Spain’s title defense began nervously after Switzerland pocketed the first singles while the Czech Republic, Serbia, France, Russia and Croatia swept their matches on the first day of Davis Cup World Group action on Friday.
The 2-0 leads for the Czechs over host Belgium, Serbia over the US, France against Germany, Russia over India, and Croatia against Ecuador followed the formbook, but Argentina surprisingly tied Sweden 1-1 in Stockholm and gave David Nalbandian another chance to be a hero.
Chile and Israel were set to start their tie in Coquimbo yesterday, a day late because of the killer earthquake and tsunami last weekend.
PHOTO: AFP
In a converted Logrono bullring, Switzerland’s No. 1 Stanislas Wawrinka, playing his first match since the Australian Open after the birth of his daughter, outlasted Nicolas Almagro of Spain 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, but David Ferrer accounted for Marco Chiudinelli 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 to soothe Spanish worries.
How far Switzerland push Spain will depend on Wawrinka, who after playing four hours on Friday will play doubles and reverse singles today, a day the tie wasn’t expected to be alive.
In Bree, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek began their quest to return the Czech Republic to the final for a second straight year by not dropping a set against Belgium.
Berdych defeated Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 despite 36 unforced errors, then Stepanek downed Xavier Malisse 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). Neither were named for the doubles, but with an opportunity to clinch the tie and advance to the quarter-finals, Berdych and Stepanek could be back on court.
In Toulon, former top-10 player Gael Monfils of France earned his first Davis Cup win by beating Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga remained unbeaten since his debut in 2008 when he defeated Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 to put Germany in a 2-0 hole.
When Nikolay Davydenko’s replacement, Igor Andreev, hurt his knee in practice, Igor Kunitsyn received only an hour’s notice that he was playing and duly beat Somdev Devvarman 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-4 to set Russia rolling against India, making their first World Group appearance since 1998.
Mikhail Youzhny capped another good day for the home team in Moscow by dispatching Rohan Bopanna 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Russia haven’t lost at home since 1996.
In Varazdin, Croatia managed to handle the Lapentti brothers of Ecuador.
Ivo Karlovic overcame Nicolas Lapentti 6-2, 5-7, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-4, then Marin Cilic downed Giovanni Lapentti 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
Nicolas Lapentti reversed his decision last year to retire and withstood 36 aces from Karlovic to almost pull off a stunner.
In Belgrade, Viktor Troicki beat John Isner in his Davis Cup debut 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-4, then Novak Djokovic saw off Sam Querrey 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3 to put Serbia in command against the US.
In Stockholm, Leonardo Mayer rallied to beat Joachim Johansson 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in his first Davis Cup singles after Robin Soderling beat debutant Eduardo Schwank 6-1, 7-6 (7/0), 7-5 to leave Argentina tied with Sweden and a chance for Nalbandian to shine.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just