Tennis: Davis Cup 2010, France poised to upset Spain
Two time winner of the Davis Cup, Spain stands to be upset by France. Michael Llorda along with Gael Monfils gave France an impressive lead of 2-0 in the Davis Cup Quarter finals being held in Clermont Ferrand.
Monfils controlled his nerve to provide France an early lead. The Paris indigent was forced to five sets by Spanish number two player David Ferrer. But prevailed 7-6(3), 6-2, 4-6, 5-7, 6-4 within a period of four hours in order to mark his second Davis Cup singles victory.
Monfils, who is just twenty-three years of age smashed a total of one hundred and one winners and broke serve on five occasions to knock down Ferrer for the second time in two clashes. He had a lead of 5-2 in the final set, before grabbing victory by hammering down, the twelth ranked, Ferrer’s serve in game number ten with his strong forehand winner.
“It was a close call from the baseline. I performed pretty well, with a strong approach," said Monfils. "I amazed even myself today; I kept a ceiling on myself. It was tough, I was up with a total of two sets, then he made a comeback, and then I served for the rest of the game in the fifth one but I couldn’t make it. I didn’t give up; I kept trusting in my ability and then came the point number one for France”.
Llodra who is ranked number thirty-five in the world then came from a set down in order to thrash Feranando Verdasco, who is ranked number ten in the world’s ranking 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(2), in a total of three and a half hours.
After falling down in a close first set on a tie-break, Llodra came back with a total of three service breaks to triumph in the next two sets. Verdasco exhibited his battling skills as he came back from 2-4 down in set number four to push a tie-break, but he failed to find answer to Llodra’s inexorable attack and surrendered 7-2.
"Anything can occur in Davis Cup tournament," said Llodra. "Today it was a nice environment on the court and I wished to perform at my very best. It was ideal. I was aware even prior to the match that, on this court, if I played assertive then Fernando might skip few of his shots".
France, the nine-time winner is in a commanding position to give Spain its very first Davis Cup loss since the quarter finals back in 2007. Spain has grabbed the exclusive International Tennis Federation men’s side trophy for the last two years, knocking Argentina back in 2008 and Czech Republic in the previous season. But will have to return from 0-2 down on the very first occasion in its history if it is to advance to the semi final stage this time.
The Russia versus Argentina matches are being held in Moscow.
David Nalbandian, who is the former number three player in the world made an impressive comeback as he provided Argentina a lead of 1-0. Knocking down Nikolay Davydenko, the number one player in Russia 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-6(6) in the first rubber exhibiting two players on the return path after injury.
Argentina, who is a runner-up in Davis Cup tournaments on three occasions, is expecting to finish two-time winner Russia’s 17-tie unvanquished run on home ground in the next couple of days, and cruise into the semi finals on the seventh occasion in the last nine years. Russia raised the Davis Cup title back in 2002, when Youzhny squeezed the final rubber versus France, and again in 2006 with a win against Argentina.
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