and waving on the fans. The support became more frenzied and the bench were jumping up and down - on their feet for every point - applauding and clapping and encouraging. And Mischa found that extra gear and played his game and despite being broken he broke back and then he got that mystical break in the 7th game and then held his serve to love to lead 5.3. Then he almost broke Mathieu to take the match but Paul-Henri hung on - the shame of losing would be bad enough but at least he would try to keep on fighting to the end. Then that last service game - each point had us on tenterhooks and finally the serve and the return forehand into the net - the Russian bench erupted onto the court and the Russian supporters were screaming - some were crying - Russia had done it - they had won the Davis Cup! That beautiful Silver bowl standing on its huge pedestal with 102 years history surrounding it was now the proud possession of Russia for a year - the dream had been fulfilled!
And of course those pictures of Boris Yeltsin clambering over the edge of the VIP box despite his wife's anxious pleas - he had sat there through thick and thin for eight hours and been through joy as Marat won and levelled the tie and the despair as Mischa went 2 sets down and then the joy when that final shot into the net meant the cup was Russia's - a truly great supporter of Russian Tennis!
One picture that I thought was beautiful in the French L'Equipe - Marat patting Mathieu on the head and Santoro patting Marat on the shoulder and Yevgeny giving Guy Forget a big hug. That was the main thing - the whole match over the three days was played in the most wonderful fair play atmosphere - each side's player accepting serves that were called out - clapping good shots - apart from a couple of queries - no histrionics - no tantrums - all in all three days of magnificent tennis!
The music played and we all danced in the stands and the players and officials were dancing on the clay and then "We are the Champions" played and down from the roof came thousands of gold and silver discs sparkling in the light and showering all below. Felt sad when I walked out to leave. Like had left the magic behind in that beautiful stadium. Walked back with my cap still on my head and the Russian flag draped round my shoulders through the fairly empty streets - it was after all about 10.30pm and I had been watching tennis since 1pm!!
When reached the hotel a party was in full swing - the Russians were celebrating - several had watched it all on the TV in the hotel lobby as they couldn't get tickets. Vee and Matt and Isabelle were there and rushed over to give me a hug. I had not eaten since breakfast - was high on an adrenalin rush and promptly downed two vodkas - I wanted to party!!
As each official and player arrived they were greeted with loud cheers. All the French team and players were clapped in as they arrived. Rausa arrived beaming from ear to ear - she and I had talked a bit during the banner hanging - yes I was working again!! And so I went up and said it was wonderful, fantastic and she said Yes it was! Got everyone to sign my cap - when Marat came in said I have worn this cap for three days and now everyone must sign it - it will never be worn again - gave him a big kiss and said congratulations - what a fantastic victory - signed and gave me such a big smile!
So as they all came down dressed up - Anatoli smiling and looking so cute - Marat looking absolutely gorgeous in white shirt and black jacket and long trousers as only he can - Mischa smiling bemusedly at everyone - think it was still sinking in as to what he had done - Mama grinning from ear to ear - Tarphischev looked so pleased - never one for much expression - suddenly he couldn't stop smiling - Dinara looking lovely in a long black quilted coat - she is so tall and is really attractive - all those memories of a truly magnificent victory. Well it is something I will treasure in my mind for years to come - my first Davis Cup tie and Final and if I never see another one again - I don't care - to paraphrase a certain young man!
Denise Morris
03 December 2002
