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Spain to meet Czech Republic in Davis Cup Final
Spain will host Czech Republic in the 2009 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final after both nations scored comprehensive semifinal victories over the weekend. Defending champion Spain overcame Israel 4-1 in Murcia, and Czech Republic defeated Croatia by the same scoreline in Porec. The Final will be played on 4-6 December, with the venue set to be confirmed by the beginning of October.
Belgium, Chile, Ecuador, France, India, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland all scored wins in the World Group Play-offs to qualify for the 2010 World Group. The eight losing nations, Austria, Brazil, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, will all play in their respective Zone Group I competitions in 2010.
Spain, who will bid to become the first nation to retain the Davis Cup title since Sweden in 1998, will host the Davis Cup Final for a third time, having won both previous home finals, in Barcelona in 2000 and Seville in 2004. Spain leads 3-2 against Czech Republic in previous head-to-head meetings, although the two nations have met only once since the introduction of the World Group, Rafael Nadal winning the deciding rubber in a 3-2 victory for Spain in the 2004 World Group first round in Brno.
Despite Nadal’s absence last weekend, Spain had few problems ending Israel’s unexpected run to the semifinals, easing to a 3-0 winning lead in two days. David Ferrer defeated Harel Levy 61 64 63, before Juan Carlos Ferrero overwhelmed Dudi Sela 64 62 60. Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo completed the victory with a 76(6) 67(7) 64 62 triumph over Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.
Spanish captain Albert Costa admitted afterwards that he had a difficult task ahead of him in selecting his team for the final. He said: “The decision is going to be very tough because I have six, seven, eight players that could make the team. But they have to understand that those are the rules and I'm so happy to have these kinds of players for the final.”
Czech Republic also built up a winning 3-0 lead over Croatia, but in entirely different circumstances. The opening day’s singles lasted nine hours and 47 minutes, with the Czechs prevailing in two five-set thrillers. Firstly Radek Stepanek saved four match points and a record 78 aces by his opponent to see off Ivo Karlovic 67(5) 76(5) 76(6) 67(2) 1614 in five hours 59 minutes. Tomas Berdych then saw off Marin Cilic 63 63 36 46 63. The two Czechs combined to defeat Cilic and Lovro Zovko 61 63 64 in the doubles rubber.
Stepanek said afterwards: “To go through emotions bigger than Davis Cup, I don’t think you could. We had two unbelievable matches yesterday and we recovered and played a great doubles match today. I would say we are happy to be in the final but we are not satisfied.”
In the World Group Play-offs, world No. 1 Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Robin Soderling were among the star names to help their countries qualify for the 2010 World Group. Federer won both his singles rubbers in Switzerland’s 3-2 victory over Italy in Genoa; while Tsonga and Soderling both contributed three points as France overcame Netherlands 4-1 in Maastricht, and Sweden saw off Romania 3-2 in Helsingborg.
Nicolas Lapentti also won three rubbers as Ecuador overcame Brazil 3-2 in Porto Alegre, while in other Play-off ties, Chile defeated Austria 3-2 in Rancagua; Belgium defeated Ukraine 3-2 in Charleroi; India saw off South Africa 4-1 in Johannesburg; and Serbia whitewashed Uzbekistan 5-0 in Belgrade. For further information on the weekend’s ties, visit the Official Davis Cup Website.
Spain to meet Czech Republic in Davis Cup Final
Spain will host Czech Republic in the 2009 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final after both nations scored comprehensive semifinal victories over the weekend. Defending champion Spain overcame Israel 4-1 in Murcia, and Czech Republic defeated Croatia by the same scoreline in Porec. The Final will be played on 4-6 December, with the venue set to be confirmed by the beginning of October.
Belgium, Chile, Ecuador, France, India, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland all scored wins in the World Group Play-offs to qualify for the 2010 World Group. The eight losing nations, Austria, Brazil, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, will all play in their respective Zone Group I competitions in 2010.
Spain, who will bid to become the first nation to retain the Davis Cup title since Sweden in 1998, will host the Davis Cup Final for a third time, having won both previous home finals, in Barcelona in 2000 and Seville in 2004. Spain leads 3-2 against Czech Republic in previous head-to-head meetings, although the two nations have met only once since the introduction of the World Group, Rafael Nadal winning the deciding rubber in a 3-2 victory for Spain in the 2004 World Group first round in Brno.
Despite Nadal’s absence last weekend, Spain had few problems ending Israel’s unexpected run to the semifinals, easing to a 3-0 winning lead in two days. David Ferrer defeated Harel Levy 61 64 63, before Juan Carlos Ferrero overwhelmed Dudi Sela 64 62 60. Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo completed the victory with a 76(6) 67(7) 64 62 triumph over Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.
Spanish captain Albert Costa admitted afterwards that he had a difficult task ahead of him in selecting his team for the final. He said: “The decision is going to be very tough because I have six, seven, eight players that could make the team. But they have to understand that those are the rules and I'm so happy to have these kinds of players for the final.”
Czech Republic also built up a winning 3-0 lead over Croatia, but in entirely different circumstances. The opening day’s singles lasted nine hours and 47 minutes, with the Czechs prevailing in two five-set thrillers. Firstly Radek Stepanek saved four match points and a record 78 aces by his opponent to see off Ivo Karlovic 67(5) 76(5) 76(6) 67(2) 1614 in five hours 59 minutes. Tomas Berdych then saw off Marin Cilic 63 63 36 46 63. The two Czechs combined to defeat Cilic and Lovro Zovko 61 63 64 in the doubles rubber.
Stepanek said afterwards: “To go through emotions bigger than Davis Cup, I don’t think you could. We had two unbelievable matches yesterday and we recovered and played a great doubles match today. I would say we are happy to be in the final but we are not satisfied.”
In the World Group Play-offs, world No. 1 Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Robin Soderling were among the star names to help their countries qualify for the 2010 World Group. Federer won both his singles rubbers in Switzerland’s 3-2 victory over Italy in Genoa; while Tsonga and Soderling both contributed three points as France overcame Netherlands 4-1 in Maastricht, and Sweden saw off Romania 3-2 in Helsingborg.
Nicolas Lapentti also won three rubbers as Ecuador overcame Brazil 3-2 in Porto Alegre, while in other Play-off ties, Chile defeated Austria 3-2 in Rancagua; Belgium defeated Ukraine 3-2 in Charleroi; India saw off South Africa 4-1 in Johannesburg; and Serbia whitewashed Uzbekistan 5-0 in Belgrade. For further information on the weekend’s ties, visit the Official Davis Cup Website.