PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT:
To be able to compete on clay, you need to playA LOT on the surface and beVERY patient.
THE MISTAKE:
Patrick McEnroe's selection of Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish, Bob and Mike Bryan should have travelled to Seville better prepared with more clay court matches under their belts.
In 2004, Roddick played eight matches on clay prior to the final while Fish played just one clay-court match this season and only 20 of his 153 professional performances this year were on crushed brick.
At least Roddick has proven he can play on the surface as his record of three titles in Houston, Atlanta and St Pölten, plus two other finals suggest.
FEET OF CLAY:
In practice at the Estadio Olimpico, neither Roddick nor Fish looked at ease on the surface.
As Friday's singles rubbers unfolded what became apparent was their inability to slide proficiently into their groundstrokes. Instead, the pair had to rely instead on short-step footwork.
The sliding shot used so effectively by Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal enabled the Spaniards more time on the ball in comparison to the Americans who often &lsquocut' and floated strokes back.
As soon as Roddick and Fish fell behind, the pair became too anxious to finish the points quickly, as a result of their inability to sustain a long rally and work their opponent around the court to create an opening.
So it really did come as no surprise when Moya and Nadal won the singles rubbers to give Spain a commanding 2-0 lead, and, in effect, the title: only one nation has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit and win the Davis Cup in the competition's 114-year history.
MORE TO COME:
Yes, the United States have a team capable of winning the title on hard court surfaces.
But as captain McEnroe suggested, clay won't go away, especially with the emergence of South American countries sure to challenge for the Davis Cup trophy in future.
GOLD STAR:
Bob and Mike Bryan silenced the Spanish crowd on Saturday with an exhibition of top-quality doubles.
PURPLE HEART:
Andy Roddick proved how much the Davis Cup meant to him with a gutsy performance against Moya even though his first service delivery wasn't firing effectively.
SELECTION IN DOUBT:
Mardy Fish. A good hard-courter but other players must be tried out before he gets to play in another clay court tie.
BEST SUPPORTER:
Many American commentators believe Vince Spadea was unlucky not to be selected ahead of
Fish in the first place. Justified another selection in future after a solid season.
CAPTAIN'S REPORT:
Patrick McEnroe extended his contract through 2007 recently. He'll get another final.
SPAIN: SAME TIME NEXT YEAR?
Certainly the emergence of Rafael Nadal has fired belief that Spain can build a team around this big-match player in the future. However, they are still likely to become unstuck on the faster surfaces.
Roddick predicted Rafael Nadal to become "one of the best clay-court players in the world" but the youngest winner of the Davis Cup needs to improve his first serve. Also needs to be injury-free in 2005 to rank inside the Top 20.
FIT FOR A KING (OF SPAIN):
Carlos Moya fulfilled his dream of winning a Davis Cup for Spain with immaculate performances over Fish and Roddick. We'll forget the tears Charly in light of the heartache of missing out in 2000.
BRONZE STAR:
Tommy Robredo: Will he ever be more than a doubles, or &lsquodead' rubber player for Spain?
BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR:
Juan Carlos Ferrero got the second singles berth, but was lucky his feelings about losing out to Nadal in the selection on opening day didn't affect the rest of the Spanish team. The former world number one finishes an injury-plagued season on a winning note and with few points to defend in 2005, expect a march on Paris.
To be able to compete on clay, you need to playA LOT on the surface and beVERY patient.
THE MISTAKE:
Patrick McEnroe's selection of Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish, Bob and Mike Bryan should have travelled to Seville better prepared with more clay court matches under their belts.
In 2004, Roddick played eight matches on clay prior to the final while Fish played just one clay-court match this season and only 20 of his 153 professional performances this year were on crushed brick.
At least Roddick has proven he can play on the surface as his record of three titles in Houston, Atlanta and St Pölten, plus two other finals suggest.
FEET OF CLAY:
In practice at the Estadio Olimpico, neither Roddick nor Fish looked at ease on the surface.
As Friday's singles rubbers unfolded what became apparent was their inability to slide proficiently into their groundstrokes. Instead, the pair had to rely instead on short-step footwork.
The sliding shot used so effectively by Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal enabled the Spaniards more time on the ball in comparison to the Americans who often &lsquocut' and floated strokes back.
As soon as Roddick and Fish fell behind, the pair became too anxious to finish the points quickly, as a result of their inability to sustain a long rally and work their opponent around the court to create an opening.
So it really did come as no surprise when Moya and Nadal won the singles rubbers to give Spain a commanding 2-0 lead, and, in effect, the title: only one nation has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit and win the Davis Cup in the competition's 114-year history.
MORE TO COME:
Yes, the United States have a team capable of winning the title on hard court surfaces.
But as captain McEnroe suggested, clay won't go away, especially with the emergence of South American countries sure to challenge for the Davis Cup trophy in future.
GOLD STAR:
Bob and Mike Bryan silenced the Spanish crowd on Saturday with an exhibition of top-quality doubles.
PURPLE HEART:
Andy Roddick proved how much the Davis Cup meant to him with a gutsy performance against Moya even though his first service delivery wasn't firing effectively.
SELECTION IN DOUBT:
Mardy Fish. A good hard-courter but other players must be tried out before he gets to play in another clay court tie.
BEST SUPPORTER:
Many American commentators believe Vince Spadea was unlucky not to be selected ahead of
Fish in the first place. Justified another selection in future after a solid season.
CAPTAIN'S REPORT:
Patrick McEnroe extended his contract through 2007 recently. He'll get another final.
SPAIN: SAME TIME NEXT YEAR?
Certainly the emergence of Rafael Nadal has fired belief that Spain can build a team around this big-match player in the future. However, they are still likely to become unstuck on the faster surfaces.
Roddick predicted Rafael Nadal to become "one of the best clay-court players in the world" but the youngest winner of the Davis Cup needs to improve his first serve. Also needs to be injury-free in 2005 to rank inside the Top 20.
FIT FOR A KING (OF SPAIN):
Carlos Moya fulfilled his dream of winning a Davis Cup for Spain with immaculate performances over Fish and Roddick. We'll forget the tears Charly in light of the heartache of missing out in 2000.
BRONZE STAR:
Tommy Robredo: Will he ever be more than a doubles, or &lsquodead' rubber player for Spain?
BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR:
Juan Carlos Ferrero got the second singles berth, but was lucky his feelings about losing out to Nadal in the selection on opening day didn't affect the rest of the Spanish team. The former world number one finishes an injury-plagued season on a winning note and with few points to defend in 2005, expect a march on Paris.
.
