Davis Cup 2010: Gael Monfils defeats David Nalbandian
Gael Monfils provided France a comprehensive lead of 2-0 over Argentina in the semi final round of the 2010 Davis Cup tennis competition, with the impressive four set elimination of David Nalbandian.
Gael claimed a 6-2 2-6 6-4 6-3 victory in Lyon after his teammate, Michael Llodra earlier in his clash got the better of Juan Monaco in a total of four sets. The final match score was 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-3.
Serbia concluded the opening day versus the Czech Republic at 1-1 despite missing Novak Djokovic as a result of gastroenteritis.
Radek Stepanek in his match also managed to topple Viktor Troicki, a replacement for Djokovic while Janko Tipsarevic outlasted Tomas Berdych in a total of four sets. The final match score was 7-5 6-2 2-6 7-5 (7-5).
"The first day of the competition has shown that Serbia is still a strong side even if Novak Djokovic is out of the championship however with him, we are definitely the best side in the world,” said Tipsarevic.
The second ranked tennis ace from Serbia, Novak Djokovic, defeated by Rafael Nadal in the rain delayed United States Open final on Monday, was however there on the court side to back up his teammates.
The twenty three year old Djokovic who just reached the Serbia’s capital on Wednesday said that he might participate in the doubles clashes on Saturday however, in any case confirmed his availability for Sunday.
Stepanek took full advantage of Djokovic’s absence as he came to know about his withdrawal three hours prior to the start of the match and thus proved too strong for Viktor in the end.
Guy Forget, a French skipper said, “A player should be all time ready to face any opponent on the court against him,” as he also took a bold decision of sending out
Richard Gasquet in the first day in Lyon, apparently as a result of the player’s record of seven losses in seven clashes against David, and it paid dividends for the Serbians in the end.
Gael, who lost to Novak in the quarter final round at the United States Open tennis tournament, proved too strong for David on the indoor carpet and set up an opportunity for Arnaud Clement and Llodra to win the tie in doubles
on Saturday.
Monfils played smart on Friday against David as he realized that the Argentinean was struggling physically right from the start and so even when he was down in the fourth set, he didn’t lose hope and kept on playing well till the
end.
Nalbandian after the match said, “The difference between the two of us was his superior quality of serve as he served much better than me. Moreover, his aggressive game was very accurate, much greater than mine.”
Elsewhere, Switzerland are close to dropping out of the elite World Group after falling 2-0 behind on the opening day of their play-off clash in Kazhakstan.
With Roger Federer missing after a busy North American hard court summer, the United States Open quarter finalist, Stanislas Wawrinka was defeated by Mikhail Kukushkin, a player he got the better of in the opening round at the
Flushing Meadows. The final match score was 3-6 6-1 6-4 1-6 6-3.
The United States is tied at 1-1 after the opening day of their tie versus Colombia at in Bogota. They have been dropped out of the World Group just on a single occasion since it was introduced back in 1981.
Mardy Fish fought to claim a 4-6 6-1 6-4 3-6 6-4 win against Alejandro Falla, before his compatriot fellow, Sam Querrey was taken down by Santiago Giraldo on clay in a three setter clash. The final match score was 6-2 6-4 7-5.
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