Davis Cup 2009 - Final

[namelessone]

Nadal would have only hindered that team if he played. And it was carpet, not hardcourt. Nadal would have faced Nalbandian in the first shift, and then Ferrer against Del Potro. Argentina would have had a 2-0 lead the first day.

Having Nadal injured was the best thing Spain could have dreamed. Lopez played flawlessly. It was a beauty to watch

I doubt Ferrer would have been matched against DelPotro who was already steadily rising at the time. Verdasco would have been the first choice,at least in my view,if Nadal had lost the first rubber. Nalbadian matches well with Nadal but if he chokes in a two out of three like in IW,what's he gonna do in a three out of five. Also,you have to remember that Nadal was in the form of his life in that year and only injuries kept him out of DC. Also,you know how Rafa feels about DC. The spanish were lead 1-0 after the first match yet lopez came back and won against delpo,then helped in doubles and verdasco clinched the deal.

 

[Blinkism]

I hope Nadal plays Stepanek tomorrow.

It's good practice and good for confidence if he can emulate his win over Berdych with the worm.

And, considering it's a pressure-free match against a S&V'ing all-courter on his favorite surface, I'd say it be a very useful and very comfortable practice session for Rafa.

 

[Outbeyond]

I hope Nadal plays Stepanek tomorrow.

It's good practice and good for confidence if he can emulate his win over Berdych with the worm.

And, considering it's a pressure-free match against a S&V'ing all-courter on his favorite surface, I'd say it be a very useful and very comfortable practice session for Rafa.

You make it sound like it's not a sure thing he'll play. I went on the DC website and they're listing it in the live streaming section (not that I can get the stream here in the US). But do you know if his match is on?

 

[abmk]

Nalbadian matches well with Nadal but if he chokes in a two out of three like in IW,what's he gonna do in a three out of five. Also,you have to remember that Nadal was in the form of his life in that year and only injuries kept him out of DC. Also,you know how Rafa feels about DC.

You are forgetting how nalby feels about DC. Surely he's a ten times more motivated about DC than about playing in IW. I don't think he'd give up like he did in IW in a DC tie

Though nadal has that extra bit of motivation for DC, he still gives in his best effort in the masters like IW , unlike nalby. The difference is MUCH more in case of nalby than in the case of nadal

 

[abmk]

congrats to spain on winning DC. A job well done !

 

[CMM]

I hope Nadal plays Stepanek tomorrow.

It's good practice and good for confidence if he can emulate his win over Berdych with the worm.

And, considering it's a pressure-free match against a S&V'ing all-courter on his favorite surface, I'd say it be a very useful and very comfortable practice session for Rafa.

The matches will be Nadal - Hajec and Ferrer - Dlouhy.

 

[Blinkism]

Who is this guy Nadal has to play?

Seems like a waste of time. Whatever.. extra practice session

Hopefully Hajek plays the match of his life so Rafa can get something out of this

 

[Fedace]

Hajek determined to win this one. could make his Career.

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

Hajek determined to win this one. could make his Career.

Doubt it, could be a triple bagel for Nadal...

 

[Blinkism]

Doubt it, could be a triple bagel for Nadal...

He's not that bad, Hajek, to be triple bageled.. He's one of the top claycourters on the challenger tour.

Journeyman, basically.

The kind of guy Nadal would be playing in the 1st or 2nd rounds of clay tourneys next year...

Also, I doubt Nadal will want to put any un-needed effort into this so I don't think we'll see bakery products.. probably one break per set and then it's over.

 

[iriraz]

He's not that bad, Hajek, to be triple bageled.. He's one of the top claycourters on the challenger tour.

Journeyman, basically.

The kind of guy Nadal would be playing in the 1st or 2nd rounds of clay tourneys next year...

Is this best of 3 or best of 5 as a dead rubber?

In dead rubbers they always play best of 3.Hayek`s results are very good for a player like him.In his career he won like 16 tournaments in futures or challengers pretty much only on clay.So he is a good player but obviously not top class for atp

 

[Fedace]

WHAT ?????????????????? why did Tennis channel cut out to Bolletieri tennis ?????????????? where is RAFA Nadal ??????????????????????

 

[Fedace]

Tennis channel emailed be back saying that "the Match STINKS and Rafa Nadal is Boring so they decided to show Bolletieri tennis academy training video". That is DISRESPECT.

 

[cucio]

Only caught the last 4 games, didn't know they were playing in the morning. Pretty lousy tennis, Nads just doing the bare minimum to get the win, 3 and 4. Attendance is surprisingly high.

 

[Outbeyond]

Another straight sets win on clay for Nadal! And, for you naysayers, yes, it was expected - and it was not against one of the heavyweight Top Ten megaplayers. But now he practices nonstop thrus December for the new season, and his second easy win in Davis Cup is a good sign he's as ready as the next guy to make 2010 a great year.

Vamos, Rafa!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fedace]

Another straight sets win on clay for Nadal! And, for you naysayers, yes, it was expected - and it was not against one of the heavyweight Top Ten megaplayers. But now he practices nonstop thrus December for the new season, and his second easy win in Davis Cup is a good sign he's as ready as the next guy to make 2010 a great year.

Vamos, Rafa!!!!!!!!!!

YES, this win could bolt Nadal into possibly a undefeated season next year.

 

[Outbeyond]

Tennis channel emailed be back saying that "the Match STINKS and Rafa Nadal is Boring so they decided to show Bolletieri tennis academy training video". That is DISRESPECT.

I believe (reasonably or not) the TC, which is expensive to subscribe to and would not be often accessible to me anyway here at home, was also one reason us Americans were blocked out of prime streaming for this event. Instead, we were stuck trying to lob our way around the internet, searching for streams that would take forever to buffer and would then freeze and would then block us out and then...on and on. I'm generally a forgiving type, but I shall boldly declare the following: I hate the Tennis Channel.

 

[CMM]

 

[Blinkism]

With a 5-0 win over the Czechs, the Spanish Davis Cup team becomes the first since 1997 to sweep the final round of the tournament.

Add this to the fact that they are the first team to defend the DC title since 1998, and the fact that Nadal's trouncing of Berdych is the most dominant singles performance in the final round since 1998 and you get a clear picture that this Spanish Davis Cup team is clearly the #1 team of this decade and the strongest Davis Cup dynasty in a while.

Also, no other team in the last 3 decades has won more than 3 Davis Cups in a decade. It's been since the 70's, when the USA team won 5 Davis Cups, that this sort of domination has occurred by one team over a such a span of time.

 

[pound cat]

I believe (reasonably or not) the TC, which is expensive to subscribe to and would not be often accessible to me anyway here at home, was also one reason us Americans were blocked out of prime streaming for this event. Instead, we were stuck trying to lob our way around the internet, searching for streams that would take forever to buffer and would then freeze and would then block us out and then...on and on. I'm generally a forgiving type, but I shall boldly declare the following: I hate the Tennis Channel.

Does prime time TV usually show DC that don't feature USA?

 

[Dino Lagaffe]

Obviously Spain has had a great run in DC in the 2000s, but I thought Sweden's accomplishments in the 80s and 90s were worth mentioning as well.

Sweden
1980s: Winners 3 times, runner-ups 4 times
1990s: Winners 3 times, runner-ups 1 time

Spain
2000s: Winners 4 times, runner-ups 1 time

 

[Andres]

Add this to the fact that they are the first team to defend the DC title since 1998, and the fact that Nadal's trouncing of Berdych is the most dominant singles performance in the final round since 1998 and you get a clear picture that this Spanish Davis Cup team is clearly the #1 team of this decade and the strongest Davis Cup dynasty in a while.

Nadal lost 7 games against Berdych. Nalbandian lost 8 games against Ferrer last year. Ferrer was Spain's 1st singles, and ranked #12, by the way

 

[Outbeyond]

Nadal lost 7 games against Berdych. Nalbandian lost 8 games against Ferrer last year. Ferrer was Spain's 1st singles, and ranked #12, by the way

...which makes Nadal's straight sets win over Berdych on Friday even sweeter.

 

[NandoMania]

Nando and Feli
Another great doubles rubber.
They won last year.
They won this year

Vamos Spain! Great Davis Cup Champions!

 

[bolo]

He's not that bad, Hajek, to be triple bageled.. He's one of the top claycourters on the challenger tour.

Journeyman, basically.

The kind of guy Nadal would be playing in the 1st or 2nd rounds of clay tourneys next year...

Also, I doubt Nadal will want to put any un-needed effort into this so I don't think we'll see bakery products.. probably one break per set and then it's over.

Hajek played pretty well I thought, had a real go at nadal in the 2nd set.

If there is one thing I think nadal can work on that would get him high returns with moderate effort in the next month, it's to get his service returns down on the non clay courts. I think this will be a real key for him versus jmdp, djokovic and davydenko on the hard courts.

 

[veroniquem]

The Prince was the biggest cheerleader of all...

Congratulations! You're one of only 16% who predicted the outcome right!

 

[malakas]

You lose on court..you win in love.Don't worry Radek baby.

 

[Outbeyond]

Does prime time TV usually show DC that don't feature USA?

Oh, no...prime time TV in the US would never show a non-USA Davis Cup tournament. In fact, I thoroughly doubt prime time TV in the US would show the American Davis Cup (sigh)! Perhaps I'm wrong...that would be a good thing.

But my posted references were to the difficulties finding this Spain/Czech final on the internet.

But - hey! - it's all over now and my favored team won! I'm moving on from the gripe scene.

 

[Outbeyond]

You lose on court..you win in love.Don't worry Radek baby.

I'd save those consoling remarks for a better man, malakas. Step's no doubt out there cheatin' on you RIGHT NOW!!! (maybe on some kind of double date with Tiger?) :neutral:

 

[malakas]

I'd save those consoling remarks for a better man, malakas. Step's no doubt out there cheatin' on you RIGHT NOW!!! (maybe on some kind of double date with Tiger?)

!!!!

It's ok..I guess...I understand..

it's normal.

Stepanek is too much for one woman.Share the goods we must.

 

[Ledigs]

Tennis channel would play Davis cup even if USA was in. Maybe espn but no non niche cable channels would play any non slam tennis

 

[Outbeyond]

Tennis channel would play Davis cup even if USA was in. Maybe espn but no non niche cable channels would play any non slam tennis

Yes, all true...

We gotta do something about tennis fan-dom here in the US. Roddick's got to STEP UP to the PLATE!!!!!!