updated: Fri Dec 02 2011 18:26:00
Sweden's Davis Cup captain Thomas Enqvist talks with Don Riddell ahead of his Champions Tour event at Royal Albert Hall.
1. Cup coup. Last week was Davis Cup week. And, as badly as the event is in need of a format/marketing upgrade, it succeeded in spite of itself. Exceptional tennis, exceptional drama, heroic efforts, and that beguiling overlap of individual and team. Spanning the globe ... we go to Chile, where the Americans made Jim Courier's debut a success and prevailed on clay. As long as Andy Roddick and the Bryans are on the skipper's line-up card, the Americans have a good chance. Riding a big win by Joachim Johansson (remember him?) the Swedes scored a big win against Russia. Kazakhstan upset the Czech Republic. I liiike! Depsite Ivo Karlovic's record 156 miles per hour. serve, Germany was able to beat Croatia. Last year's winner, Serbia -- which prevailed over France just a few days ago, it seems -- was sensibly given a first-round bye. No, wait! This just in: the Serbs beat India in Novi Sad. Check all the results at the consistently excellent DavisCup.com. If the only ITF's ability to
1. Loving Cup: For as much space, pixels and air time is devoted to "fixing" the Davis Cup, last weekend we got a taste of all that's right about the event. Before 16,000 raucous fans in Belgrade, Serbia won the country's first championship, beating France, 3-2. Viktor Troicki played hero, taking down Michael Llodra in the winner-take-all match on Sunday evening. But the MVP was Novak Djokovic, who played near-flawless tennis under near-unfathomable pressure. If you happened to catch the Serbian celebration (including Janko Tipsarevic's alcohol-fueled tweets late into the night), read of the significance -- "the greatest moment in the country's history" according to more than a few accounts -- or see the French agony, you don't doubt the relevance of the competition.
The American Tennis Federation (USTA) have appointed Jim Courier as the new captain of the U.S. Davis Cup side.
France have secured their place in the Davis Cup final after taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in their semi-final against Argentina in Lyon on Saturday.
Serbia have reached the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time in their history after beating neighbors and arch-rivals Croatia 4-1 in the quarterfinal tie in Split.
France knocked defending champions Spain out of the Davis Cup in their quarterfinal match at Clermont Ferrand on Saturday.
Bob Bryan and John Isner kept the United States in their Davis Cup tie with Serbia after they claimed victory over Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic in Belgrade on Saturday.
The 110-year history of the Davis Cup is under threat after leading players confirmed they have proposed a plan to replace one of sport's oldest competitions with a "World Cup."
Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer completed Spain's Davis Cup final whitewash over the Czech Republic in Barcelona.
How do you reconcile Roger Federer's brilliant strategic mind with his decision to -- yet again -- return from a brief tennis hiatus without a coach? Here's a future Hall-of-Famer, oozing with guts, game, and determination (the Aussie Open was no straight sets cruise by Rafa), and yet he foregoes a calming voice to settle any niggling nerves? I confess I'm having troubling distinguishing stubbornness from stupidity... -- Michael Selby, West Chester, Pa.
Roger Federer has reluctantly pulled out of next week's tournament in Dubai and Switzerland's Davis Cup date in the U.S. as he bids to fully overcome a nagging back problem.
Former French Open champion Albert Costa has been appointed as Spain's new Davis Cup captain, a month after the team beat Argentina for the 2008 title.
Check back next week for our annual Baggie Awards ...
Fernando Verdasco clinched the Davis Cup for Spain with a thrilling five-set victory over Argentina's Jose Acasuso in Mar Del Plata on Sunday.
Juan Martin del Potro pulled out Sunday's opening reverse singles match of the Davis Cup final for Argentina after failing to recover from a thigh injury.
Spain's Feliciano Lopez upset Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro 4-6 7-6 7-6 6-3 in the second singles of the Davis Cup final -- levelling the two nations at a point each.
Argentina's David Nalbandian will meet Spaniard David Ferrer in Friday's opening Davis Cup final singles rubber, following the draw made on Thursday.
While I agree that Rafa Nadal's decision not to play in Shanghai might require some re-thinking about the year round schedule, don't you think it is also a reflection that the Davis Cup is very much alive outside the U.S., and that Rafa does not want to award Argentina any advantage. It seemed Rafa and Ferrer were going to have the tough time adapting from China to Argentina, now it is only the unlikely Del Potro. -- Marcos Clutterbuck, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The 2008 Davis Cup final between Argentina and Spain on November 21-23 will be held at the Islas Malvinas Stadium in Mar del Plata, organizers have confirmed on Friday.
Rafael Nadal thrashed Andy Roddick in straight sets on Sunday to see Spain into the Davis Cup final for the sixth time.
Spain and Argentina are on course to contest the Davis Cup final by taking commanding 2-0 leads after the opening day of their semifinal rubbers.
Davis Cup new boy Sam Querrey was handed the daunting task of playing world No.1 Rafael Nadal in the opening match of the semifinal between the United States and Spain in Madrid on Friday.
I realize that some people will immediately denounce this column as gender bashing, but they would be wrong. My analysis that Davis Cup in America is thriving and Fed Cup is dying is merely an objective look at the discrepancies and inequities of the two.
True or False: Women's tennis is like men's tennis, only slower, with less variety and more errors. Seriously, give me a reason or two that a rational person would want to watch women's tennis that has nothing to do with sex appeal. -- Wafo Rodriguez, San Antonio
USA and Argentina joined Russia and Spain in the last four of the Davis Cup by completing victories in Sunday's opening singles matches.
Russia secured a place in the Davis Cup semifinals for the fourth consecutive year Sunday after Czech Tomas Berdych retired hurt in the decisive fifth set against Nikolay Davydenko.
Russia and Argentina took 2-1 leads in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Saturday while Spain wrapped up victory over Germany by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead over Germany and France cut into the United States' lead by claiming a shock doubles win.
Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has been ruled out of France's Davis Cup quarterfinal against the United States this weekend because of a right knee injury.
Just exactly who says that tennis is "struggling?" I'm getting sick of hearing about it.
Jon: Novak Djokovic begins play when he starts to bounce the ball. Is your complaint the length between points or the number of bounces? Be honest. This just sounds like more anti-Djokovic rhetoric. I'd love to hear people talk about the good he brings to the game, but so far people can't get passed "what might have been" between The Mighty Fed and Rafael Nadal.
Andy Murray made a winning start at the Marseille Open as he returned to action for the first time since his opening round defeat to eventual finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Australian Open on January 14.
An ailing Novak Djokovic retired despite leading in the first reverse singles match Sunday, giving Russia an insurmountable 3-1 lead over Serbia and a spot in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
No, your TV isn't broken. Unless you're tuned into ESPN Classic, the tennis you see in front of you isn't a replay of the U.S. clinching the 2007 Davis Cup -- it's actually already the first match of the '08 Davis Cup.
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Few players on the ATP Tour ride the wave of momentum as well as James Blake. After dropping in the rankings from No. 4 in 2006 to 13th in '07, he's poised to climb back up the rankings with a strong performance at the Australian Open.
OK, I lied. Last week I said we were going to present the annual Baggie Awards. But because we got a welter of Davis Cup questions (and because I'm still recovering from a hellish redeye) we'll do a 'Bag this week and present the awards next week.
Herewith, 25 observations after watching the United States win the Davis Cup for the first time since 1995 ...
I'd like to take a second to pat myself on the back for my spot-on Davis Cup predictions. If you take a look at the column I wrote back in February, I stated this would be the year the United States would end its Davis Cup title drought. Now, with the final upon us, I feel like it's time to bask in the glory.
Andy Roddick is a few weeks away from ending a solid, if not spectacular 2008 season.
German tennis star Tommy Haas is to have further tests to determine if he was poisoned during their Davis Cup semifinal defeat to Russia in September.
Justine Henin most certainly is not the "worst flouter" of coaching "rules"[Oct. 3 Mailbag].There are several (many) WTA players ranked in the top 20 who interact far, far more with their coaches during matches. Have you seen Nadia Petrova, Nicole Vaidisova or even Svetlana Kuznetsova matches lately? -- Adam, Wiltshire, England
In the past few months, I've written numerous blogs about playing Fed Cup -- what it's like to play for your country, the passion that goes along with playing and how different it is than anything else we experience on tour.
Briton Tim Henman announced has that he intends to retire from tennis after the Davis Cup world group playoff against Croatia next month.
Rapid Fire Q and A's... Maria Sharapova: nursing shoulder or psyche? Fernando Gonzalez: Marcos Baghdatis of 2007? Williams sisters: glory days again? Rafael Nadal: too much to defend? Roger Federer: the year of the GOAT? Davis Cup: If the U.S. wins, will we finally care about it? -- Michael White, Fort Worth, Texas
Sebastien Grosjean pulled France level with Russia in their Davis Cup quarterfinal by beating Igor Andreev 7-5 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 in the first reverse singles on Sunday.
James Blake will attempt to snap a recent slump when he opens for the United States on Friday in the Davis Cup quarterfinals against Spain, facing Tommy Robredo.
Australia have been forced to come to terms with the plummeting status of their men's tennis squad, after crashing out to Belgium in the first round of this year's Davis Cup competition.
Andy Roddick led the United States into the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Sunday as six nations clinched their places with a rubber to spare in their first-round ties.
Russia began their defense of the Davis Cup in impressive style as they took a 2-0 lead over Chile on the clay in La Serena in their first round World Group tie.
Former world number one Marat Safin beat Argentina's Jose Acasuso 6-3 3-6 6-3 7-6 in the deciding rubber as Russia won the Davis Cup for the second time on Sunday.
Paul Annacone, who is trying to revive Tim Henman's career, is joining the Lawn Tennis Association to coach Britain's top men players.
World number three Nikolay Davydenko will be hoping to snap a five-game losing streak to Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina when he opens for Russia in the Davis Cup final in Moscow on Friday.
Russia's powerful line-up of Nikolay Davydenko, Marat Safin and Dmitry Tursunov, are considered the overwhelming favorites when they host Argentina in this weekend's Davis Cup final.
Tim Henman has signaled he is ready to end his self-imposed exile from Britain's Davis Cup tennis team.
Emilio Sanchez Vicario is to continue as captain of Spain's Davis Cup team for another year, the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) has revealed.
David Nalbandian led Argentina to their first Davis Cup final in 25 years with victory over Australia on Saturday.
Croatia are clinging on to the Davis Cup by their fingertips after losing a pivotal doubles rubber in the quarterfinal tie with Argentina in Zagreb on Saturday.
Davis Cup rookie Chris Guccione set Australia on their way to a commanding 2-0 first day lead over Belarus with an upset win over Max Mirnyi in the Davis Cup quarterfinal tie in Melbourne on Friday.
Croatia's leading player and captain Ivan Ljubicic may miss the first day of the Davis Cup quarterfinal against Argentina due to fatigue and abdominal pain.
Marat Safin will lead Russia in April's Davis Cup quarterfinal against France.
Paul McNamee has quit as chief executive of the Australian Open, Tennis Australia said on Saturday.
Karol Beck of Slovakia has been banned for two years for doping, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Monday.
Australian newcomer Chris Guccione steered his country to a 3-2 victory over Switzerland in their Davis Cup World Group first round tie on Sunday.
The Spanish Tennis Federation has not renewed the contracts of current captains Jordi Arrese and Juan Avendano.
Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic overcame Russian pair Igor Andreev and Dmitriy Tursonov 6-2 4-6 7-6 3-6 6-4 on Saturday to edge their country nearer a first appearance in the Davis Cup final.
David Ferrer has been called into Spain's Davis Cup team for the first time for their World Group playoff against Italy on Monday.
Andy Roddick will spearhead the U.S. Davis Cup team in the World Group playoff tie against Belgium.
Marc Rosset has been sacked as Switzerland's Davis Cup captain.
Russia's Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev crushed their French opponents to clinch a 3-2 victory in the Davis Cup quarterfinal in Moscow.
Slovakia moved a step closer to their first Davis Cup semi-final when Karol Beck and Michal Mertinak put them 2-1 ahead against the Netherlands with victory in the doubles rubber.
Nikolay Davydenko levelled Russia's Davis Cup quarter-final against France at 1-1 by overpowering Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-5 6-2 7-5.
Australian Open champion Marat Safin will undergo a minor knee operation on Thursday, keeping him off court until the U.S. Open next month, his website has announced.
Davis Cup hero Rafael Nadal has been dropped from his singles spot in Spain's team for the champions' clash with Slovakia this weekend.
The experienced Albert Costa has been recalled to Spain's Davis Cup team for their first round tie with Slovakia next month.
World No. 1 Roger Federer won his 20th consecutive match on Friday as he breezed past Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-3 6-4 to reach the final of the Qatar Open.
Carlos Moya was the Spanish hero as they claimed the Davis Cup for the second time with victory over the USA in Seville.
This weekend's Davis Cup final between Spain and the United States is to set a new record for the number of spectators at an official tennis match.
Former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero has pulled out of this week's Heineken Open in Shanghai citing wrist and knee injuries.
U.S. world number two Andy Roddick will face Belarus' Vladimir Voltchkov in the opening singles tie of their Davis Cup semi-final on Friday.
Mark Philippoussis has been forced out of Australia's Davis Cup World Group playoff with Morocco next week because of a hip injury.
Spain kept faith with the team that beat the Netherlands when they named an unchanged line-up on Monday for their Davis Cup semifinal against France.
Tennis chiefs are in talks with the Danish and Algerian federations after the Danes refused to visit the north African country for a Davis Cup tie on security grounds.
Greg Rusedski, who was cleared of a doping offense last week, is named in the British Davis Cup squad for next month's Euro/Africa zone tie in Luxembourg.
Greg Rusedski has offered to assist a tennis task force set up to tackle the problem of possible contamination of player supplements with banned substances.
Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal makes his Davis Cup debut against Czech No. 1 Jiri Novak in the opening singles of their first-round World Group match.
Spain suffered a second injury setback for this weekend's Davis Cup tie against the Czech Republic after Juan Carlos Ferrero was forced to withdraw.
Feliciano Lopez has been drafted in to Spain's Davis Cup team for next week's first round tie against the Czech Republic.
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