2013/05/18

ITF Confirms Dates for 2014 Davis Cup

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(April 24, 2013) The ITF has confirmed the calendar dates for the 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas:

 

World Group first round  January 31–  February 2

World Group quarterfinals  April 4-6

World Group semifinals and play-offs  September 12-14

World Group Final November 21-23

 

The draw for the 2014 Davis Cup competition will take place in London on Wednesday, September 18.

 

The 2013 Davis Cup World Group semifinals and World Group play-offs will take place on  September 13-15. In the semifinals, Serbia is at home to Canada, and Czech Republic is at home to Argentina. The winners will contest the World Group Final on 15-17 November.

 

The dates for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be announced in June.

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Seeds Announced for 2013 Davis Cup World Group Play-offs

 

(April 8, 2013) The ITF has announced the seeds for the Draw for the 2013 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-offs. The Draw will take place on Wednesday 10 April at the ITF offices in London at 11:00 local time (10:00 GMT). The seeds are based on the new ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking of 8 April: www.daviscup.com/en/rankings/current-rankings.aspx

 

The eight seeded nations in the World Group play-offs are:

 

Spain (1)

Austria (2)

Croatia (3)

Switzerland (4)

Germany (5)

Australia (6)

Belgium (7)

Japan (8)

 

Each of the seeds will be drawn against one of the following unseeded nations:

 

Brazil

Colombia

Ecuador

Great Britain

Israel

Netherlands

Poland

Ukraine

 

The 2013 World Group play-offs will take place alongside the World Group semifinals on 13-15 September. The eight winning nations will contest the 2014 World Group.

 

The line-up for the World Group play-offs was confirmed when Australia, Colombia, Ecuador, Great Britain, Japan, Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine all won their Zone Group I second round ties on 5-7 April. They joined the losers from the 2013 World Group first round ties.

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Great Britain Stuns Russia to Reach Davis Cup World Group Play-offs

 

By Ros Satar

 

Dan Evans [GBR] def. Evgeny Donskoy [RUS] 6-4, 6-4, 6-1

 

(April 7, 2013) COVENTRY, England – After three epic five-setters, it felt almost like short-change when Dan Evans clinched the Group I  second round tie 3-2 against Russia in straight sets.

 

Having finished the first day 0-2 down, and only being ranked as favorites to win the doubles, it was all to play for with two live rubbers on the Sunday.

 

It was key for Evans to capitalize on Ward’s earlier three-and-a-half hour win over Dmitry Tursunov, which he did so with a single break to take the first set 6-4.

 

Evans started in much the same way, breaking again to lead Russia 3-1, but lost the advantage when Donskoy broke to level at 3-3.

 

Donskoy was moving better, and dialing back into the match, but another consolidated break for Evans put Great Britain two sets up.

 

Evans was inspired as he broke the Russian twice in the first three games, and again to build up a 4-0 lead in the third set.

 

Donskoy got a game back on the board, and saved one match point in the final game, but pushed a forehand wide to complete a remarkable day for the British team.

 

There may have been some who questioned Leon Smith’s decision to replace Jamie Baker at such a late stage with Dan Evans, but it most certainly paid off.

 

And on Friday, where Evans admitted he know he did not do enough hard work or practice to move on, it was a more positive sounding young man in press.

 

His aim is to continue to work on his ranking to earn a place as the British No. 2 to Andy Murray.

 

He said: “I am so grateful for the opportunity to play.”

 

Leon Smith now has competition for places, regardless of whether Andy Murray is playing.

 

There was vindication for the difficult decision to replace Jamie Baker with Evans, based on the courts and also the results of the players before hand.

 

He said: “There wasn’t an obvious choice to start with. At the end of the day it was the right choice.”

 

Great Britain will now go on to play in the World Group play-offs in September.

 

Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT journalist by day, and a sports journalist in all the gaps in between. She is the co-founder of Britwatch Sports (britwatchsports.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 second round result:

Great Britain defeated Russia 3-2

Rubber 1 – D. Tursunov (RUS) d. D. Evans (GBR) 64 67(5) 64 57 64

Rubber 2 – E. Donskoy (RUS) d. J. Ward (GBR) 46 46 75 64 86

Rubber 3 – C.Fleming/J.Marray (GBR) d. V.Baluda/I.Kunitsyn (RUS) 61 64 62

Rubber 4 – J. Ward (GBR) d. D. Tursunov (RUS) 64 57 57 64 64

Rubber 5 – D. Evans (GBR) d. E. Donskoy (RUS) 64 64 61

 

 

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Ward Rallies Past Tursunov to even tie with Russia 2-2

 

By Ros Satar

James Ward [GBR] def. Dmitry Tursunov [RUS] 6-4, 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

 

(April 7, 2013) COVENTRY, England – After facing the press on Friday in utter desolation, British No. 2, James Ward, rallied against a sometimes agitated Tursunov to bring GB level with Russia.

 

After starting so impressively against Evgeny Donskoy, only to lose in five sets from being two sets and a break up, there was a lot of pressure on Ward’s thin shoulders.

 

If any nerves were evident on Ward’s side, he hid them well, banging down two aces a-piece, as the first five games went with serve.

 

The first sign of frailty appeared on Tursunov’s serve, taken to deuce twice in successive serves.

 

It paid off for Ward as he needed just one break point to edge ahead 5-4, before topping off the first set with a hold to love.

 

The games were going tightly with serve in the second set.

 

At times Tursunov seemed just a little slow and Ward struggled to get into Tursunov’s service games, letting two break points go, at 5-5.

 

It was Ward’s turn for fraying nerves, starting with a double fault, while serving to stay in the set, and ending with a netted cross-court forehand to hand Russia the second set 7-5.

 

British hopes were raised with an early break in the first game of the third set, only for Tursunov to break straight back.

 

A stream of errors from Ward gave Tursunov a second break in the third set, to leave Ward coming out to stay in the set at 2-5.

 

Ward was rewarded for his tenacity by breaking Tursunov in the next game to put himself back on serve.

 

Despite that, Ward found himself having to save break points on his next two serves.

 

Tursunov turned up the pace, aided and abetted with another error-strewn game by Ward, to take the third set 7-5.

 

Ward started the brighter in the fourth set breaking early, and Tursunov picked up a code violation as he started to get annoyed with the crowd.

 

Ward just needed the one set point as Tursunov netted forehand return to even the match and take the rubber into a deciding set.

 

Ward got a break to lead 3-2, courtesy of a Tursunov double fault on break point, after a long rally where the Russian sent a forehand flying long.

 

Just keeping his nose ahead, the Brit was only taken to deuce once on his serve, before coming out to serve for the match at 5-4.

 

To the watching crowd’s delight, Ward held his final serve to 15, finishing with an ace to go from zero to hero.

 

Ward said: “It would have been very tough to take 2 5-set losses in a weekend.

 

“If anything it’s even more pleasing beating Tursunov, who I’ve lost to twice in the past”

 

Team captain, Leon Smith had been reiterating the same advice, to serve out wide to the Russian unless he started to read the serve.

 

And Ward was happy to acknowledge the captain’s belief in him.

 

He said: “I’m grateful to him for the opportunity to play again and show heart and desire and everything that he wanted this weekend, and I think I showed it.”

 

Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT journalist by day, and a sports journalist in all the gaps in between. She is the co-founder of Britwatch Sports (britwatchsports.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.

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Serbia Holds Off Bryans in Five-Set Thriller

 

 

By Junior Williams

DAVIS CUP: SERBIA HOLDS OFF BRYANS IN THRILLER

Takes 2-1 lead after Zimonjic, Bozoljac win in five-set marathon.

 

(April 6, 2013) BOISE, Idaho – Serbia Davis Cup captain Bogdan Obradovic is probably saying, “I told you so.”

 

He stuck with No. 335th ranked Ilija Bozoljac instead of replacing him with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

 

The payoff: Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic defeated top-ranked Americans Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 4-6, 15-13 in a thrilling 4 hour 21- minute doubles match in the Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinals at Taco Bell Arena, giving Serbia a 2-1 lead heading into Sunday’s rubbers and an opportunity for Djokovic to clinch the tie in his singles match.

 

Bozoljac’s powerful serves — many of them rockets at around 135 miles per hour — helped to neutralize the Bryans. Together, Bozoljac and Zimonjic served up 36 aces to the Americans’ twelve.

 

The 27-year old Bozoljac also came through with a number of backhand winners down the line. his play, combined with the experience of former world number one doubles player Zimonjic, came in handy for the Serbs.

 

Both teams broke each other midway through the first set, but it was Serbia that struck first by winning the tiebreak on a Zimonjic second serve ace, followed by a winner that clipped the baseline.

 

The second tiebreak also went to Serbia, helped by a minibreak due to a net cord and a strong service game resulting in three aces.

 

But the world’s No. 1 doubles team refused to give up. The Americans began their comeback by breaking Bozoljac’s serve in the final game of the third set, as Zimonjic’s block of a Mike Bryan shot sailed beyond the baseline.

 

The Bryans repeated the feat in the fourth set, as Zimonjic — who was serving this game — knocked a return from the Americans in to the net, knotting up the match at two sets apiece.

 

In the fifth set, each team managed to hold serve while escaping danger at times, until the 27th game of the set, when Bozoljac’s backhad stab return was sent wide by the Americans to give Serbia a break and a chance to serve out the match.

 

But there was more drama, as Zimonjic double faulted to give the Bryans two break points and a chance to tie the set at 14-14. That’s when Zimonjic blasted two aces to tie the game at deuce.

 

After the Bryans staved off one match point on a lob the Serbs couldn’t convert, Zimonjic served out the next two points, ending with an ace to seal the victory for Serbia. The winners hugged each other on the court as their supporters cheered wildly. Despite their disappointment, those rooting for the home team applauded the quality play of both the Serbians and the Americans.

 

Just how close was the match? Each team scored 217 points.

 

“For sure, it’s the biggest win in the Davis Cup doubles for me,” said Zimonjic. “We were playing very good.

 

“This was definitely a great, great performance and great match from me.”

 

“Anybody who was supposed to play with Nenad was supposed to be the underdog against the Bryans,” Bozoljac said. “We won and I just can’t believe it happened.

“For me, it definitely means a lot because this is my best performance in Davis Cup so far. I knew if I give my 100 percent for one match I could play on a really high level.”

 

“Have to tip our hats to those guys, obviously,” said a disappointed Bob Bryan.  “Thought they played really well all day.  36 aces, didn’t give us much opportunity, in the fifth especially.
“Just one of those things.  Obviously disappointed we let the team down.”

 

He’s a guy we haven’t seen too much of on the tour,” Mike Bryan said about journeyman Bozoljac.  “Asked a few questions of guys that have seen him play.  Gave us a few things.  But he served great all day.  He actually was a stronger returner.  There at the end he didn’t show any nerves, came up with the goods, especially on some of those 30‑All points.”

 

US Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier was asked about if Bozoljac’s is a testament to the spirit of Davis Cup “I think inspiration is pretty easy to come by when you’re playing for the colors on your back, US.  We’ve seen a lot of people in this competition rise up.  You look at the numbers next to the guy’s career, you see the performance today, something doesn’t add up.  You clearly see there was some inspiration, chemistry with Nenad on the court, and you say, Too good.”

 

It was the second consecutive Davis Cup defeat for the Bryans, who back in February lost in the World Group First Round to Brazil’s Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares. The winningest doubles team in U.S. Davis Cup history is now 20-4 when playing together.

 

Now the U.S. faces a tall task in tomorrow’s reverse singles, with Djokovic set to take on Sam Querrey in the first match. If Querrey pulls off the upset, it’ll be left to American John Isner and Serb Viktor Troicki to settle the tie.

 

Junior Williams is a long-time journalist and tennis fan. At a moment’s notice he can give you a list of all the Davis Cup match-ups that would give the US home ties. He is in Boise, Idaho covering the Davis Cup quarterfinal World Group tie between the United States and Serbia for Tennis Panorama News.

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Great Britain Wins Doubles Rubber Over Russia in Davis Cup

 

Fleming/Marray [GBR] def. Baluda/Kunitsyn [RUS] 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

By Ros Satar

(April 6, 2013) COVENTRY, England – The British team were always the favorites to win this doubles rubber, and Jonny Marray and Colin Fleming did not disappoint.

 

The British pair, ranked 16th and 28th respectively, were counting on a win, to give the British team any hope at all of salvaging the second round Europe /Africa zone Group 1 tie, after two crushing 5-set defeats on the first day.

 

Victor Baluda (doubles ranking of 440) and Igor Kunitsyn (439) would be facing the British team, although there had been some speculation that Dmitry Tursunov would replace Baluda.

 

After some tentative serves into the lights, Marray kicked off his Davis Cup debut with a strong hold.

 

The Russians may be ranked some 400 places below the Brits, but were already exhibiting some good tagging shots, especially coming from Kunitsyn.

 

First blood went to the Brits, breaking Kunitsyn to take an early lead.

 

With another break, this time against Baluda on the third break point, the Brits took the first set, in just under half an hour.

 

The first break of the second set came even earlier, again on Kunitsyn’s serve, but the Russians stayed in contention, when Kunitsyn held for the first time since the match began, as the Brits maintained a single break margin.

 

Fleming came out to hold, with an overhead smash from Marray sealing the second set 6-4.

 

The final set could not have started worse for Russian pair, with Baluda being broken in the first game, followed by Kunitsyn in the next service game.

 

The crispness that they had started to display in the second set deserted them, and although they got two games on the board, they never took the British pair to deuce on any serve.

 

Fleming came out to serve for the match, and although the Russian pair saved one of the match points, an ace nailed the win.

 

After the match, Marray described how he’d felt his debut had gone:

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to be a part of, to get the opportunity to represent your country, it’s fantastic.”

 

For Fleming, it was his eighth Davis Cup win in a row.

“It’s something to be proud of, but in tennis and life you’ve got to keep pushing forward,” he said.

 

“It’s all about focusing on what the team needs to do and my aim when it comes to DC, is to play one of those matches in the World group.

“It would be a special occasion and I’ve not managed to do that.”

 

There was a nice touch on the on-court interview, as Colin Fleming dedicated the win to Davis Cup team-mate Ross Hutchins, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

 

He is over half way through his chemotherapy and the initial results show the treatment is working.

 

Later in press, Leon Smith and Colin Fleming described how Ross had spent hours watching and analyzing the Russian team.

 

Fleming said: “It’s great that he’s still involved in the team.

“I know Ross has got big plans to play again, and I’m sure he’ll be part of the team again in the future.”

 

Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT journalist by day, and a sports journalist in all the gaps in between. She is the co-founder of Britwatch Sports (britwatchsports.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.

Day 2 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 second round results:

Russia leads Great Britain 2-1

Rubber 1 – D. Tursunov (RUS) d. D. Evans (GBR) 64 67(5) 64 57 64

Rubber 2 – E. Donskoy (RUS) d. J. Ward (GBR) 46 46 75 64 86

Rubber 3 – C.Fleming/J.Marray (GBR) d. V.Baluda/I.Kunitsyn (RUS) 61 64 62

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Davis Cup: US, Serbia Deadlocked at 1-1; Djokovic, Querrey Victorious in World Group Quarterfinals

DAVIS CUP: U.S., SERBIA DEADLOCKED AT 1-1

Djokovic, Querrey victorious in World Group Quarterfinals

By Junior Williams

Sam Querrey

Sam Querrey

(April 5, 2013) BOISE, Idaho – Sam Querrey rebounded from a two sets to one deficit to defeat Viktor Troicki 7-6 (1), 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, drawing the United States even with Serbia at one match apiece in the Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinals at a loud Taco Bell Arena on the Boise State University campus.

In the first match, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic dispatched American John Isner in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-5.

 

Isner got off to a fast start by breaking Djokovic early in the first set, but the Greensboro, North Carolina native failed to hold on to his advantage and went on to lose the first-set tiebreak, courtesy of a Djokovic change-of-pace serve that handcuffed the number 23-ranked player in the world.

 

From then on it was all Djokovic. He did his best impersonation of a backboard, neutralizing Isner’s powerful serves with solid returns and defense. The Serb wrapped up the match in two hours.

 

On court in a post-match interview, Djokovic was asked about how he executed his game plan against Isner.

 

His response: “I executed perfectly.”

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic

 

Djokovic elaborated further in the news conference. “I guess one of the tactics — crucial points — was to get as many balls back on the return games and try to use my serve very efficiently and not give him any opportunities to atack my second serve. So I had a very high percentage of first serves in. That helped my confidence, and I could play with less pressure in his service games.”

 

Isner agreed with Djokovic that the Australian Open champion’s ability to break back in the first set was the turning point the match.

 

“I let him back in it,” said the American. “Granted, he played a good game, but I didn’t make many first serves that game. Doing that against this guy is not a good recipe.

“You want to make first serves, and I didn’t do in that one game in the first set. That was critical because I think he became a lot more comfortable at that point.”

 

Isner had seventeen aces in the match, but his first serve percentage was 54%, compared with 77% for Djokovic.

 

The Serb’s win set up another Davis Cup pressure cooker for Querrey, the top-ranked American and world No. 20. In the World Group First Round back in February, the Californian ousted Brazil’s Thiago Alves in a fifth and deciding rubber to send the U.S. into the quarterfinals.

 

Querrey and Troicki battled for 3 hours and 20 minutes in a match marked by long rallies, powerful serves and lots of unforced errors: Querrey had 82, Troicki 62.  Querrey was going for his shots, while Troicki – like Djokovic – appeared to be returning everything in sight.

crowd

The crowd erupted in the fifth set, when Querrey broke the world’s 44th-ranked player to go up 5-4, on a Troicki shot that hit the net cord but stayed on the Serbian’s side of the court. The American went on to hold serve in the next and final game.

 

Querrey said finding his groove in the fourth set was key: “I stayed positive and kept with the game plan and played aggressive. That fourth set served extremely well and was fortunate to get two breaks and that gave me a lot of momentum going into the fifth set.”

 

Troicki said he began to tire in the fourth set:

 

“I get a bit tired mentally and also physically my legs were not 100 percent and got a little bit slower. I could say fourth set I just like wasn’t there.”

 

But Troicki added both he and Querrey played well in the fifth set, and that it just came down to who seized the opportunities.

 

“I had some chances early in the fifth,” said Troicki. “I had some chances early in the fifth.  I had some break points; didn’t use them.  He used his chances when he had a break point in a crucial moment for me. So I could say I was unlucky to lose this serve and also, yeah, to lose the match.  But that’s tennis.”

 

Next up: A crucial Saturday doubles match with Americans Bob and Mike Bryan — the number one team in the world – scheduled to play Serbian doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac. But Novak Djokovic says he’s “still in the option” for doubles.

 

Whether Djokovic plays or not, U.S. Davis Cup captain Jim Courier says Saturday’s match is “not a must‑win.  We won’t be eliminated, nor will Serbia no matter what happens tomorrow.”

“We certainly want to win.  There is no doubt about that.  It’s an important match for both squads.  We’ll have two singles players ready to fire on Sunday.”

 

Junior Williams is a long-time journalist and tennis fan. At a moment’s notice he can give you a list of all the Davis Cup match-ups that would give the US home ties. He is in Boise, Idaho covering the Davis Cup quarterfinal World Group tie between the United States and Serbia for Tennis Panorama News.

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Donskoy Rallies from Two Sets Down to Give Russia 2-0 Lead Over Great Britain in Davis Cup

 

By Ros Satar

 

Evgeny Donskoy [RUS] def. James Ward [GBR] 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 8-6

 

(April 5, 2013) COVENTRY, ENGLAND – Evgeny Donskoy delivered a real heartbreaker in another five-set thriller on the first day of the Davis Cup tie between Great Britain and Russia in  the Euro/Africa zone second round Group 1 play.

 

Donskoy came from two sets down to give Russia a 2-0 lead at the end of the first day.

 

At the start of the match, though, the outcome looked far from certain.

 

In press, Dan Evans regretted not starting fast enough, James Ward more than made up for it.

 

The British No. 2 came out swinging solidly with very few unforced errors, and an early break secured him the first set.

 

A similar fast start to the second set meant it would be a long way back for the Russian, Evgeny Donskoy, who impressed many with his performance against Andy Murray at Indian Wells.

 

It was almost as though, with the pressure reversed, Donskoy was left floundering, at times his feet just not catching up with the rest of him.

 

That is not to say that he did not have some chances of his own, breaking back to make sure that Ward would not take this match for granted.

 

Into the third set and there was a distinct feeling that Donskoy was feeling his way back into the match.

 

Nerves seemed to overtake Ward, as he scrambled to save three set points, capitulating on the fourth.

 

After such a blistering start, suddenly it was Ward’s turn to look ill at ease, going down a break quickly in the fourth set.

 

Ward exhibited some of that earlier confidence, holding to love to stay in the set as the Russian was taken to deuce on his serve, for the fourth set.

 

Ward saved two set points but a lazy squash shot sailed just long past the corner of the court, to take the second rubber into a deciding fifth set.

 

It was beginning to look a little like last man standing out there, as the fifth set progressed with serve, particularly grueling on Ward’s service game, saving the first break points against is serve in the decider.

 

Donskoy was coming up with the goods both times he was serving to stay in the set.

 

As Ward came out to serve at 6-6 there was a sense that he had made his last stand, as the Russian broke.

 

There was a brief glimmer of hope as the Russian went 0-30 down, serving for the match, and then again as Ward saved the first match point against him.

 

Suddenly it was Donskoy’s turn to feel under the hammer, as Ward wrestled a break point back, and then had to save a second match point.

 

The third time was the charm for Donskoy as Russia took the second rubber, 8-6 in the final set.

 

It was an interesting contrast in press, with an equally dejected Ward hoping to work harder to improve, whereas Evans understood that he was struggling with that desire to improve.

 

Leon Smith concluded the conference, believing that the tie could be turned around, starting with the doubles tomorrow, with the top British pairing of Fleming and Marray favorites to put a rubber on the board for Britain.

Despite trailing 0-2 in the tie, Captain Leon Smith said, “I am so proud of both Dan and James today. It was excellent international tennis, very high level, more than eight hours and great value for money. The team spirit was great today and we have it still all to play for tomorrow in the doubles and in Sunday’s singles.”

 

Then on Sunday, can two players who have proved they can punch above their weight, turn things around?

 

Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT journalist by day, and a sports journalist in all the gaps in between. She is the co-founder of Britwatch Sports (britwatchsports.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.

Related Article:

Tursunov’s Five-Set Win Over Evans Gives Russia 1-0 Lead Over Great Britain in Davis Cup

 

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Tursunov’s Five-Set Win Over Evans Gives Russia 1-0 Lead Over Great Britain in Davis Cup

 

By Ros Satar

Dmitry Tursunov [RUS] def Dan Evans [GBR] 6-4, 6-7(5),6-4, 5-7, 6-4

(April 5, 2013) COVENTRY, ENGLAND -It was a great gamble, that almost, but did not quite pay off.

Great Britain’s Davis Cup Captain Leon Smith replaced first choice, Jamie Baker, at pretty much the eleventh hour, in favor of Dan Evans.

Evans’ heroics in last year’s ties and perhaps more of a familiarity with faster courts that Baker, meant the pressure was on the shoulders of a player ranked 325 in the world.

Coming out, Evans seemed relaxed enough, but first blood went to Dmitry Tursunov, breaking Evans to love to lead 4-2.

Evans broke back, but it wasn’t enough to keep the first set from going to the Russian 6-4.

Evans seemed to want to go for crowd pleasing forehand winners, that soon became his undoing, and Tursunov was looking sharp at the net.

In the second set, Evans showed that he was made of sterner stuff, breaking the Russian to lead 4-3, but again consistency seemed to desert him, just when he needed it most.

Coming out to serve for the set, he saved one break point but a double-fault on another handed a reprieve to Tursunov.

Forcing the second set into a tiebreak, Evans kept his nose ahead just enough to level the match.

A lapse in concentration at the start of the third set, left Evans looking a little flat at times, again losing out by a single break margin.

A change of top and a change of fortunes in the fourth set as it was Tursunov’s time to look a little tired, as Evans broke to take the fourth set 7-5.

Was the faith Smith had showed in Evans about to pay off in another heroic win?

Sadly not, as Evans lost the opening game of the final set, and although the men traded a couple of breaks, it was not enough to keep Tursunov at bay.

In press, Evans had to face the inevitable questions about why he cannot translate his level of play to the events week in, week out?

He said: “I don’t train hard enough and I don’t work hard enough day in day out.”

He acknowledged that in the past, he had just been enjoying life.
“It’s not that I don’t want to do it, I obviously want to do it, but for whatever reasons, there are distractions.“

“Hopefully now, I’ve been working pretty hard since the start of the year.”

Tursunov acknowledged it had been a tough match.

“I was really very impressed with his returning.

“At times he definitely played made some shots I wasn’t expecting him to, and there were also a few shots that also a few opportunities I didn’t capitalize on.”

When asked about whether Evans could achieve that potential if he worked harder, the Russian acknowledged that sometimes Davis Cup brings out the best in people.

“I think the first step for him is to realize what he’s doing wrong.
“That also comes a little bit with experience.”

Time (or maybe Sunday) will tell whether Evans can build on this experience.

Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT journalist by day, and a sports journalist in all the gaps in between. She is the co-founder of Britwatch Sports (britwatchsports.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.

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Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Davis Cup Results

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(April 5, 2013) Here are the Davis Cup  results so far from the World Group Quarterfinals and zone group ties as of 2:30 pm ET.

WORLD GROUP QUARTERFINALS

CANADA v ITALY
Venue: Thunderbird Sports Centre, Vancouver, CAN (hard – indoor)

Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Milos Raonic (CAN) v Fabio Fognini (ITA)
Daniel Nestor/Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Daniele Bracciali/Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)
Milos Raonic (CAN) v Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Fabio Fognini (ITA)

USA v SERBIA
Venue: Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID, USA (hard – indoor)

John Isner (USA) v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Sam Querrey (USA) v Viktor Troicki (SRB)
Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) v Ilija Bozoljac/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)
Sam Querrey (USA) v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
John Isner (USA) v Viktor Troicki (SRB)

FRANCE leads ARGENTINA 1-0
Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoor)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) d. Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 46 62 63 57 62
Juan Monaco (ARG) v Gilles Simon (FRA)
David Nalbandian/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) v Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA)

Juan Monaco (ARG) v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
Carlos Berlocq (ARG) v Gilles Simon (FRA)

CZECH REPUBLIC leads KAZAKHSTAN 2-0
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Astana, KAZ (clay – indoor)

Jan Hajek (CZE) d. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 63 62 64
Lukas Rosol (CZE) d. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 46 64 62 76(6)
Evgeny Korolev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) v Ivo Minar/Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Lukas Rosol (CZE)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Jan Hajek (CZE)

AMERICAS GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

ECUADOR v CHILE
Venue: Umiña Tennis Club, Manta, ECU (hard – outdoor)

Julio-Cesar Campozano (ECU) v Christian Garin (CHI)
Emilio Gomez (ECU) v Paul Capdeville (CHI)
Diego Hidalgo/Roberto Quiroz (ECU) v Jorge Aguilar/Paul Capdeville (CHI)
Julio-Cesar Campozano (ECU) v Paul Capdeville (CHI)
Emilio Gomez (ECU) v Christian Garin (CHI)

COLOMBIA leads URUGUAY 1-0
Venue: Complejo Tenístico Fabiola Zuluaga, Cúcuta, COL (hard – outdoor)

Santiago Giraldo (COL) d. Marcel Felder (URU) 62 36 61 62
Alejandro Falla (COL) v Ariel Behar (URU)
Juan-Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah (COL) v Ariel Behar/Marcel Felder (URU)
Alejandro Falla (COL) v Marcel Felder (URU)
Santiago Giraldo (COL) v Ariel Behar (URU)

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

AUSTRALIA level with UZBEKISTAN 1-1
Venue: Sport Complex Pahlavon, Namangan, UZB (clay – indoor)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) d. Farrukh Dustov (UZB) 76(6) 64 64

Denis Istomin (UZB) d. Marinko Matosevic (AUS) 64 76(1) 36 64

Farrukh Dustov/Denis Istomin (UZB) v Matthew Ebden/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

Denis Istomin (UZB) v Bernard Tomic (AUS)

Farrukh Dustov (UZB) v Marinko Matosevic (AUS)

JAPAN leads KOREA, REPUBLIC 2-0
Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, JPN (hard – indoor)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) d. Jeong Suk-Young (KOR) 61 64 64

Go Soeda (JPN) d. Cho Min Hyeok (KOR) 57 26 64 64 62

Go Soeda/Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) v Lim Yong-Kyu/Nam Ji Sung (KOR)

Go Soeda (JPN) v Jeong Suk-Young (KOR)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Cho Min Hyeok (KOR)

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP I – FIRST ROUND PLAY-OFF

CHINA, P.R. leads CHINESE TAIPEI 2-0
Venue: Tianjin Tennis Center, Tianjin, CHN (hard – outdoor)

Wu Di (CHN) d. Ti Chen (TPE) 16 60 61 64

Ze Zhang (CHN) d. Yang Tsung-Hua (TPE) 75 61 61

Gong Mao-Xin/Li Zhe (CHN) v Chuang Ting Yu/Huang Liang-Chi (TPE)

Ze Zhang (CHN) v Ti Chen (TPE)

Wu Di (CHN) v Yang Tsung-Hua (TPE)

INDIA leads INDONESIA 2-0
Venue: KSLTA Tennis Stadium, Bangalore, IND (hard – outdoor)

Somdev Devvarman (IND) d. Wisnu Adi Nugroho (INA) 61 62 62
Yuki Bhambri (IND) d. Christopher Rungkat (INA) 63 62 62
Leander Paes/Sanam Singh (IND) v Elbert Sie/David Agung Susanto (INA)
Somdev Devvarman (IND) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)

Yuki Bhambri (IND) v Wisnu Adi Nugroho (INA)

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

RUSSIA leads GREAT BRITAIN 1-0
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, GBR (hard – indoor)

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) d. Dan Evans (GBR) 64 67(5) 64 57 64
James Ward (GBR) v Evgeny Donskoy (RUS)

Colin Fleming/Jonathan Marray (GBR) v Victor Baluda/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS)

James Ward (GBR) v Dmitry Tursunov (RUS)

Dan Evans (GBR) v Evgeny Donskoy (RUS)

POLAND leads SOUTH AFRICA 1-0
Venue: Centrum Rekreacyjno-Sportowe, Zielona Góra, POL (hard – indoor)

Jerzy Janowicz (POL) d. Jean Andersen (RSA) 64 63 63
Lukasz Kubot (POL) v Rik de Voest (RSA)
Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) v Rik de Voest/Ruan Roelofse (RSA)

Jerzy Janowicz (POL) v Rik de Voest (RSA)

Lukasz Kubot (POL) v Jean Andersen (RSA)

NETHERLANDS leads ROMANIA 2-0
Venue: Sala Sporturilor Dumitru Popescu Colibasi, Brasov, ROU (hard – indoor)

Robin Haase (NED) d. Adrian Ungur (ROU) 64 64 36 63

Igor Sijsling (NED) d. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 64 76(5) 26 67(5) 62
Marius Copil/Horia Tecau (ROU) v Thiemo de Bakker/Jean-Julien Rojer (NED)

Victor Hanescu (ROU) v Robin Haase (NED)

Adrian Ungur (ROU) v Igor Sijsling (NED)

UKRAINE level with SWEDEN 1-1
Venue: Megaron Tennis Club, Dnipropetrovsk, UKR (hard – indoor)

Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) d. Isak Arvidsson (SWE) 62 60 76(5)

Markus Eriksson (SWE) d. Denys Molchanov (UKR) 75 46 64 64
Illya Marchenko/Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Johan Brunstrom/Robert Lindstedt (SWE)
Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) v Markus Eriksson (SWE)

Denys Molchanov (UKR) v Isak Arvidsson (SWE)

AMERICAS GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

EL SALVADOR v MEXICO
Venue: Federacion Salvadoreña de Tenis, Ciudad Merliot, ESA (hard – outdoor)

Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) v Daniel Garza (MEX)
Rafael Arevalo (ESA) v Miguel Gallardo-Valles (MEX)
Marcelo Arevalo/Rafael Arevalo (ESA) v Miguel-Angel Reyes-Varela/Rogelio Siller (MEX)
Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) v Miguel Gallardo-Valles (MEX)
Rafael Arevalo (ESA) v Daniel Garza (MEX)

VENEZUELA leads PERU 1-0
Venue: Estadio Alejandro Olmedo, Arequipa, PER (clay – outdoor)

Ricardo Rodriguez (VEN) d. Duilio Beretta (PER) 75 62 62
Mauricio Echazu (PER) v David Souto (VEN)
Duilio Beretta/ Sergio Galdos (PER) v Piero Luisi/Luis David Martinez (VEN)
Duilio Beretta (PER) v David Souto (VEN)
Mauricio Echazu (PER) v Ricardo Rodriguez (VEN)

AMERICAS GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

BARBADOS level with PUERTO RICO 1-1
Venue: National Tennis Centre, St Michael, BAR (hard – outdoor)

Darian King (BAR) d. Christian Garay (PUR) 62 61 60

Alex Llompart (PUR) d. Seanon Williams (BAR)

Darian King/Haydn Lewis (BAR) v Gilberto Alvarez/Alex Llompart (PUR)

Darian King (BAR) v Alex Llompart (PUR)

Seanon Williams (BAR) v Christian Garay (PUR)

GUATEMALA v HAITI
Venue: Centre Court, Guatemala, GUA (hard – outdoor)

Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA) v Hillel Rousseau (HAI)
Sebastien Vidal (GUA) v Olivier Sajous (HAI)
Christopher Diaz-Figueroa/Sebastien Vidal (GUA) v Joel Allen/Olivier Sajous (HAI)
Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA) v Olivier Sajous (HAI)
Sebastien Vidal (GUA) v Hillel Rousseau (HAI)

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

NEW ZEALAND defeated PAKISTAN 4-1 The tie has been awarded to New Zealand due to an unplayable court

Venue: Pun Hlaing Golf & Country Club, Yangon, MYA (grass – outdoor)

Aqeel Khan (PAK) d. Artem Sitak (NZL) 75 36 62 75
Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Aisam Qureshi (PAK) 26 63 03 def.

Marcus Daniell/Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Aqeel Khan/Aisam Qureshi (PAK) def.

Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Aqeel Khan (PAK) def.

Artem Sitak (NZL) d. Aisam Qureshi (PAK) def.

PHILIPPINES level with THAILAND 1-1
Venue: Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Lapu-Lapu, PHI (clay – outdoor)

Ruben Gonzales (PHI) d. Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul (THA) 67(6) 64 30 ret. (cramp)
Danai Udomchoke (THA) d. Johnny Arcilla (PHI) 63 62 16 62
Francis Casey Alcantara/Treat Huey (PHI) v Pruchya Isarow/Nuttanon Kadchapanan (THA)
Ruben Gonzales (PHI) v Danai Udomchoke (THA)

Johnny Arcilla (PHI) v Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul (THA)

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

LEBANON level with SRI LANKA 1-1
Venue: Automobile et Touring Club du Liban, Jounieh, LIB (clay – outdoor)

Bassam Beidas (LIB) d. Dineshkanthan Thangarajah (SRI) 61 62 61
Harshana Godamanna (SRI) d. Karim Alayli (LIB) 63 63 62

Bassam Beidas/Patrick Chucri (LIB) v Harshana Godamanna/Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI)

Bassam Beidas (LIB) v Harshana Godamanna (SRI)

Karim Alayli (LIB) v Dineshkanthan Thangarajah (SRI)

SYRIA level with KUWAIT 1-1
Venue: Kuwait Tennis Federation Center, Mishref, KUW (hard – outdoor)

Issam Haitham Taweel (SYR) d. Naser Al Obaidly (KUW) 61 75 60

Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) d. Marc Abdelnour (SYR) 64 63 64

Hassan Al Mousa/Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) v Marc Abdelnour/Majdi Salim (SYR)

Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) v Issam Haitham Taweel (SYR)

Naser Al Obaidly (KUW) v Marc Abdelnour (SYR)

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

IRELAND v FINLAND
Venue: Castleknock Tennis Club, Dublin, IRL (hard – indoor)

James McGee (IRL) v Harri Heliovaara (FIN)

Colin O’Brien (IRL) v Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

Sam Barry/James McGee (IRL) v Henri Kontinen/Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

James McGee (IRL) v Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

Colin O’Brien (IRL) v Harri Heliovaara (FIN)

LATVIA level with MONACO 1-1
Venue: Monte Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, MON (clay – outdoor)

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Jean-Rene Lisnard (MON) 62 63 63
Benjamin Balleret (MON) D. Andis Juska (LAT) 36 62 64 63
Guillaume Couillard/Thomas Oger (MON) v Ernests Gulbis/Andis Juska (LAT)

Benjamin Balleret (MON) v Ernests Gulbis (LAT)

Jean-Rene Lisnard (MON) v Andis Juska (LAT)

MOLDOVA leads BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA 1-0
Venue: Teniski Klub Mostar, Mostar, BIH (clay – outdoor)

Radu Albot (MDA) d. Tomislav Brkic (BIH) 63 76(3) 63
Damir Dzumhur (BIH) leads Maxim Dubarenco (MDA) 63 (Match suspended due to darkness. Will resume at 10.30 on Saturday)

Tomislav Brkic/Damir Dzumhur (BIH) v Radu Albot/Andrei Ciumac (MDA)

Damir Dzumhur (BIH) v Radu Albot (MDA)
Tomislav Brkic (BIH) v Maxim Dubarenco (MDA)

PORTUGAL leads LITHUANIA 2-0
Venue: Club Internacional de Football, Lisbon, POR (clay – outdoor)

Gastao Elias (POR) d. Lukas Mugevicius (LTU) 60 61 62

Pedro Sousa (POR) d. Dovydas Sakinis (LTU) 62 64 60

Gastao Elias/Rui Machado (POR) v Lukas Mugevicius/Dovydas Sakinis (LTU)

Pedro Sousa (POR) v Lukas Mugevicius (LTU)

Gastao Elias (POR) v Dovydas Sakinis (LTU)

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

BULGARIA leads ESTONIA 2-0
Venue: TC Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Plovdiv, BUL (clay – outdoor)

Tihomir Grozdanov (BUL) d. Vladimir Ivanov (EST) 64 61 63
Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL) d. Markus Kerner (EST) 62 61 62
Valentin Dimov/Alexander Lazov (BUL) v Mikk Irdoja/Vladimir Ivanov (EST)
Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL) v Vladimir Ivanov (EST)
Tihomir Grozdanov (BUL) v Markus Kerner (EST)

BELARUS level with TUNISIA 1-1
Venue: Tennis Club de Tunis, Tunis, TUN (clay – outdoor)

Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) d. Mohamed Haythem Abid (TUN) 63 63 75
Malek Jaziri (TUN) d. Egor Gerasimov (BLR) 75 36 60 63
Mohamed Haythem Abid/Malek Jaziri (TUN) v Alexander Bury/Max Mirnyi (BLR)
Malek Jaziri (TUN) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)

Mohamed Haythem Abid (TUN) v Egor Gerasimov (BLR)

HUNGARY level with LUXEMBOURG 1-1
Venue: Budapesti Elektromos Sportegyesület Sportcsarnoka, Budapest, HUN (hard – indoor)

Attila Balazs (HUN) d. Ugo Nastasi (LUX) 64 76(3) 61

Gilles Muller (LUX) d. Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 63 64 60

Marton Fucsovics/Levente Godry (HUN) v Gilles Muller/Mike Scheidweiler (LUX)

Attila Balazs (HUN) v Gilles Muller (LUX)

Marton Fucsovics (HUN) v Ugo Nastasi (LUX)

CYPRUS level with BENIN 1-1
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Nicosia, CYP (hard – outdoor)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) d. Jean Segodo (BEN) 61 61 61
Alexis Klegou (BEN) d. Petros Chrysochos (CYP) 46 61 64 62

Marcos Baghdatis/Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Alexis Klegou/Magloire Yakpa (BEN)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Alexis Klegou (BEN)

Petros Chrysochos (CYP) v Jean Segodo (BEN)

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