DAVIS CUP 2014: Semi-final

Thanks, LS.
Some sizzling shots there...

Managed to find this link with the "shoulders" lap of honour bit:

Hey rotla,
are you watching India-Serbia?
Dev just levelled the tie to 2:2!

Doesn't get crazier than when teams' number twos have to decide!

GO FILIP!!!!!!

"Federer is a monument of tennis, this is a dream final."

Very nice words from Richie.

paulcz wrote:Here, I need to say, that these all three men have done a great job and it depends just on them how they want to continue in tennis. So, it looks that the great era of Czech DC team is going to the end. I also think that this time just came right now and now it is time for new Czech wave of players like Vesely.

Thanks to Czech DC players for many nice years!

Yes Paul, time to say goodbye, all good things come to an end

Step and Berd did so well for Czech Republic, 2DC in a row! And in this era...
That is why I love DC, it gives all players a chance to win something big and feel special.
CR has such long and rich tennis tradition, and you keep having generations naturally succeeding one another.

Nole had to start it all from scratch for Serbia, he even bought and funded a tournament (Serbia Open) from his own prize money (main reason he switched from Wilson to Head) offered free tickets, begged ATP players to come and play there as it had little prize money, just to bring the love of tennis to the country, and it's beginning to pay off but very slowly.
Even now, he is taking 12 year old Serbian juniors with him to the Asian swing, at his own cost to be around him and learn, get inspired.
His heart is huge.

noleisthebest wrote:

paulcz wrote:Here, I need to say, that these all three men have done a great job and it depends just on them how they want to continue in tennis. So, it looks that the great era of Czech DC team is going to the end. I also think that this time just came right now and now it is time for new Czech wave of players like Vesely.

Thanks to Czech DC players for many nice years!

Yes Paul, time to say goodbye, all good things come to an end

Step and Berd did so well for Czech Republic, 2DC in a row! And in this era...
That is why I love DC, it gives all players a chance to win something big and feel special.
CR has such long and rich tennis tradition, and you keep having generations naturally succeeding one another.

Nole had to start it all from scratch for Serbia, he even bought and funded a tournament (Serbia Open) from his own prize money (main reason he switched from Wilson to Head) offered free tickets, begged ATP players to come and play there as it had little prize money, just to bring the love of tennis to the country, and it's beginning to pay off but very slowly.
Even now, he is taking 12 year old Serbian juniors with him to the Asian swing, at his own cost to be around him and learn, get inspired.
His heart is huge.

Nole is a great guy and his work for Serbia is huge

It is amazing how many great top sportsmen grow up in Serbia. Just now Serbia plays with USA the WCH final in basketball.

How did this " " smiley get into my previous post???!!!
I never put it there....in fact, I don't think I've ever used it...


That aside, I read about basketball and the final vs USA this evening which I used to follow once upon a time but not any more, I have finally realised it's an abnormal sport for abnormal people

In fact I used to love and play quite a few sports as that's all we could do as children, there was no internet and mobile phones...if only I had a chance to play tennis...but I took it as soon as I could.
Better late than never!

As if we needed a proof how special Davis Cup is.....

"It was a very special match," Federer said afterward. "I was trying to break his rhythm and my legs were hurting. I was really fighting. When it was over, it was such a relief. I had to cry. It was such a nice feeling I never had before."

noleisthebest wrote:Hey rotla,
are you watching India-Serbia?
Dev just levelled the tie to 2:2!

Doesn't get crazier than when teams' number twos have to decide!

GO FILIP!!!!!!      

Correction!
It does get crazier.

Krajinovic-Bambiri match stopped at 4:4 in the 2nd set because of rain (second interruption) and is to continue tomorrow

The "tomorrow" already happened, they must've played first thing in the morning Indian time!

Serbia remains in the World group.

noleisthebest wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Hey rotla,
are you watching India-Serbia?
Dev just levelled the tie to 2:2!

Doesn't get crazier than when teams' number twos have to decide!

GO FILIP!!!!!!      

Correction!
It does get crazier.

Krajinovic-Bambiri match stopped at 4:4 in the 2nd set because of rain (second interruption) and is to continue tomorrow

Yes it was some good tennis on Sat and Sunday. I just love Davis cup atmosphere. 

Was switching channels between Swiss-Italy and India-Serbia.

paulcz wrote:Congratulations to France DC team, they did a good job!
Here are my some perceptions and news from Czech DC team. Step suffered from a lower back pain since the third set and he told our coach, that it was  unplayable for him. Step said, if he played ATP match, he would have retired from the match.

Having watched Berdych in the double, I haven’t seen him so badly for quite long time. It looks that not only tiredness and suffering from an accomodation and a jet leg, but there was  a big  problem in concentration. It can be also affected from an upcoming change of his coach, will it be Ivan?  That could also mean that Berd stop playing DC and will focus just on playing ATP’s matches.

Step, who will be 36 yo this year had his back issues many times, so now it looks that he is going to stop playing single matches in DC and not sure about his next personal career.

Czech coach, Navratil, said if Step with Berd stopped playing DC he would also stop coaching Czech DC team.

Here, I need to say, that these all three men have done a great job and it depends just on them how they want to continue in tennis. So, it looks that the great era of Czech DC team is going to the end. I also think that this time just came right now and now it is time for new Czech wave of players like Vesely.

Thanks to Czech DC players for many nice years!

Berdych and Steps have carried the Czech DC team for many years, I think its time for the newer players to take this responsibility.

Davis cup final to be played on clay, indoor, in Lille. (I've actually been there, reminded me of Belgrade a lot).
Good decision from the French.
There should be some beautiful tennis played. Crowd capacity 27 000!!! 
Monfils has injured his knee during Metz, so I hope he gets back to full fitness for the end of November, will be tough, though.

http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/187174.aspx

I think they are going for largest D.C. tennis crowd in history-- at least one report I read said that was the goal.

How much does the stadium Spain played in during their davis cup final in '11 vs argentina? That seemed a lot.

To play the DC final 21.-23. November at an open footbal stadium is not a good idea and can't get how ATP can agree with it. The whole DC format is old-fashioned. Nevertheless they  can use a heating surface.
The French have really good chance to win it. The final is played a weak after WTF and it is sure that Fed and Stan will play it.

I think Fed and Stan will try to win it but I am not sure they care as much as we think.

Tenez wrote:I think Fed and Stan will try to win it but I am not sure they care as much as we think.

Stan has always been keen on playing DC and surely wants it. Watching Fed with Fogna, Fed played with a brutal effort. So, they know that it is their last chance to win it for Swiss.
The timing of DC final a week after WTF is a nonsense. The switch from an indoor to the stadium clay is terrible. I do regret the Swiss already now.

yes it's a bit of a shame...though a week is a good recovery time....especially if there is no jet lagging in between.