Davic Cup final 2012 - Czech vs. Spain

Although the final starts only the 16th of November, we already have one "tennis" fight behind in Czech.
The President of Czech tennis association refused to send an invitation the best Czech woman tennis player Martina Navrátilová and the last winner of DC Pavel Složil for DC and FedC finals. Then there was a media war between Stepanek, who said that he will invite both personally and the Czech tennis association. In the end Czech tennis boss changed his mind and has sent the invitation to both of them, fortunately, good point for Stepanek




The reason for not inviting Martina was that the boss accused Martina that he came in Czech rep. to play an exhibition just for money six years ago and reason for Pavel Složil was that Pavel refused to come for DC final in Spain two years ago from the wrong style of the inviting letter and then the tennis boss was offended.

Like little boys

Thanks for the news, Paul

I'll be cheering for Czech Republic and believe they are mild favourites.
Now Fed Cup final, on the other hand.....

Things hotting up nicely in Prague.....I forgot about that incident between Berdych and Almagro a few months ago...

"Just ahead of the Davis Cup final, the Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych
tells reporters in Prague that Spain’s Nicolas Almagro isn’t as good as
advertised.

Berdych, the No. 1 Czech, will likely face No. 2 Spaniard Almagro on
Friday. Berdych and Almagro have a sour on-court history. At the 2012
Australian Open, Berdych refused to shake Almagro’s hand after his
fourth-round victory because Almagro hit Berdych in the arm with a ball
when he was at net. Berdych later refused to apologize, saying he
believed that Almagro was trying to hit him in the face.

Berdych owns a 8-3 record against Almagro and has beaten him four out
of the five times they played this year, including at the U.S. Open and
most recently indoors in Stockholm.

“I played faced Almagro many times this year and won most of them,”
Berdych said. “If he’s nominated, he will be the weak point on which we
can build our victory. He’s missing that little something that
distinguishes great players [from the rest]. He’s won smaller
tournaments won this year. But he always has a chance if he plays.”

Berdych also took a swipe at the Spanish doubles team of Marc Lopez and
Marcel Granollers, which just won the ATP World Tour Finals. Berdych
will likely pair with Radek Stepanek in doubles. They have won all three
of their Davis Cup matches together this year.

“You have to congratulate them, but now they are expected to do
something different, so just tell them to hurry up and prepare,” Berdych
said."

did he actually say this?!?!?!

Of course he did!

what a douchebag!!!!!

Very surprising for Berdych to carry a grudge. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgemPQ2Qm5o

paulcz wrote:Like little boys

There is more, if you look around.

More on the match:

"PRAGUE -- The last time the Czechs played Spain in the Davis Cup final, they were swept 5-0 on clay in Barcelona.

Three years later, the Czech Republic will play at home on a fast indoor hard court. Plus, Spain will play without injured star Rafael
Nadal.

The Czechs hope to win their first Davis Cup title as an independent nation since the 1993 split of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia won its only title in 1980, when Ivan Lendl led the team to victory.

Defending champion Spain is looking for its fourth title in five years.

"So far, it's the biggest moment of my career," sixth-ranked Czech starTomas Berdych said. "It is our goal to bring the trophy back home
after so many years."

The 100th Davis Cup final starts Friday with Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic playing David Ferrer in the opening singles of the
best-of-five series. Berdych will face Nicolas Almagro in the second singles match in the O2 Arena in Prague.

Ivo Minar and Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic were selected to play Saturday's doubles against Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez, who won the ATP World Tour Finals title in London on Monday.

But captain Jaroslav Navratil is expected to bring in Berdych and Stepanek, who are 11-1 in Davis Cup doubles.In Sunday's reverse singles, Berdych is scheduled to face Ferrer and Stepanek will play Almagro.

The Czechs are seeking to complete a rare double just two weeks after the women secured the Fed Cup title at the same arena. No country has won both competitions in the same year since the United States in 1990.

The fifth-ranked Ferrer is wrapping up the best season, which includes a tour-best seven tournament titles."When I play him (Stepanek), it's always a very close match," Ferrer said after the draw on Thursday.Ferrer has a career 6-3 record against Stepanek and beat him in five
sets when the two teams met in the Davis Cup final three years ago.

"I remember the final in 2009. It was an amazing match," Ferrer said. "This time, it's going to be a similar match on a different surface. But
I have to play my best tennis to beat him."

Spain hasn't lost on clay in 12 years, but the hard court plays to the Czech players' strengths.

"I'll try to use the surface to play my aggressive tennis," said the 37th-ranked Stepanek. "Ferrer is known to be a big fighter, but anyone can be beaten."Berdych is 4-1 against the 11th-ranked Almagro this year."


I wonder if Nadal will be on Spain's bench to support his countrymen, and, hey, he may even bump into Rosol

Apparently, the courts are going to be as fast as it's legally possible!

Now, that would be very interesting to watch, shame Nadal isn't playing...

noleisthebest wrote:Apparently, the courts are going to be as fast as it's legally possible!

Now, that would be very interesting to watch, shame Nadal isn't playing...

They should play Rosol....just to spoil the spirit of the away team.

Rosol is playing doubles, I think.

S.T.'s preview on DC final matches:



David Ferrer vs. Radek Stepanek

These two veterans—Stepanek is 33, Ferrer 29—have played nine times dating back to 2004. Ferrer has won six of those matches, including the crucial five-setter in the 2009 Cup final. But that was on clay; that same year, Stepanek won a five-setter over Ferrer on Wimbledon grass. So they’ve been competitive, and they know each other’s games. Since ’09, though, they’ve gone their separate ways. Ferrer, currently ranked No. 5, has steadily improved, while Stepanek, currently ranked No 37, has steadily declined. The fast surface will favor the net-rushing Stepanek,who is 11-10 in Davis Cup singles matches, but it’s hard to bet against Ferrer, who has won two tournaments on indoor hard courts this autumn, and who is the stalwart of all stalwarts in this competition. He’s 21-4 in Davis Cup, and while he won’t have Rafael Nadal to close for him, as he did in last year’s final, Ferrer has led this team without him in 2012. He’s 4-0 so far this year.



Nicolas Almagro vs. Tomas Berdych

Berdych and Lopez might have spoken out of turn, but that doesn’t mean that what they said was wrong. Berdych has won five of his last six matches against Almagro, including their notorious fourth-rounder in Melbourne, while he has lost his last two matches on hard courts to Lopez. Weak link or not, this will be an uphill climb for Almagro. The court should favor the 6-foot-5 Berdych’s flatter, more penetrating strokes.
But it isn’t a lock for the Tin Man. Does he have the heart to lead the Czechs to their first DC title in 30 years? How will he handle the
pressure of being the team’s anchor, of being counted on to win in front of the home crowd? Recent history says he should be OK. He’s 21-11 in DC singles for his career, and he was in this same situation this year in the quarterfinals, at home against Serbia. That weekend Berdych won three rubbers without dropping a set, and clinched it for the Czechs with a three-tiebreaker win over Janko Tipsarevic.


Granollers/M. Lopez vs. Minar/Rosol

These are the names currently in the lineup, so I’ll stay with them. But barring an unforeseen marathon match on Friday, there’s a good chance you’ll see Minar and Rosol replaced by Berdych and Stepanek.
Berdych has gotten his shots in here as well, at both his opponents andhis teammates. At the U.S. Open, he bristled when he was mentioned in the same sentence as his fellow Czech Rosol. This week the Berdman offered a somewhat backhanded backslap to Lopez and Granollers for their London win. “You have to congratulate them,” Berdych said, “but now they’re expected to do something different, so just tell them to hurry up and prepare.” Again, Berdych, in his harsh way, has a point. Lopez and Granollers finished the season on a high, but Davis Cup has been different for them this season. They lost both of their doubles matches for Spain in 2012.The final may ride on their performance on Saturday.



Ferrer vs. Berdych

Sunday’s first reverse singles will give us this tie’s clash of No. 1s.It’s a tough one to call. Ferrer leads their head to head 5-3, but
Berdych won their last meeting, in London in 2011 (though a tired Ferrer wasn’t at his best that week). They’re ranked No. 5 and 6 in the world. Ferrer is generally the better player. Will the quickness of the surface favor Berdych, or its reported low bounce favor the shorter
Ferru? Final question: Does Ferrer get tired? After all of his recent play, this might be the moment we find out.



Almagro vs. Stepanek

If Stepanek is weary by this point, would Navratil throw in Spain killer Lukas Rosol? Stepanek leads his head to head with Almagro 2-1,
but the Spaniard came out on top in four sets at the U.S. Open this year. Almagro has the far higher ranking, but can’t you just see the
Worm getting under his skin in front of the Czech crowd, with the Cup on the line?

Schedule of play:

http://www.daviscup.com/en/results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=100017691

Matches start at 3 PM UK time tomorrow.

So Davis cup is here and tomorrow. Stepanek with Ferrer in the first match and then Berdych with Almagro. The double will be played Berdych with Stepanek against Lopez with Granollers.
The Czech coach said Stepanek, that the „old dog“ wants to play all three days and then it is important for Stepanek to play the first day and get used to the court before Saturday´s double. All is put on Berd that he will win both singles + the double. Berdych looks to be quite confident and sure that he will do it. The surface is pretty fast and will be a real help together with a great atmosphere.

I remember when Czech played with Italy DC this year and Stepanek beat Seppi in 5 sets. He looked like close to the total collapse, paled and stiffen, but he did it in the end. Now he thinks that he can beat Ferrer, a little bit foolish. It is sure that O2 Arena will be a hell for Spain. Nadal knows why he suffers from morybundus

Paul,

we are expecting the full on-site report here: morybundys, Nadal, Stepanek's nasty tricks, hell of the atmosphere details, hottest gossip, Berd's press conferences...EEEEEEEEVERYTHING!!!!!

BTW,
Is Lendl going to be there?

noleisthebest wrote:Paul,

we are expecting the full on-site report here: morybundys, Nadal, Stepanek's nasty tricks, hell of the atmosphere details, hottest gossip, Berd's press conferences...EEEEEEEEVERYTHING!!!!!

BTW,
Is Lendl going to be there?

Nitb,

all our last winners of DC in 1980 will be there tomorrow including cruel Ivan. It will be a real tennis celebration in Czech. Each day of this week tv serves something from Davis cup history and all believe that we will do it. Lendl also believes in Czechs and said that his mind is full of experiences from Murray´s matches with Ferru and just waits when somebody asked him for an advice. I understand that Stepanek loves playing these matches, but with Ferrer in the first match, I am not sure. If Stepanek lose in 5 setter close to his death, then God stays with him on Saturday. He has a trouble with his back sometimes which makes him stiffen and then he makes many double faults (I remember twice 3 in a row with Tipsy in DC). If he is really ok then let him play, if not then Rosol should play instead. But Stepanek will not admit any health trouble for sure. I expect a bit of drama there, so let us fasten a belt for this

Thanks, Paul!

I will be cheering for Czechs, and believe they will win comfortably.
It would be great to see Rosol again, even if he makes it to the doubles.

Judging from what you are saying the coach has no say in who does what, but Stepanek!

Argentina had the same problem when they lost to Spain DC final two years ago IN ARGENTINA, because Nalbandian was usurping the coach's position, I hope Stepanek puts the team and not himself first.

anyone got a link for DC matches?

luvsports! wrote:http://www.lshunter.tv/tennis-live-streaming-video.html

thanks

stepanek has already held off 7 bp's!!!

he won that battle but is he losing the war???

ferrer a set and a break up but is just 2/15 on bp's!!!!

ferrer's hit more winners, less errors and hasn't faced 1 bp!

luvsports! wrote:ferrer a set and a break up but is just 2/15 on bp's!!!!

ferrer's hit more winners, less errors and hasn't faced 1 bp!

C'mon Czechies!

Stepanek is selfishly going to blow this match up, carrying on like he is playing doubles dodgy approach shots and even dodgier volley....

Stepanek now 2 sets down.

game over, another break

luvsports! wrote:game over, another break

Shame they can't do subs in tennis like they do in football.

haha great idea!

3 subs a match.
Stepanek loses first set, on comes rosol who is then replaced by bird!

luvsports! wrote:haha great idea!

3 subs a match.
Stepanek loses first set, on comes rosol who is then replaced by bird!

And then you get Lendl for doubles, just to hit a few hard ones at players....

ferrer wins 6-3 6-4 6-4

Its bizarre knowing Step gave Ferrer a much harder time a couple of years ago on clay..in Spain....was 2 sets up...before he got tired.

Spanish Tennis Federation coach Xisco tells public.es that thecourt at the O2 Arena in Prague, where the Davis Cup final is being
played between Spain and the Czech Republic, is playing like an "an ice rink."

Xisco said that the Czechs mixed very little sand in the the last layers of the surface, which is how hard courts are slowed down. The ITF
approved of the speed of the surface.

"We have told the ITF that they must change their scale, because this type of court does not already exist in the circuit, there is no place where this type of surface is used because it’s too fast. Even the Czech captain was surprised."

Spanish Davis Cup captain Alex Corretja added: "We all know that is the fastest surface of the year.”

So what? what did they expect? I remember when France played Poland (Noah/Fibak) on wooden floor. That was ridiculously fast.

I actually do not think such fast courts will help Berdych (Shoudl have helped STep though but it did not).

Berdych has not got quick hands...and fast courts are about quick hands.

i remember spain complained a year or so ago about the US choosing the fastest court on tour at home. didn't help mind they lost quite convincingly

luvsports! wrote:i remember spain complained a year or so ago about the US choosing the fastest court on tour at home. didn't help mind they lost quite convincingly

Actually it was this year in Texas. I saw the match, Fish lost a real heart-breaker against Lopez, I think, and Roddick stuffed up completely.
Berd Almagro should be interesting.

I'd love to see Davydenko on a super fast court.

Almagro Berdych one set apiece, Almagro winning the second and now having break point in the first game of the 3rd set. Berd is going to crack, the court actually suiting Almagro's shotmaking and movement a lot better.

Atmosphere looking properly hot

Hi all, so the first match as expected and good thing that Step survived and not injured. Yes, a little bit surprised that he did not take at least one set, but it does not matter and he saved energy. But now I am looking at Berd with Almagro and surprised, a while ago 1:1 sets. Almagro plays quite aggresive, solid servis with very good SHBH. Almagro has by 10 winners more than Berd. The surface is really fast, when Berd hit the first servis close the line, it is hardly visible, but Almagro did it now. I think that Berd will do it. His groundstrokes are excellent. The problem could arise if Almagro takes the second set and Berd will be under pressure. Berd is the key for the win.

Stepanek could have a rest and be fresh for the double and for Sunday if he had not played. The old dog lacks a common sense, a kind of tradition with him

Who do you think will play doubles tomorrow and what are the Czech chances?
I saw the Spanish team beat Brian brothers in O2, they are excellent, esp Lopez.

I have just realised that Czechs have won Fed Cup recently, it would be quite amazing if they won Davis Cup, as well.
Can't remember if ever the same country held both at the same time.

noleisthebest wrote:Who do you think will play doubles tomorrow and what are the Czech chances?
I saw the Spanish team beat Brian brothers in O2, they are excellent, esp Lopez.

Berd with Step will play on 200% tomorrow. Czech chances are 99% to win, only 1% is a chance for an injury. These two fit each other. Berd must finish it on Sunday with Feru.

Are you able to go and see any matches, I suppose it must be difficult to get a ticket.

Is Nadal on the bench ( I haven't seen him), ad has he received any press in there?

noleisthebest wrote:I have just realised that Czechs have won Fed Cup recently, it would be quite amazing if they won Davis Cup, as well.
Can't remember if ever the same country held both at the same time.

That is right, FC is already at home and only this Salad cup is missing in the Czech tennis cabinet this year. US took both trophies around 1990, I have read it somewhere.

The atmosphere finally improved a lot, so that also make a difference when the match is on the edge and at the end of sets. But the audience is still waiting for something,although the tennis quality is superb. The crowd sitting in the upper half can hardly see anything, they see the ball only if the hawk shows a ball on the pannel

I can see that Berdych is playing with a lot more confidence now, the crowd must have a lot to do with it.

I can't imagine the Czechs booing Berd if he smashed his racquet like Murray got booed i O2 last week.

noleisthebest wrote:I have just realised that Czechs have won Fed Cup recently, it would be quite amazing if they won Davis Cup, as well.
Can't remember if ever the same country held both at the same time.

The USA in 1990 if my memory serves me well.

Allez Berdych!

Oops, just noticed paulcz beat me to it

Anyways, seems Berd is winning this set, so hopefully he can finish him off in 4, as we want him fresh for the double. Why didn't they put Rosol vs. Ferru to start, I'm wondering...

Almagro's timing's gone to bits. 2:1 Berdych.

The other impressive national double is when both Steffi and Boris won Wimbledon or were number one year.

sphairistike wrote:Oops, just noticed paulcz beat me to it

yes, but he didn't say "allez"