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.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two