Davis Cup 2010; The Quarterfinal winners
The quarter final stage of the ongoing 2010 Davis Cup just ended with four nations left to fight it out for a position in the finals.
Spain, without Rafael Nadal but fielding Fernando Verdasco as well as David Ferrer, were chastened by a timid French side even without their top class player Tsonga who is out due to injury problems. Monfils survived in a seesaw five set battle versus Ferrer, whereas Michael Llodra who is a doubles specialist on the other hand knocked down a tepid Verdasco in a total of four sets.
The Frenchman then paired up with Julien Benneteau to squeeze the rubber versus the Lopez-Verdasco team. Not satisfied with the victory, Gilles Simon hammered down Almagro in a total of two tie breaks while Lopez also didn’t manage to grab a set versus Benneteau.
For a nation that feels pride for players like Rafael Nadal, Ferrer, Lopez, Verdasco, Montanes, Ferrero, Garcia Lopez as well as Robredo, the result 5-0 is nearly embarrassing.
As this Cristal’s most prosperous Davis Cup team and two times defending Champ; Spain missed the opportunity for a hat trick but is even then without any question the power house in the men's side with active players.
Argentina and Russia, face to face with Davydenko led a pepped up Russian side while Nalbandian from Veteran tried hard for an upset. Argentina survived over an off form Davydenko in a total of three close sets where as Youzhny did manage to even it at one a piece for his Russian side. With the doubles favouring Argentina's team and Davydenko knocking down Eduardo Schwank it came down repeatedly to David Nalbandian. The Argentine, in the running for the dreaded sobriquet, of "best to never grab a slam," kept his nerves and managed a straight sets victory over Youzhny.
The non- appearance of Karlovic in the lower half, implied that Ivan Ljubicic from veteran had to speed up for Croatia versus a keen Serbian team headed by a brushed off Novak Djokovic.
The Djoker dismissed Ljubicic in three where as Cilic did exactly the same to Troicki in order to even the tie at one a piece. The critical doubles tie was another three setter favouring the Serbs Zimonic and Tipsarevic. Djokovic, not wishing to put away anything to risk, then dispassionately dispatched of Cilic in a total of three easy sets.
In the last encounter of the quarter final stage, a Czech Republic side missing Stepanek or Berdych amazingly had no problems with an equally timid Chilean outfit, as they succeeded 4-1. Ivo Minar knocked down a listless Massu while Jan Hajek did a similar treatment to Paul Capdeville. Hajek later on teamed up with Lukas Dlouhy who is a famous double specialist to grab the rubber and give the Czechs a comfortable victory in the quarterfinals.
The semi finalist’s side this time reassures that the Davis Cup 2010 will see a different winner sine nine years when a witty Nicolas Escude knocked down an excellent player Hewitt and furnished to provide France a spectacular 3-2 win over Australia back in 2001.
It seems that this year Davis Cup edition has provided a chance to the moderately unfamiliar players along with the well known sportsman to step up and discover that extra something in them while contesting for their nation.
Moreover it is also an opportunity for the nations to exhibit their strength and flair to the rest of the sports world. Therefore, it would be definitely an exciting contest to watch.
So, can you dare to miss it?
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