Davis Cup SF.

[nuraman00]

It's France vs. Czech Republic, and Switzerland vs. Italy.

Yesterday, Tsonga and Gasquet played well in their singles matches. Gasquet played over Monfils, because Monfils cited fatigue.

I believe France is up 2-0, including a win over Berdych.

For Switzerland and Italy, Switzerland is 2-0 over Italy too.

Today they'll play doubles. FED and Wawrinka will team up. (They've done this before, for several years).

I've haven't seen them play doubles since the 2008 Olympics though, and never watched a full match.

Now that they're both great players, I want to watch a full doubles match with them in doubles.

BTW, all of this has already happened today, I'm watching on the DVR. This happened at about 3AM PST today.

Switzerland has only been to the Davis Cup Finals once, in 1992. They've never won.

Please don't post spoilers, or create a separate thread if you need to post something today. I'll catch up by the end of the day, so if it can wait until tomorrow, please post then.

 

[nuraman00]

I also haven't gone through the posts in the USO thread about both Finals. I'll catch up on those later. I'll try this weekend, but might not get to it.

 

[nuraman00]

Actually, not sure if I read through the SF either, I'll have to check.

 

[nuraman00]

Fuck.

They changed the doubles so it's Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli instead.

FED is being saved for singles for tomorrow.

 

[bksballer89]

yes

 

[nuraman00]

Ok, back, will watch this on the DVR for the rest of the night.

Italy takes the 1st set, 7-5.

 

[nuraman00]

Gasquet with a great return on Berdych's serve, and he + Tsonga get the break. 2-0, France.

 

[nuraman00]

Switzerland wins the 2nd set, 6-2.

 

[nuraman00]

France and Czech Republic in a 1st set tiebreak.

 

[nuraman00]

Gasquet with an non-returnable serve out wide on one point.

Gasquet with a mid-rally backhand non-returnable shot on the next point, gives France a 4-2 lead.

 

[nuraman00]

Czech takes the next 3 points, including the last one on a Stepanek monster return.

4-5, Czech.

 

[nuraman00]

Czech wins the tiebreak, 7-4.

Apparently Berdych and Stepanek are 15-1 in doubles play, if I'm understanding the broadcaster correctly.

 

[nuraman00]

Yes, that record is only for Davis Cup play.

There's a few more losses for Berdych + Stepanek when you take into account other tourneys, but not too many more losses.

 

[nuraman00]

Apparently in an earlier round, Switzlerland vs. Kazakhstan, FED + Wawrinka lost in doubles, mostly because Wawrinka sucked. He got hit by some balls, he flanked shots, etc.

But, the next day, Wawrinka won his singles to force the deciding 5th match, then FED won his singles, for Switzlerland to win against Kazakhstan, 3 matches to 2.

 

[nuraman00]

Switzerland wins the 2nd set, 6-2.

Correction, they won it 6-3.

 

[nuraman00]

So France ended up winning their doubles in 4 sets, and thus won the overall matchup with Czech 3-0.

Czech was the 2012, 2013 Davis Cup winner. Impressive.

The French players all danced afterward. Tsonga didn't do his usual dance that he does after he wins singles matches.

Switzerland lost the doubles in 5 sets to Italy, so they had to play a singles match today (this morning). I'll start watching that now.

After watching an entire doubles match, while from a personal enjoyment point of view, I had wanted to see FED + Wawrinka in doubles, Marco Chiudinelli was good.

He made a lot of big plays, whether it was serves, or normal shot.

Doubles requires a lot of quick reflexes.

At times, to me, I'm not even sure one can have a consistent strategy, because the speed is so fast and each point can vary wildly from another. It's not like singles, where one can think if he is on one side of the court, he can try to hit into a pattern.

The quick reflexes needed in doubles make it a different game.

The Davis cup atmosphere is like a college sports atmosphere. Especially with sections from both sides (to an extent).

 

[nuraman00]

Starting FED vs. Fognini.

 

[nuraman00]

In 2003, the last time Switzerland was in the SF, during Day 3 of the Davis Cup, FED was up 2 sets to 0 on Hewitt, and Hewitt came back and won the match.

Australia would advance to the Finals with that win.

Kim Clijsters was still with Hewitt at that time, and was in the stands.

Watching highlights of match point, FED did so much running around, and wasn't able to get the same depth on his shots that he does now.

 

[nuraman00]

FED was in trouble on his 2nd service game, faced BP.

He got out of it.

Switzerland up 2-1.

 

[nuraman00]