Oliver Marach and Alexander Peya give hope to Austria for the semis – Davis Cup 2012
Austrian duo, Oliver Marach and Alexander Peya, tumbled over the Spanish tandem, Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez, in a four set thriller at the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup 2012. They hit back to formulate a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(12) score line against
the Spaniards to keep their country’s hope of a final four appearance at this event.
Marach and Peya bounced back from a set down to outclass the Spaniards in a rain-delayed match at the Marina d’Or in Castellon, Spain. After earning success in this three hours and 39-minute duel, the Austrians lowered the trail in this tie.
"It was very important for us to win today as after being 0-2 down," Marach commented in a post-match press conference. "After the rain break we decided to play different tactics which was good for us, we played more aggressively and it worked."
Granollers and Lopez high-spiritedly stepped on the red clay courts at their home and held their serve in the opening game to level the scores at 1-1. After Marach and Peya kept their serve in the fifth game, the Spaniards unleashed their skills and stroke
out the last four games, ultimately clinching the opener with a 6-3 score line in 46 minutes.
After the match was stopped due to rain in the second set, the Austrians re-structured themselves and cashed in a break opportunity in the fifth game, taking the lead for the first time in the set. They sought several break chances and three set points at
5-3 but squandered them. However, Marach and Peya held their serve in the last game and bagged the set with a 6-4 win.
The Austrian collaboration carried their momentum in the third set and smoothly plucked their entire serves. They got the breakthrough in the seventh game and subsequently won the set with a 6-4 score line.
The fourth set saw both teams displaying their best tennis. Regardless of a rain break again, all four players maintained their form. The set went to the tie-breaker where the Austrians outshined their rivals and sealed the set with a 7-6(12) victory.
Granollers and Lopez gave their all but were eventually edged out by the Austrians.
“I would like to congratulate the Austrian team because they played a little bit better than us today and they deserve the win,” the Spanish captain Alex Corretja praised the Austrians. “My players gave 100 per cent but the Austrians managed the situation
better.”
In the reverse singles tie, Jurgen Melzer will face David Ferrer while Andreas Haider-Maurer will square off against Nicolas Almagro.
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