Davis cup final 2013

Why was Nole too scared to play?

So....
It's Djokovic-Berdych followed by Lajovic-Stepanek from 3PM today.

Nothing like a live 5th rubber!

Btw, does anyone know why DC matches are called rubbers!?

noleisthebest wrote:So....
It's Djokovic-Berdych followed by Lajovic-Stepanek from 3PM today.

Nothing like a live 5th rubber!

Btw, does anyone know why  DC matches are called rubbers!?

Not sure how it is with a rubber, but I can think that rubber has something with BO5, as it relates to long matches played in DC. Some matches are so long as they remind a protracted rubber  

Some response from Czech player to doubles yesterday.  Step said as a response to not playing Nole, Serbia's coach forgot Ferrari in a garrage.
Berd for a change, it was nice to see that Nole's sitting on these nice white chairs.

And the last nice one was said by Berd, he said that Nole's game reminds him a tennis playstation. Only thing I need is to find a plug and switch him off. So the fist thing when I come to the arena I will try to find a wire and plug him off   
Can somebody know how Dusan Lajovic slept this night? That is very easy, no sleep at all, unless he took sleeping pills. That is a real christening by fire for Dusan.

Good job I checked! Nole-Berd starting NOOOOW not at 3 PM  

Yes, why Ferrari stayed in the garage will remain a mystery...Oradovic offered a lame excuse that Nole was tired.
I reckon he must be carrying a small injury.

GO NOLEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!    


As for Lajovic, EVERYBODY PLEASE WATCH THE MATCH IF YOU CAN (if for no other reason, it's the last official one of the year as well), he plays very nice tennis, if you like Stan, you'll like Lajovic as well 

And despite Berd's "complimentry" Nole Playstation words, in the same press conference, he made sure he corrected the journalists yesterday telling them Nole is not number 1 but number 2.

I can see Nole is going to teach him the lesson now, I expect a demolition 

Cmon Berdych

Berdych is so infantile!

Love Nole's fire and passion!!!!!!  
That's Berd gone, such a classic when they play, it's always, always, always a very tight first set in which Berd cracks at the end of, and then it's a cruise for Nole.

Czech TV commentator is such an idiot, that he must be a cousin of Andrew from SKY sport. 
 
Very good quality match.

The Serbian one is even worse, I turned the sound off!

I missed a couple of games during lunch, there seemed to have been some incident that unsettled Nole.
He is not totally focused all the time, definitely a sign of a long season fatigue.
Excellent hold of serve, saving 2 BPs.

Keep going NOLEEEE!!!!!!!       

Awesome TB from Nole!!!!
How he does it, I'll never know....

Berd definitely a different player in Davis Cup.

Berdych could and should have won that set.

Berd plays really well, but still not enough. He know that he can just surprise and also that Nole must win. So, he plays very freely on his standard.

That is real shame, that Tipsy can't play, the fifth match could be an epic.

He had Djokovic on a string in the TB. 
Tomas can probably hurt Djokovic with his FH more than anyone.

noleisthebest wrote:Awesome TB from Nole!!!!
How he does it, I'll never know....

Berd definitely a different player in Davis Cup.

Berd surprises me as well, he plays his maximum. Not sure whether he can repeat it on ATP tour.

Julia Santamaria wrote:He had Djokovic on a string in the TB. 
Tomas can probably hurt Djokovic with his FH more than anyone.

If Berd has enough time for his hitting, then he can dictate rallies even against the best. But if he is running then quite a lot mistakes for a level of the best.

paulcz wrote:Berd plays really well, but still not enough. He know that he can just surprise and also that Nole must win. So, he plays very freely on his standard.

That is real shame, that Tipsy can't play, the fifth match could be an epic.

Yes, that would have been a fantastic end.
Still, Lajovic has shown a lot of heart against Berdych and it's not guaranteed Step will win despite his good form.

noleisthebest wrote:

paulcz wrote:Berd plays really well, but still not enough. He know that he can just surprise and also that Nole must win. So, he plays very freely on his standard.

That is real shame, that Tipsy can't play, the fifth match could be an epic.

Yes, that would have been a fantastic end.
Still, Lajovic has shown a lot of heart against Berdych and it's not guaranteed Step will win despite his good form.

Nitb, miracles can happen time from time, but Step is an experienced clever fox and also he played 5th match in the final last year. In addition his game is too variable for Dusan. Step changes the game rhytm too often and many much more  better players are not able to catch with him. 
 
Dusan's  especially SHBH will be pressured by many net approaches, slices, short and long balls. If Step doesn't suffer any body hitch, then I give him a chance of 95% to win it.

What a way to end the season, an ace down the T, bravo Nole  

In his on-court interview, Nole urges the crowd to stay and be 100% behind Lajovic, who is playing his 3rd best of 5 sets match in his career (second one was against Berd on Friday).
The crowd then started chanting "Viktor Troicki" and Nole said Viktor is probably crying in front of TV now like he did in their match against Canada when the crowd chanted his name.
What a shame ad disgrace he was not allowed to cheer his team even as a a "nobody" in the crowd, but a cheat like Toni Nadal & his nephew can go and break every rule he can any time they like it.

What a lovely, just world we are living in...

noleisthebest wrote:The Serbian one is even worse, I turned the sound off!

I missed a couple of games during lunch, there seemed to have been some incident that unsettled Nole.
He is not totally focused all the time, definitely a sign of a long season fatigue.
Excellent hold of serve, saving 2 BPs.

Keep going NOLEEEE!!!!!!!       

Well done Nole  

I remember a DC match, when this Czech commentator had in TV studio the former Czech player Jiri Novak as co-commentator. It was quite funny as TV commentator said something and then Novak said something quite different and then this  idiot tried to correct his previous statement. It is easy to get know when a tv moderator talks about a tennis match online and hasn't played tennis  at least on a basic competitive level. It is quite striking.

Dusan must hold his serve as long as it is possible and try to be active on the court. Let's hope that he can. I would appreciate 5 setter

NITB if Nadal had missed a blood test, there's no way you would have been so sympathetic with him

Don't you think Djokovic is a doper too? Why aren't you annoyed that according to you a doper (Djokovic) is allowed to play while Troicki isn't even allowed in the stadium.
Why are you not being consistent and complaining about that?

Well Step is not only an old dog and a ladies' heart-breaker, but a very crafty, fit player who is playing in good form.
Dusan plays similar style to Wawrinka but is not physically strong as him.
After seeing him hold his nerve most of the match against Berd, I know it's not going to be a disaster match, and I know he is a massive underdog, but think he has a chance.

What a fantastic opportunity he has with this match, imagine if he won the match!

GO DUCIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!              

noleisthebest wrote:In his on-court interview, Nole urges the crowd to stay and be 100% behind Lajovic, who is playing his 3rd best of 5 sets match in his career (second one was against Berd on Friday).
The crowd then started chanting "Viktor Troicki" and Nole said Viktor is probably crying in front of TV now like he did in their match against Canada when the crowd chanted his name.
What a shame ad disgrace he was not allowed to cheer his team even as a a "nobody" in the crowd, but a cheat like Toni Nadal & his nephew can go and break every rule he can any time they like it.

What a lovely, just world we are living in...

Nitb, please don't mention these two clowns today, I can't switch from DC to such a mud  

I would give Viktor a fair chance with Step, that is really shame for Serbia and not allow him to get into Arena, that is a stupid rule.

Julia Santamaria wrote:NITB if Nadal had missed a blood test, there's no way you would have been so sympathetic with him

Don't you think Djokovic is a doper too? Why aren't you annoyed that according to you a doper (Djokovic) is allowed to play while Troicki isn't even allowed in the stadium.
Why are you not being consistent and complaining about that?

You should know all the answers about Nadal's missed tests and how many times he tested positive, after all, you decided to destroy the evidence -  200 blood bags, TWO HUNDRED OF THEM!!!!!!

noleisthebest wrote:Well Step is not only an old dog and a ladies' heart-breaker, but a very crafty, fit player who is playing in good form.
Dusan plays similar style to Wawrinka but is not physically strong as him.
After seeing him hold his nerve most of the match against Berd, I know it's not going to be a disaster match, and I know he is a massive underdog, but think he has a chance.

What a fantastic opportunity he has with this match, imagine if he won the match!

GO DUCIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!              

I also cheer for Dusan  

Btw, my best school friend has the same first name

noleisthebest wrote:

Julia Santamaria wrote:NITB if Nadal had missed a blood test, there's no way you would have been so sympathetic with him

Don't you think Djokovic is a doper too? Why aren't you annoyed that according to you a doper (Djokovic) is allowed to play while Troicki isn't even allowed in the stadium.
Why are you not being consistent and complaining about that?

You should know all the answers about Nadal's missed tests and how many times he tested positive, after all, you decided to destroy the evidence -  200 blood bags, TWO HUNDRED OF THEM!!!!!!

I'm not quite sure how this answers my question.
Even if Nadal and Djokovic are both doping as you say, your position in not berating Djokovic is still inconsistent and farcical.

Incidentally I have done some enquiries about those blood bags, and my sources tell me that it contains blood from top footballers in the Spain national team, and La Liga players, as well as cyclists. Apparently there is no blood of tennis players in the blood bags currently being held in Barcelona.

Maybe Dusan can do a Rosol or Darcis

He said in his post match on court interview on Friday that most people did not even know what he looked like, I would really love him to play the match and tennis of his life!
For those who still don't know what Dusan Lajovic looks like:

Let's hope not.
Is Serbia win today, Djokovic will be incredible in 2014 (to be fair he may have a great 2014 anyway, but a Davis Cup win would assure it).

noleisthebest wrote:Maybe Dusan can do a Rosol or Darcis  

Grass is a special in this regard. Great serve and volleys and that is enough, hard courts need a bit more.

Berd looked quite pissed, the second DC final and  Step can clinch it again.

Tennis players were involved in Puerto.

luvsports! wrote:Tennis players were involved in Puerto.

Btw I saw Puerto playing live and his SHBH was a bit miraculous. Such a quick SHBH swing with a very low margine above the net, that is I have never seen it.

So no wonder that he was caught with doping afterwards.

paulcz wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Maybe Dusan can do a Rosol or Darcis  

Grass is a special in this regard. Great serve and volleys and that is enough, hard courts need a bit more.

Berd looked quite pissed, the second DC final and  Step can clinch it again.

I think it's nice when the 2nd player has a chance to shine.
Will be great whoever wins it for their country, Step because he is towards the end of his career, Dusan, because he is at the beginning.

Would be wonderful and such a dream story if Lajovic ended up the hero.

This is the closest a young player can make a breakthrough in today's tennis, that's one of the reasons I love Davis Cup!

Haha, paul, puerto was "operacion puerto". You're thinking of Puerta.

Step looks nervous and the break is here  

luvsports! wrote:Haha, paul, puerto was "operacion puerto". You're thinking of Puerta.

Yes LS, you are absolutely right, that was Puerta. Such a short stocky juiced player

Btw Paul who are your favourite players?

Come on Dule, you can do it!!!!!!!!  

luvsports! wrote:Btw Paul who are your favourite players?

LS, I thought that everybody knows it . You mean except my numero uno player. So next in order is Stan, like Delpo and believe in Vasek Pospisil.

Of course I like watching Maestro in action.

noleisthebest wrote:Come on Dule, you can do it!!!!!!!!    

Step does not believe himself for winners so he waits for Dusan's UE. Quite interisting so far.

Dusan must be patient as hell, otherwise no chance.

Nooooooooooooooooo  

Step's tennis is matching his looks at the moment.
Lajovic's inexperience showing big time, allowing Stepanek who is so average from the base line to win points from it with just keeping the ball in play...

Poor Lajovic, he's completely lost his head in this match...just trying to save his face now, but should just calm down and play the match point by point...
Amazing what a difference a bit of experience can make.

Nitb why wasn't tipsy chosen?

He was injured LS.

So pleased for Czech Republic here

Well, that was that...it was good while it lasted.

Congratulations to  Czech Republic, they won it fair and square, anyone but Spain!

Well done by Step, the second DC in a row, not bad for Czechs  
 
So, the fifth match went in a way, which I thought about. Step reigned on the court too clearly I could enjoy the match. 
 
So, future Czech tennis players have their idols to follow them. Great  success for Czechs, but a big shame for Serbia that Tipsy couldn't have played.

When all is said and done, I am not that sad about this loss.

There is a reason I didn't even want to go to Belgrade and watch the match live, although I was offered a great set of tickets.

When I was there in September and watched the match against Canada, I was again reminded that people there don't love tennis and barely deserve even this one DC from 2010.
TSS (equivalent of Serbia's LTA) is a bunch of corrupted, lazy and obese beurocrats who do nothing to promote and nourish tennis in Serbia.
They pocket 99% of cash they get from ITF and give crumbs to impoverished clubs.
The tipping point was a few monts ago when Belgrade took away the entire tennis complex Djokovic family have built near thevDanube where Serbian Open was held for a few years claiming they did not pay the water bill.
Nole invested his private money into first buying the tournament licence from Holland then built the entire Serbian Open from scratch, funded the prize money, chased players around the tour to participate in it, etc....and the people of Belgrade could not even bother to turn up and watch at some joke ticket prices...

When the tournament started, I was so proud of it, that was the first and only ever little tournament Serbia had I thought it would be loved and embraced, florish to a 500 event....but no...I ended up being shocked and embarrassed by empty stands day after day and felt so sorry for Nole who worked so hard and poured so much love back inro his hometown wanting to give the young generation the opportunity he never had, to train on nice courts in their own country, and not in a disused swimming pool or tavel abroad get into debts...

So, yes, glad for this generation of players ONLY, they won DC once, so this loss is not such a big deal.

Why did people not go to the Serbia Open?

Maybe they don't find Djokovic's brand of play as exciting as Nadal's.