You Know You're Big in Croatia When They Reword Lady Gaga Songs in Your Honor...
Because "Marin Cilic" is actually Croatian for "Paparazzi," I guess. I prefer Ivo Karlovic's work, but this too has it's place in the tennis songbook as well.
(Scroll down for the audio player).
(h/T Mariya)
With a bye in the first round, his second round opponent Pablo Cuevas retiring after one game, and his third round opponent Nikolay Davydenko pulling out with a nasty broken wrist, Viktor Troicki has advanced to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells having won only one game. That has to be a record.
Davis Cup Round 1 Update Heading Into Sunday
by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 7, 2010 7:43 AM EST
in Results
1 comment
A couple of the first round ties were done after three rubbers, but the majority still have live rubbers going into Sunday. Always a risk buying those Sunday Davis Cup tickets. You either get the best of the best, or totally meaningless exhibition.
SERBIA LEADS USA 2-1
Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia (Indoor Clay)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) def. John Isner (USA) 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4
Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Sam Querrey (USA) 6-2, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3
Bob Bryan/John Isner (USA) def Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) 7-6(8), 5-7, 7-6(8), 6-3
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)*
The two singles matches were both incredibly roller-coastery, with wild momentum swings several times per set. Unfortunately for the rookie American team, the Serbians wound up on the winning end of the roller coaster each time. Things really looked bad for the Americans on Saturday when Mike Bryan went down with food poisoning (because he was dumb enough to order curry in Belgrade), but John Isner stepped in admirably to keep the US hopes alive. At least until they face Djokovic again.
SPAIN LEADS SWITZERLAND 2-1
Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera, Logrono, Spain (Indoor Clay)
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
David Ferrer (ESP) def. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-1
Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)* 7-6(8), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
David Ferrer (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)*
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)*
It's managed to be some fairly exciting stuff, even without the big names. But Marco Chiudinelli and Yves Allegro really aren't in the same league as the rest of these guys, which ultimately has (and will continue to) seal Switzerland's fate.
CZECH REPUBLIC LEADS BELGIUM 3-0
Venue: Expodroom, Bree, Belgium (clay – indoors)
Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Xavier Malisse (BEL) 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(3)
Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Steve Darcis/Olivier Rochus (BEL) 7-6(0), 6-0, 6-3
One of the most lopsided ties on the card has lived up to expectations, with the Czechs outclassing the Belgians at every stage. Belgium may have a decent future ahead if Steve Darcis lives up to his hype, but for now they're just not competitive at this level.
CHILE LEADS ISRAEL 2-0
Venue: Enjoy Tennis Center, Coquimbo, Chile (Outdoor Clay)
Nicolas Massu (CHI) def. Dudi Sela (ISR) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4
Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Harel Levy (ISR) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Nicolas Massu/Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram (ISR)
Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Dudi Sela (ISR)*
Nicolas Massu (CHI) vs. Harel Levy (ISR)*
Real good story for Chile here, playing through their country's turmoil and destruction admirably so far. If there's one team that's easy to root for no matter what this weekend, the Chiileans are certainly that team.
FRANCE LEADS GERMANY 3-0
Venue: Palais des Sports, Toulon, France (Indoor Hard)
Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(5)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Benjamin Becker (GER) 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-3
Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Christopher Kas/Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-1, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
Gael Monfils notched his first ever win in Davis Cup to open up this tie, and it was all France from there on. Without Tommy Haas it was always going to be tough for Germany, but I don't know that I ever expected a sweep. France is the deeper, better tennis country, so having them in the next round certainly makes sense to me.
RUSSIA LEADS INDIA 2-1
Venue: Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow, Russia (Indoor Hard)
Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) def. Somdev Devvarman (IND) 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Rohan Bopanna (IND) 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)*
A late substitution in the Igor slot of Kunitsyn for Andreev paid off for Russia, who looks to be firmly in control even after dropping the doubles tie as they were expected to do. Russia is a country who could use some redemption in this contest, and when they get Youzhny and Davydenko together at full strength, they should be able to get it.
ARGENTINA LEADS SWEDEN 2-1
Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm, Sweden (hard – indoors)
Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 6-1, 7-6(0), 7-5
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) def. Joachim Johansson (SWE) 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
David Nalbandian/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) def. Robert Lindstedt/Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-2, 7-6(4), 7-6(5)
Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)*
David Nalbandian made a surprise appearance in the doubles to help the Argentines grab the lead. Things have gone a lot better for the Argentines than I expected, both with Nalbandian's cameo and Mayer's fairly surprising win over Johansson in the second singles rubber. Expect Nalbandian to make an appearance for Schwank in the final singles as well if it comes down to that.
CROATIA LEADS ECUADOR 3-0
Venue: Gradska Sportska Dvorana, Varazdin, Croatia (Indoor Hard)
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
Ivo Karlovic/Marin Cilic (CRO) def, Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 7-6(3), 6-3, 7-5
This was the match-up that made Czech Republic-Belgium look competitive, but the elder Lapentti acquitted himself fairly well against Karlovic, pushing him to five sets. At least the Ecuadorians had the luck to be swept away from the majority of their fans, which should make this sting somewhat less, I suppose.
Tennis Channel will have coverage of the Americans Sunday, and a lot of the rest of the ties should be streamable at the official Davis Cup site.
1 comment | 0 recs |
Davis Cup Round 1 Preview and Open Thread: USA at Serbia Highlights Star-less Slate of Ties
by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 5, 2010 6:42 AM EST
in Match Threads
3 comments
Only the first two match-ups in each tie are locked in, the rest are subject to change(*).
USA @ SERBIA
Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia (Indoor Clay)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)
Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA)*
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)*
Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)*
Let's cut to the chase: The Americans have no chance in either singles match against Djokovic, so they have to sweep the other three rubbers. Which is actually doable. Querrey and Isner have both been playing real well this year, each with a title to his name already, and an additional doubles title they paired to win together. The Bryans should win the doubles pretty easily, though Nenad Zimonjic is no pushover. But can they run the table on a bad surface in hostile territory? I hope so, but I think it unlikely.
Prediction: Serbia 3-2
SWITZERLAND @ SPAIN
Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera, Logrono, Spain (Indoor Clay)
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)
Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) v Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)*
David Ferrer (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)*
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)*
Those flags side-by-side should get any tennis fan excited. Nadal-Federer in Davis Cup for the first time? Awesome! Sadly, neither Nadal nor Federer will be present, nor will Spanish top-tenner Fernando Verdasco nor Juan Carlos Ferrero be playing. The Spanish absences should make this somewhat more competitive, but not all that interesting I don't think. Wawrinka may beat Almagro, but that's probably the only win for the visitors.
Prediction: Spain 4-1
CZECH REPUBLIC @ BELGIUM
Venue: Expodroom, Bree, Belgium (clay – indoors)
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Steve Darcis/Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Lukas Dlouhy/Jan Hajek (CZE)*
Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)*
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)*
The Czechs were surprise finalists last year, but they will be unsurprising quarterfinalists with this draw, as the Belgians shouldn't prove to be much of a speed bump. I'm not too invested in this one, I just really hope Radek Stepanek's Czech Flag outfit makes an appearance. It's always a highlight of any Davis Cup weekend for me.
Prediction: Czech Republic 5-0
ISRAEL @ CHILE
Venue: Nokia Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel (Indoor Hard)
Draw TBA Later Friday*
For everything Chile has been through recently, it's amazing that this tie is going to happen at all. I know everyone has understandable catastrophe philanthropy fatigue by now, but if you're on the fence about giving to Chile, watch Fernando Gonzalez's emotional video plea for help for his country. Chile might take Davis Cup more seriously than any other country (if past riots are any indication), so you can bet that this will be one emotional event.
Prediction: Chile 4-1
GERMANY @ FRANCE
Venue: Palais des Sports, Toulon, France (Indoor)
Gael Monfils (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)
Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Christopher Kas/Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)*
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)*
Gael Monfils (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)*
Monfils is a bafflingly bad Davis Cup player in my experience watching him, which is bizarre for someone who feeds so greatly off crowd energy. It's not his best surface, either. But Tsonga and vastly superior doubles should be enough for the French to fend off a German team without two of it's biggest names (Haas and Kiefer).
Prediction: France 3-2
INDIA @ RUSSIA
Venue: Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow, Russia (Indoor Hard)
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)
Teimuraz Gabashvili/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND)*
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)*
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)*
Russia suffered a shock defeat in last year's quarterfinals against Israel, but don't expect a repeat of that against a decidedly weaker Indian team. India shouldn't have a prayer in any of the singles matches, but it's entirely possible that a boneheaded Andreev could lose to Devvarman if Andreev is as messy as he can be. India should get a point in the doubles, at least.
Prediction: Russia 4-1
ARGENTINA @ SWEDEN
Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm, Sweden (hard – indoors)
Robin Soderling (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Robert Lindstedt/Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer/Horacio Zeballos (ARG)*
Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)*
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)*
This would be a pretty awesome tie if Juan Martin del Potro was healthy enough to be there. But without him, or even Juan Monaco or Jose Acasuso, the Swedes may well run the table. Sweden has been in the upper echelon of Davis Cup for almost longer than any other country, a phenomenon that is now more explicable with the emergence of Robin Soderling as an elite player.
Prediction: Sweden 4-1
ECUADOR @ CROATIA
Venue: Gradska Sportska Dvorana, Varazdin, Croatia (Indoor Hard)
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)
Ivan Dodig/Antonio Veic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)*
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)*
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)*
Thanks to the emergence of Nicolas' younger brother, the Ecuadorians may well be the first Davis Cup team to have a lineup entirely of siblings. The Maleevas, Williamses, and Bondarenkos have achieved the feat in Fed Cup, but I can't think of a pair of brothers who were ever their country's two best at a World Group level before. That bit of trivia aside, the Brothers Lapentti will be lucky to win a match. Croatia was smart to pick hard courts this time, which is their best surface despite their inexplicable decision to pick clay against the Czechs in last year's semifinals.
Prediction: Croatia 5-0
Tennis Channel will have coverage of the Americans, and the rest of the ties should be streamable online. Here's to a good weekend of tennis to get everybody pumped for the spring American hard court swing.
3 comments | 0 recs |
Agustin Calleri, 33, Retires From Tennis in Buenos Aires
by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 4, 2010 5:55 AM EST
in News
0 comments
Agustin Calleri's retirement from professional tennis was recently made official in a ceremony at the Copa Telmex in his native Buenos Aires. Calleri, 33, was honored by peers in the Argentine tennis community including Juan Monaco, Jose Acasuso, and Juan Ignacio Chela.
Calleri had not played at all in 2010, with his last match coming last year in a challenger in Bogota. Hanging up the racquet after his last season is certainly understandable, since 2009 saw his ranking fall from #83 to outside the top 400, a precipitous fall that fit his 3-15 record for the year.
Calleri is certainly not the first name to come to mind when you think of players who spent time in the top twenty, but he did reach a career high ranking of #16. He won two ATP titles, Acapulco 2003 and Kitzbuhel 2006, both of which were (unsurprisingly) on clay courts, interestingly beating an Argentinian in both finals. He never made the second week of a slam, but he did have a surprising run to the finals of the Hamburg Masters in 2003, one of the four Argentinians who made it to the semifinals that year.
Perhaps most impressively, Calleri compiled an 11-1 record on clay in his Davis Cup career playing for Argentina, a record which is just about as good as any you'll ever find.
Calleri will not be remembered as much as the other Gauchos (Guillermo Coria, Gaston Gaudio, David Nalbandian), but he deserves credit for his relative consistency. It's amazing to think that despite being the most regularly visible of the four for the last several years, Calleri is actually the oldest, and first of the Gauchos to officially retire. Coria and Gaudio have been working hard at comebacks to absolutely no avail for some time now, and Nalbandian's lack of fitness has cut short every attempt at resuming a full-time career on the tour.
Calleri certainly doesn't have the resume of any of the other three, but at least he knew when to call it a day.
0 comments | 0 recs |
Playing Catch-Up -- Part 2 (February 8-14)
by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 1, 2010 6:12 AM EST
in Results
0 comments
Here's part 2 of 3 in catching up on the month of February. At least it's a short month, right?
ATP 500 Rotterdam - ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament:
Robin Soderling beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 2-0 (ret.) to take the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam after Youzhny retired early in the second set with a leg injury. The title is the biggest title of Soderling's career, his first 500 level victory after previously falling short in three other 500 level finals (and a grand slam final).
Robin Soderling long had a reputation as one of the best (and only) indoor, fast-court specialists on either tour, which is what made his breakout performance at the very outdoors and slow French Open last spring so baffling to me. By winning Rotterdam, the biggest European indoor tournament in the first half of the calendar, Soderling shows that he's still can be great at his old former strength while having added a big new strength. A win over Davydenko along the way certainly doesn't hurt his confidence, either.
Since the title (and *SPOILER!* Andy Roddick's early exit in Memphis), Soderling has risen to a career high ranking of #7. Not bad for someone who lost in the first round of the Australian Open to the likes of Marcel Granollers.
After the jump: ATP San Jose, ATP Costa do Sauipe, WTA Paris and WTA Pattaya City. Click away!
0 comments | 0 recs
It surprises me to see Rafael Nadal, known for being fairly bashful, to be following in Anna Kournikova's footsteps as eye candy in a music video. But I guess lying next to Shakira is an activity that doesn't put undue stress on his tender knees.
15 days ago
Ben Rothenberg
1 comment
0 recs
Playing Catch-Up -- Part 1 (February 1-7)
by Ben Rothenberg on Feb 25, 2010 7:08 AM EST
in Results
4 comments
A combination of cataclysmic weather, internet outages, the Olympics and oversight have left this The Daily Forehand fairly stagnant for a while, for which I apologize.
I haven't been able to follow tennis nearly closely enough pretty much all of February, and while it's probably the least important month in the tennis calendar it's still something for which I should make amends.
So here is the first of a three-part series which will try to make sense of the results (and some news) from the post-Australian Open happenings in the sport with the fuzzy balls.
And if you haven't been playing super-close attention to tennis over these last few weeks either, hopefully this will serve as a nice way to get a digest of what's been going on.
4 comments | 0 recs |
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
SBNation.com Recent Stories
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
