Team USA trailing 0-2 against the Spaniards after the opening day – Davis Cup WG SF 2012
As it was already anticipated, the Davis Cup defending champions, Team Spain, has registered a commanding 2-0 lead over the bleak American squad after the conclusion of play at day one. The Semi-final battle of the World Group between Team USA and Spain is played on the clay courts of Parque Hermanos Castro, in Gijon, Spain.
The opening day’s play featured two singles rubbers, both falling into the Spaniards’ bags, as David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro won their individual matches to take the home side 2-0 up. Ferrer locked horns with the world number 22, Sam Querrey, in the opening rubber of the tie and took three hours and three minutes to wrap up victory in four sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. The world number five, Ferrer, dropped the opener to Querrey but reeled off the following three sets with commanding ease to come out as the dominating winner.
“I think the first set, he was playing more aggressive than me. I broke him the first game but he played good in the final [part] of the first set,” assessed Ferrer. “In the second set, I broke the first game and I played more consistent and solid... I could have lost the fourth set. He had a lot of chances. I was very focussed on every break point down. Finally I broke him in the last game.”
The following rubber produced some stunning results, as the hot favourite world number 11, John Isner of the United States ell to the 10th ranked Spaniard, Nicolas Almagro, after a nail-biting battle. The home favourite, Almagro, had to battle for four hours and 16 minutes before he could finish the contest in the fifth set at 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, to consolidate his team’s position at 2-0 in the semi-final tie.
“It was very tough,” Almagro said. “I think he served really good. I didn’t feel very comfortable at the court when he was serving. But we are happy because it’s Friday and we’re 2-0 up.”
The doubles matchup between the two teams will be played on Saturday.
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