2013/05/22

Czech Republic Wins Davis Cup Title Over Defending Champion Spain

 

(November 18, 2012) The Czech Republic won their first Davis Cup title as an independent nation on Sunday at home in Prague at the O2 Arena when Radek Stepanek won the fifth and deciding rubber over Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 7-6(0), 3-6, 6-3 to claim the victory over the defending champion three rubbers to two.

The Czechs’ only Davis Cup title came in 1980 as part of Czechoslovakia which split in 1993.

The Czechs completed a rare feat in these two weeks – the women won the Fed Cup title in the same arena. The last country to win both Fed Cup and David Cup in the same year was the United States in 1990. The Czech become the first country to win the Hopman Cup, Fed Cup and Davis Cup in the same year.

“I was dreaming about it my whole life,”  the 37th ranked Stepanek said about the win in an on-court interview.

David Ferrer kept Spain’s hopes alive in the opening rubber of the day, demolishing Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to even the tie at 2-2. It was Berdych’s first Davis Cup loss of the year, Ferrer’s 76th match win of the year to overtake Novak Djokovic the ATP Tour.

Ferrer is unbeaten in Davis Cup since 2010.

“I’m very happy with my game,” Ferrer said. “I played very focused, very aggressive. I started really good. Maybe the key was I began really good.”

“I was always few steps behind him,” said Berdych. “He was just playing too good today.”

Stepanek broke Almagro in the 10th game to claim the first set 6-4. Stepanek missed four set point chances in the second, but claimed the set 7-6 crushing Almagro in the tiebreak 7-0.

Almagro put himself back into the match overriding a 0-40 start in the third set to capture it 6-3.

“I was playing very aggressive today.  I wanted be the one who is active, who is controlling the game,” Stepanek said. “It paid off, even though I lost the third set. I had no doubt I was on the way.”

The serve-and-volleying Czech soared to a 3-0 fourth set lead and served out the match 6-3 for the victory in the fourth much to the delight of most of the 14,500 spectators.

Stepanek at 33, became the oldest player to win a deciding fifth rubber in Davis Cup Final history. He is only the second player over the age of 30 to win a deciding fifth rubber in the Davis Cup Final. The last time this happened was 100 years ago in 1912, when 31 year-old James Parke playing for the British Isles,defeated Rodney Heath of Australasia in Melbourne.

“Davis Cup champions! That’s amazing,”  said a joyful Stepanek. “We made history today and I hope the entire nation will be celebrating with us.”

“There’s nothing more to achieve,” Berdych exclaimed. “I have nothing to say more. This is a moment we never forget.”

 

WORLD GROUP FINAL

CZECH REPUBLIC defeated SPAIN 3-2

Venue: O2 Arena, Prague (hard – indoors)

David Ferrer (ESP) d. Radek Stepanek (CZE) 63 64 64

Tomas Berdych (CZE) d. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 63 36 63 67(5) 63

Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez (ESP) 36 75 75 63

David Ferrer (ESP) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 62 63 75

Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 64 76(0) 36 63

 

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Doubles Win Gives Czech Republic a 2-1 Lead In Davis Cup Final

(November 17, 2012) Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek paired on Saturday to give the Czech Republic a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup final in Prague. The pair rallied to stop Spain’s team of Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 3-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 to capture the doubles rubber.

The victory moves the Czech Republic to one win away from capturing its first Davis Cup title as an independent country since 1980 when they were part of Czechoslovakia which split in 1993.

The Spanish pair are fresh off of a title win at the ATP World Tour Finals.

Sunday’s matches will feature Spain’s David Ferrer against Berdych, followed by Nicolas Almagro versus Stepanek, if necessary. Ferrer holds a 5-3 career record against Berdych while Stepanek hold a 2-1 advantage over Almagro head-to-head.

Spain is hoping for its fourth Davis Cup crown in five years.

WORLD GROUP FINAL

CZECH REPUBLIC leads SPAIN 2-1

Venue: O2 Arena, Prague (hard – indoors)

David Ferrer (ESP) defeated Radek Stepanek (CZE) 63 64 64

Tomas Berdych (CZE) defeated Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 63 36 63 67(5) 63

Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) defeated Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez (ESP) 36 75 75 63

Tomas Berdych (CZE) versus David Ferrer (ESP)

Radek Stepanek (CZE) versus Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

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Spain and Czech Republic End Tied After Day 1 of Davis Cup Final

Spain’s David Ferrer stopped the Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 while Tomas Berdych defeated Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3 to end day one of the Davis Cup final in a 1-1 tie in Prague.

Spain is trying to win its fourth David Cup title in five years while the Czech Republic is trying to win as an independent country since it was part of the former Czechoslovakia.

The doubles rubber on Saturday is scheduled to have the Czech Republic’s Ivo Minar and Lukas Rosol face Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez. Speculation is that Berdych and Stepanek will play doubles for Minar and Rosol.

 

WORLD GROUP FINAL

CZECH REPUBLIC level with SPAIN 1-1

Venue: O2 Arena, Prague (hard – indoors)

 

David Ferrer (ESP) d. Radek Stepanek (CZE) 63 64 64

Tomas Berdych (CZE) d. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 63 36 63 67(5) 63

Ivo Minar/Lukas Rosol (CZE) v Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez (ESP)

Tomas Berdych (CZE) v David Ferrer (ESP)

Radek Stepanek (CZE) v Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

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Davis Cup Final To Be Broadcast on Tennis Channel

LOS ANGELES, November 15, 2012 – Tennis Channel will provide exclusive coverage of defending champion Spain and the Czech Republic’s Davis Cup championship competition in Prague this weekend, with live and same-day “Instant Encore” replays Friday through Sunday. The countries find themselves in a rematch of the 2009 final. Spain, however, will be without former World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who led his country to a 5-0 victory over the Czech Republic three years ago. David Ferrer, World No. 5, will lead his nation as it attempts to defend its 2011 Davis Cup crown while competing for its sixth title overall.

 

The year-end championship competition will consist of two singles matches on Friday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m. ET, followed by the doubles match Saturday, Nov. 17, at 8 a.m. ET. Tennis Channel’s coverage concludes with the remaining singles play Sunday, Nov. 18, at 7 a.m. ET. Each of the five matches is worth one point, with the team that wins at least three points winning the Davis Cup title. Each evening Tennis Channel will offer an encore presentation of the day’s Davis Cup action.

 

Coverage from O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic (all times ET):

Friday, Nov. 16:

10 a.m. – Live Singles #1

1 p.m. – Live Singles #2

{4 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #1}

{10 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #1}

{1 a.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2}

 

Saturday, Nov. 17:

8 a.m. – Live Doubles

{11 a.m. – Instant Encore Doubles}

{8 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles}

 

Sunday, Nov. 18:

7 a.m. – Live Singles #1

10 a.m. – Live Singles #2

{1 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #1}

{8 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #1}

 

Spain and the Czech Republic have faced each other six times in Davis Cup play, with the Spaniards holding a 4-2 advantage. The most recent competition was during the 2009 Davis Cup final, when Spain won 5-0. Spain enters this weekend’s championship after defeating the United States 3-1 during this year’s semifinals. The country has dominated the past decade with five Davis Cup championships since 2000, the most recent in 2011 when it beat Argentina 3-1 in Seville, Spain.

 

The Czech Republic enters the competition after a 3-2 semifinal victory over Argentina, and is chasing its first Davis Cup title since 1980, when it defeated Italy while competing as Czechoslovakia. The Czech team is captained by Jaroslav Navratil and features World No. 6 Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Lukas Rosol and Ivo Minar.

 

The Spanish team is captained by former tennis star Alex Corretja, and features Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro, Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez.

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100th Davis Cup Final to be staged in Prague

The ITF announced on Tuesday that the 100th Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final will be staged at the O2 Arena in Prague on 16-18 November. The 2012 final between Czech Republic and Spain will be played indoors in front of over 13,000 spectators, and marks the start of the ITF’s 2013 centenary celebrations.

 

Prague’s O2 Arena will also host the 2012 Fed Cup Final between Czech Republic and Serbia on 3-4 November, becoming the first stadium to stage both finals in the same year. Czech Republic has also made history by becoming the first country to host both finals since the introduction of the Fed Cup World Group in 1995.

 

Spain is bidding for its fourth title in five years, having defeated Argentina in the 2011 Final in Seville. Czech Republic is looking for its first title since Ivan Lendl led Czechoslovakia to victory over Italy in the 1980 final in Prague at the Sportnovi Hala. Spain leads Czech Republic 4-2 in head-to-head meetings, and won their most recent encounter 5-0 at the 2009 Davis Cup Final in Barcelona.

 

Davis Cup began in 1900 as a competition between USA and Great Britain at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston. It was conceived by four members of the Harvard University tennis team, one of whom, Dwight Davis, designed a tournament format and ordered a trophy, buying it with his own money. The tournament was originally known as the International Lawn Tennis Challenge, but soon became known as Davis Cup after Dwight Davis’s trophy.

 

Davis Cup has grown to become the largest annual international team competition in sport with 122 nations taking part in 2012. The competition celebrated its centenary year in 1999, and 2012 will see the 100th staging of the Final. The 100 finals have been held in 16 countries, with just 13 countries going on to become Davis Cup champion.

 

The Davis Cup itself has also grown from the silver salad bowl presented for the inaugural competition in 1900, to a 110cm-high and 107cm wide three-plinth trophy holding the original cup itself, engraved with the names of the champions. The bowl itself bears the names of the champions from 1900-1919; the tray with the 1920-1932 winners; the top two plinths with the names of the 1933-2002 champions on its silver plaques; and the recent winners on the base plinth. It is also the world’s only original major sporting cup to have lasted a century and the most well-travelled.

 

Prague’s O2 Arena was built in time to stage the World Ice Hockey Championships in 2004 and has since held major sporting events for ice hockey, basketball and floorball. The venue has also welcomed some of the world’s biggest music acts, including Elton John, Coldplay and Lady Gaga.

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Ferrer Victory Sends Spain into Davis Cup Final

World No. 5 David Ferrer sent Spain back into the Davis Cup final for a chance to win a fourth time in five years by defeating John Isner  6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday in Gijon to clinch the tie 3-1 against the United States.

Spain will play the Czech Republic on the road in the Davis Cup final in November. The Czechs defeated Argentina 3-1 in Argentina.

“I am very happy, this is a dream for me,“ said Ferrer.  “Another Davis Cup final, I won the last match and I’m really happy.  Isner is a good top 10 player.”

Isner’s 70 errors helped to keep Ferrer perfect on clay in Davis Cup play at 16-0.

With or without Rafael Nadal, Spain fields a strong team.

“It was disappointing. The Spanish team was just too good,” said Isner.“They won the important points, and it’s a bit discouraging for me because I wanted to contribute like I did in the first two ties, and that’s a credit to (Nicolas) Almagro and Ferrer, who got two of their points from me.”

 

“I think it was a great battle between two of the best teams in the world. Spain is the high watermark in Davis Cup in the last 15 years and we knew it was going to be a very tricky tie for us and we were close,” said US Davis cup Captain Jim Courier. “All of us who live in tennis know that there are always a few points that make big differences and the Spaniards found a way to win some key points in the three matches that they won.”

 

“There is a lot for this team to be proud of and what we have achieved this year—the way we have approached it, attacked it and the draw, the obstacles we have had. We are proud of our effort and we salute the Spanish team for their efforts and their victory. Two great teams went out there and competed and it was very close. The team that played better when they needed to won the matches.

 

“It has been a very positive year for us on the U.S. Davis Cup Team. We have been given the most difficult draw that you can have in this era to play the teams we have on the road. We had some great wins and we had some competitive losses.”

 

Following the Ferrer – Isner match, US Davis Cup Captain Courier and Spanish Davis Cup Captain Alex Corretja decided not to play the final rubber, which was scheduled to be Sam Querrey against Nicolas Almagro.

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Bryan Brothers Keep US Hopes Alive in Davis Cup Doubles Win

Team USA is still alive in the Davis Cup World Group semifinal – but just barely.

Bob and Mike Bryan kept the US hopes alive holding back Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez to win the doubles rubber on Saturday 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 to close the gap to 2-1 versus Spain, in Gijon.

Spain aiming for their fourth final in five years won both singles rubber on Friday thanks to wins from David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro.

During the match, Granollers had a calf injury and his movement was hampered.

“We stayed the course the whole way and three hours 40 minutes was maybe one of the longest Davis Cup matches we ever played,” the Bryan Brothers told Spanish television.

“We’re happy to get the team to Sunday and I have all the faith in John and Sam to play some good tennis tomorrow and we’ll see what happens.”

Mike Bryan has now played in 24 Davis Cup doubles matches, tying John Van Ryn for first all-time in most doubles matches played in US Davis Cup history, overall  Mike Bryan is 22-2 in Davis Cup competition. He also is tied with Van Ryn for the most individual doubles wins with 22.

On Sunday David Ferrer hopes to close out the tie for Spain with a win over American John Isner in reverse singles. Almagro is scheduled to play Sam Querrey in the second match.

 

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Spain Takes a Commanding 2-0 Lead Over US in Davis Cup Semifinals

Spain is a win away from advancing to the Davis Cup final for the fourth time in five years. In Gijon, Spain’s  David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro gave Spain at 2-0 lead on day 1 versus the United States in the Davis Cup World Group semifinals on Friday.

No. 5 Ferrer, days removed from the US Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, moved past No. 26 Sam Querrey 4-6 6-2 6-2 6-4.

“It’s never easy to adapt from hard court to clay, and with only three to four days even less,” said Ferrer. “I didn’t feel too bad, but I didn’t play perfect tennis, either.”

Querrey failed to convert on 12 break point chances. “On a couple of them, I should have been more aggressive but he played good points,” said Querrey. “I feel if I get one of those breaks, it could be a different game.”

“It was a very tough match throughout, he didn’t make it easy for me,” Ferrer said to Spanish television.

In the second rubber on the day, Almagro braved 25 aces from the racquet John Isner to complete a perfect day for Spain 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

The doubles rubber takes place on Saturday with brothers Mike and Bob Bryan taking on Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez. Reverse singles will take place on Sunday.

Only once has the US ever rallied from an 0-2 deficit, back in 1934 against Australia. Spain is a perfect 37-0 after winning both opening singles matches, since World Group play began.

“Nothing is impossible, said US Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier about coming back from an 0-2 deficit on the road. “Our sport doesn’t have a clock; you have to win the last point. Spain will do everything it can to win the last point, as will the United States, but nothing is impossible,”

“Proud of both these guys. They both went out there and laid it on the line and fought hard. They were two great battles, and all of us on the team are very proud of what these guys did today.”

The winner of the tie will face either Argentina or the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final in November.

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Notes and Quotes From The US Davis Cup Team News Conference

The draw for this weekend’s Davis Cup World Group Semifinal between the United States and Spain was held on Thursday in Gijon, Spain. Here are some quotes from the United States team’s news conference:

 


U.S. DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN JIM COURIER

On playing in Gijon and facing a tough Spanish team…

 

The stadium is very well done; the facilities are wonderful for us. We have had a very good practice week. I think the hometown, Spain, is the favorite. They are a fantastic team; they could make three or four Davis cup teams that would be very good, considering how many players they have. But we are here to play, we are here to compete and we will take our chances here this weekend.

 

We are expecting a very difficult battle. That is what all these matches, whether is it home or away, are about, it is about getting ready, getting set and letting fire.

 

JOHN ISNER

 

On facing Spain in their home country…

 

Our team has played in some tough environments before and we expect a tough environment tomorrow, but at the same time we know it is going to be a lot of fun. I am just going to go out there and try to enjoy it. It is going to be a good challenge and it is going to be in front of a big crowd. I don’t think it is going to be anything I’m not used to.

 

They have two guys who are top ten in the world playing this tie. The team is so deep.

 

SAM QUERREY


On playing for the U.S. in Davis Cup for the first time since 2010…

 

It is really exciting to be back on the team. It has been a few years since I played back in 2010. I was out last year with elbow surgery but I have come back and I feel like I am playing really well. I am excited to be part of this team and I am really looking forward to it. The handful of Davis Cup teams I have played in the past have been really fun, it is exciting to play on a team every now and then.

 

On opening up the tie tomorrow in the first singles rubber…

 

I didn’t really have a preference playing first or second. Either way David Ferrer is a tough player, it is going to be a tough match.

 

 

BOB BRYAN


On facing Granollers and Lopez in the doubles rubber…

 

I am definitely expecting those two guys [Granollers and Lopez] to out there. They are one of the best teams in the world. They have won a Masters on clay, they have played us tough, a couple times. They had match point against us in Toronto. There is going to be no surprises, we know we have our hands full. We are practicing hard, we feel good, riding some confidence from a good summer, as are they. It is whoever plays better and executes on the day is going to win.

 

MIKE BRYAN

On facing Spain in doubles and playing away ties…

 

We have a pretty good record on the road.  We treat all these road ties as Grand Slam finals. We played every road tie on clay and we are pretty comfortable on clay. We have good game plans coming in playing a lot of clay court players and we are playing another really good clay court team. This could be our toughest away tie match, as it is against a top five team in the world.

 

As Bob said, we are going to have to execute, we will treat it just like we did the US Open final a week ago. Davis Cup matches are huge for us.

 

Weekend Schedule

Friday, 12 p.m.
Singles A:              Sam Querrey (USA) vs. David Ferrer (ESP)
Singles B:              John Isner (USA) vs. Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

Saturday, 2 p.m.
Doubles:                Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) vs. Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez (ESP)*

Sunday, 12 p.m.
Singles C:             John Isner (USA) vs. David Ferrer (ESP)
Singles D:             Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

Matches will be streamed for free live on USTA.com. Matches will also be televised live on Tennis Channel with Friday’s singles matches airing at 6 a.m. ET, Saturday’s doubles match airing at 8 a.m., and Sunday’s singles matches airing at 6 a.m.

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U.S. vs Spain Davis Cup on Tennis Channel This Weekend

Tennis Channel  will provide exclusive coverage of the United States semifinal competition against defending champion Spain in Gijon, Spain, this weekend, with live telecasts of each match and same-day, “Instant Encore” replays. Highlighting the competition, American John Isner will face US Open semifinalist and World No. 5 David Ferrer for the first time since the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris last fall, when Isner defeated the Spaniard during the quarterfinals. However, Ferrer has the career upper hand, holding a 3-1 record against the 6-foot-9-inch American. Rounding out the United States team is Sam Querrery and the 2012 US Open doubles champions, twins Bob and Mike Bryan.

If the United States claims victory over Spain this weekend, the Americans will face either Argentina or the Czech Republic in the final. In addition to televising the United States and Spain’s matches each morning, Tennis Channel will cover semifinal competition between 2011 Davis Cup runner-up Argentina and Czech Republic in Buenos Aires, Argentina, each evening.

Coverage from Parque Hermanos Castro in Spain and Parque Roca in Argentina (all times ET):

Friday, Sept. 14:

6 a.m. – Live Singles #1 Spain vs. USA

9 a.m. – Live Singles #2 Spain vs. USA

{12 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #1 Spain vs. USA}

{3 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2 Spain vs. USA}

8 p.m. – Singles #1 Czech Republic vs. Argentina

11 p.m. – Singles #2 Czech vs. Argentina

Saturday, Sept. 15:

8 a.m. – Live Doubles Spain vs. USA

{5 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles Spain vs. USA}

8 p.m. – Doubles Czech Republic vs. Argentina

{11 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2 Czech Republic vs. Argentina}

Sunday, Sept. 16:

6 a.m. – Live Singles #1 Spain vs. USA

9 a.m. – Live Singles #2 Spain vs. USA

{12 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #1 Spain vs. USA}

{3 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2 Spain vs. USA}

8 p.m. – Singles #1 Czech Republic vs. Argentina

11 p.m. – Singles #2 Czech Republic vs. Argentina

The United States and Spain have faced each other ten times in Davis Cup play, with the nations tied at five wins apiece. The Americans’ last victory against the Spaniards came in 2007 when they won 4-1 in the quarterfinal in Winston-Salem, N.C. However, Spain has won the last two meetings against the United States, winning last year’s quarterfinal competition in Austin, Texas, and the 2008 semifinal in Spain. The United States has not defeated Spain on away soil since 1972. The Americans enter this weekend’s match after their second clay-court victory of the year against France in the quarterfinal. The United States leads all nations in Davis Cup championships, winning its 32nd title in 2007 with a 4-1 win against Russia.

Spain has dominated the past decade with five Davis Cup championships since 2000, the most recent in 2011 when it beat Argentina 3-1 in Seville, Spain. The Spanish team is captained by former star Alex Corretja and features the same players who beat Austria 4-1 in the quarterfinal: Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro, Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez.

The Czech Republic holds a 3-1 advantage over Argentina in Davis Cup competition, most recently winning a 2009 quarterfinal in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Argentina’s sole victory over the Czech Republic came in 2005 in Buenos Aires. The Czech Republic enters this weekend’s match after defeating Serbia 4-1 in the quarterfinals. The Czech nation clinched its only Davis Cup trophy in 1980, when it defeated Italy in Prague while competing under the flag of Czechoslovakia.

The Argentine team is bidding to reach the Davis Cup championship round for its second- consecutive year and has finished runner-up in 1981, 2006 and 2008. Argentina’s team is captained by Martin Jaite and features World No. 8 Juan Martin Del Potro, Juan Monaco, Carlos Berlocq and Eduardo Schwank.

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