Davis: tutto pare favorire gli USA.
Campo, confronti diretti, doppio.
Ma Tommasi non si sbilancia
Andy Roddick non è un un ruffianello quando fa il patriota. Rino Tommasi sottolinea la gioventù “storica” della Russia. E il declino statistico degli americani nei top 100 da metà anni Ottanta a oggi (da 40 a 7!).
Dodici anni dopo l’ “espugnazione” dell’Olympic Stadion di Mosca gli Stati Uniti, che vinsero allora l’ultima loro Coppa Davis (la n.31 della storia) grazie principalmente ad un SuperSampras trivittorioso, si ritrovano da oggi a disputare una finale con ottime chances di riconquistare quella Coppa che per decenni pareva un affare privato fra americani e australiani.
La vittoria russa nella Davis Cup 2006 firmata Marat Safin, direttamente da Rai Sport Satellite
Avversari degli americani Andy Roddick n.6 Atp e James Blake n.13, sono ancora i russi che schierano giustamente al posto di Nikolay Davydenko n.4 che aveva perso 11 incontri su 11 (6 con Blake e 5 con Roddick) il russo che abita in California, Dmitri Tursunov n.34 e Mikhail Youzhny n.19. Curioso che nella storia ultracentenaria della Davis questo sia solo il quarto scontro fra Usa e Russia. Ma la Russia è diventata potenza del tennis solo in tempi recenti. E Tarpishev il suo profeta.
Fa pendere il pronostico dalla parte USA, il bilancio dei confronti diretti, l’assenza di Safin (peraltro spesso inguardabile nel 2008), il fattore campo _ si gioca a Portland (Oregon) sulla West Coast, città votata come la più vivibile fra quelle americane, insieme alla vicina San Francisco di cui condivide anche l’inclinazione hippy _ e la diversa consistenza del doppio: i gemelli Bryan sulla carta sono superfavoriti nei confronti di Tursunov-Youzhny o qualunque altra coppia russa schierata da capitan Tarpishev. Hanno vinto 12 match di Davis su 13.
Oggi, nei confronti incrociati fra n.1 e n.2 dei due team, Roddick, classe 1982, affronta quindi Tursunov (2-1 i confronti a favore di Roddick ma Tursunov un anno fa vinse 17-15 al quinto in Davis), mentre Youzhny classe 1982 incontra Blake, di tre anni più anziano: lo scorso anno, ma sulla terra rossa, Youzhny nella semifinale di Davis vinse in quattro set l’unico confronto diretto.
Roddick, che già a settembre dichiarava patriotticamente come la conquista della Coppa Davis fosse il suo obiettivo primario di fine stagione _ più del Masters… _ ha detto: “Sarei disposto ad accettare di perdere un match io purchè si riporti in America la Coppa Davis…”. Una dichiarazione questa che, l’avesse pronunciata un altro, poteva essere da furbetto, quasi ruffianello. Non nel caso di Roddick. Chi lo conosce sa che allo spirito di squadra lui tiene e crede davvero.
UBALDO SCANAGATTA
PRESENTAZIONE DELLA FINALE DI PORTLAND
di RINO TOMMASI
Per chiudere la stagione del tennis manca solo la finale di Coppa Davis che si gioca a Portland, nell’Oregon, tra gli Stati Uniti e la Russia, un confronto che ha solo tre precedenti perché la Russia (ex Unione Sovietica) è tennisticamente molto giovane.
Basti pensare che nel 1962, quando i russi hanno giocato la Davis per la prima volta (persero per 5 a 0 contro di noi a Firenze) gli Stati Uniti l’avevano già vinta 18 volte. Nei successivi 45 anni gli americani hanno conquistato la Coppa in altre 13 occasioni ma l’ultima volta è accaduto nel 1995 quanto Pete Sampras, offrendo una delle sue più coraggiose prestazioni, conquistò a Mosca i tre punti del successo.
Da quel giorno il tennis russo è cresciuto molto, soprattutto nel settore femminile, ma anche tra gli uomini i progressi, in qualità e quantità, sono stati enormi.
La Russia ha vinto la Davis nel 2002 battendo la Francia a Parigi e si è ripetuta l’anno scorso superando l’Argentina a Mosca.
Rimane da spiegare come mai negli ultimi 12 anni gli Stati Uniti, il paese tennisticamente più forte del mondo, non abbia più vinto la Coppa. Ci sono molte e diverse ragioni. Nel 1982 c’erano 40 americani tra i primi 100 giocatori del mondo, oggi ce ne sono sette e soltanto tre tra i primi 60.
La seconda e più importante ragione è che la formula della Davis, non a caso inventata nel 1900, impedisce che la Coppa sia lo specchio fedele della situazione tennistica di un paese. Da anni propongo con insistenza pari all’inutilità, una formula diversa e più rappresentativa: 6 singolari e tre doppi, due singolari ed un doppio tutti al meglio dei tre set, in ciascuna delle tre giornate.
Avrebbero maggiore visibilità giocatori che ora non ce l’hanno, le Federazioni sarebbero obbligate a lavorare più in profondità. Mi dicono che con questa formula vincerebbero sempre i più forti ma io credo che il problema di una formula nasce quando possono andare in finale paesi come la Svizzera (Federer non era ancora esploso) e come la Slovacchia.
Mi fermo qui per provare ad analizzare questa finale che gli americani affrontano con uno schema molto rischioso qual’è quello di affidarsi a due singolaristi (Roddick e Blake) ed a due doppisti (i gemelli Bryan) che in singolare non sono competitivi.
I russi invece hanno una squadra più equilibrata. In singolare ma anche in doppio possono cambiare le carte come vogliono e come spesso hanno fatto negli ultimi anni. Sulla carta sembra un incontro equilibrato ma proprio per questo potrebbe uscirne un 5 a 0 da una parte o dall’altra.
Rino Tommasi
29 Novembre 2007 alle 23:52
Ho una curiosità: con chi l’hanno perso i Bryan il loro unico doppio in Davis? Grazie
30 Novembre 2007 alle 01:21
Con Ancic e Ljubicic nella primavera 2005 6-3 6-7(10) 4-6 4-6 a Carson (california). segnalo anche che Charlie bricker segnala _ forse ha letto qui Tommasi! _ che con soli sette ameriicani fra i 100 gli americani ottengono il loro peggior risultato nella storia del tennis! Ma spera che Isner, oggi ancora 106 e Levine possano rappresentare, con Young, il futuro del tennis USA…che potrebbe vincere la Davis n.32 nonostante la mossa astuta di Tarpishev.
30 Novembre 2007 alle 08:38
@ubs
sei troppo avanti
:) 
hai già visto tutta la stagione 2008 di Safin…………….
30 Novembre 2007 alle 12:02
Beh … io pronostico che Safin sara’ ancora piu’ inguardabile nelle stagioni 2009 e 2010 … sempre che, e dubito molto, le giochi
30 Novembre 2007 alle 13:09
vi prego, abbiate rispetto per marat e per i suoi tifosi (come me ) che soffrono……marat ha avuto un periodo personale molto duro e ora sta lavorando duramente a valencia mattina e pomeriggio per prepararsi all’anno prossimo; probabilmente sa che è l’ultimo anno per rilanciarsi, se non succederà probabilmente succederà come dice fabio p. cioè si ritirerà nel 2009.lasciamo stare quelle chiacchiere che lo perseguitano, safin è uno dei pochissimi campioni rimasti e perderlo è una perdita ulteriore del tennis odierno.
30 Novembre 2007 alle 13:11
Grazie Ubi. Questo conferma anche che, come dice da tempo Rino, il doppio è una specialità in crisi irreversibile. Bastano due giocatori degni di tal nome e anche la coppia number one ne esce irrimediabilmente con le ossa rotte. Un Panatta-Bertolucci non gliela facevano manco vedere la palla
30 Novembre 2007 alle 14:13
Il problema di Marat non è la mattina e nemmeno il pomeriggio. Ma la sera…
30 Novembre 2007 alle 14:34
A me la cosa che colpisce di più, e lo dico con grande tenerezza, è la sincera gioia di Boris Eltsin, ex presidente russo scomparso recentemente e vero, purissimo amante del tennis. Ce ne fossero come lui…
30 Novembre 2007 alle 15:17
è una delle poche volte che sono in disaccordo con Rino, la formula da lui proposta per la coppa davis di 2 singolari piu un doppio al meglio dei 3 set ripetuta per tre giorni, magari rappresenterebbe maggiormente i vari movimenti tennistici ma toglierebbe quello che mi piace maggiormente della coppa davis, ovvero le sfide quasi “epic” con tanto di pathos tra davide & golia concentrate in match al meglio dei 5 set con chances per tutti, dalle quali scaturisce lo spettacolo anche se a giocare non sono i migliori. Ma se ci mettiamo a giocare 6 partite di singolare al meglio dei 3 set siamo quasi al livello dei challenger e tutto viene diluito… no non mi piace questa formula
la modifica che piacerebbe a me l’ho gia elencata varie volte a chi interessa clicchi sul mio nome, che c’è scritta tutta la cosa nei dettagli
va beh dai ci metto pure il link
http://BLOG.myspace.com/avecdoublecordage
la proposta è il primo intervento a fondo pagina del link sopra citato, ma non sto qui ad elencare tutto il contenuto per l’ennesima volta che il rischio di annoiare è troppo grosso
certo che a pensare a 40 americani nei primi 100 mi fa venire i brividi solo a pensarci …Duncan etc. sono brividi di noia una razza per fortuna estinta
Safin almeno il doppio probabimente avrebbe potuto giocarlo, mi sembra che con Tursunov ha pure vinto il torneo di mosca in autunno
@Archibald Catkiller
ma qual è la mossa astuta di Tarpishev? spero la febbre e i dolori siano passti, auguri
30 Novembre 2007 alle 15:53
@Luigi Ansaloni
ho letto ultimamente che in georgia c’è un amante del tennis praticante pazzerello che ha una simile sintonia con la vodka ad Eltsin, non trattasi di Shevardnadze bensi apparentemente di tale Labadze
30 Novembre 2007 alle 15:58
Stuzzicante. Affascinante. Un po’ di retorica. Sono i tre aggettivi che mi vengono per descrivere la finale di Davis. C’è tutto per assistere ad un grande incontro, il cartellone parla chiaro: si affrontano due scuole tennistiche prestigiose (quella russa dalla fama un po’ più recente rispetto agli yankees), due modi di concepire lo sport.
Ma è anche una finale che premia due nazioni che hanno (quasi) sempre messo in campo la formazione migliore per arrivare in finale. I loro migliori giocatori hanno fatto della Davis una piccola priorità. Basti pensare alle dichiarazioni di Roddick prima del Master: “a Shangai gioco per ritrovare la forma in vista di Portland”. Capito? Una volta tanto, abbiamo ammirato un tennista mettere al secondo lposto e esigenze di classifica, individualistiche, e pensare ad un successo che farebbe felice il suo Paese.
C’è anche un po’ di retorica in questa finale. I tempi della “subalterna” Russia di Eltsin sono morti e sepolti. Adesso c’è un nuovo, aggressivo, propagandistico neo imperialismo, che vede una Russia sempre più ricca, rispettata a livello internazionale. Dall’establishment sempre più chiacchierato, non sempre positivamente, quando si parla di diritti umani, di libertà di stampa.
In Russia è tempo di elezioni e di finale di Coppa Davis. Chissà, noi tutti “bloggers” alla fine saremo testimoni di un passaggio importante della storia, sia tennistica che della “Duma” moscovita….
P.S. Ma perché a Portland? San Diego e Fort Worth non piacciono più? L’unica volta che ho visto gli Usa in casa sull’indoor, era 9 anni fa a Milwaukee, contro una certa Italia….
Buona Coppa Davis a tutti
30 Novembre 2007 alle 15:59
Enzo, secondo me, il problema di marat e’ proprio la mattina…dopo la sera
Pero’ peccato che un giocatore con tutto quel talento…non riesca a trovare una sveglia che funzioni bene !
Per la Coppa Davis, quello che gli americani devono temere di piu’ e’ Tarpishev.
Credo che sarebbe la prima volta per un capitano riuscire a fare l’accoppiata FedCup DavisCup.
30 Novembre 2007 alle 17:01
OFF-TOPIC Gianluigi Quinzi ha perso dopo 3 ore e passa la semifinale under 12 dell’Eddie Herr a Miami, da un tennista della Florida Roy Lederman che giocherà così la finale under 12 contro un tennista di chiare origine italiane, ma californiano, Joe Di Giulio.
Il punteggio a favore di Lederman dice però che il ragazzino di Porto San Giorgio, che aveva dominato il primo set, prima di perdere 1-6,7-5,6-4, ha grandi qualità. io ricordo di averlo visto giocare al Parioli (è seguito anche da Vittorio Magnelli) e …se son rose fioriranno. Certo la famiglia lo segue alla grande e senza badare a spese. L’avevo visto anche a Umago quando era venuto con la mamma per farsi seguire un paio di giorni da Riccardo Piatti e Salvador Sosa…Il primo game della semifinale è durato più di 20 minuti…insomma la grinta non manca.
A 12 anni è presto coltivare grandi illusioni, ma di Quinizi e Miccini (che di anni ne avrà presto 16) si parla da tempo e speriamo non si rivelino bolle di sapone
30 Novembre 2007 alle 17:06
OFF-TOPIC-QUINZI: Non solo il primo set, Ubaldo, Gianluigi conduceva 61 53 prima di subire la rimonta dell’americano. Peccato, vedremo ora se si rifarà nell’Orange Bowl, ormai alle porte.
30 Novembre 2007 alle 17:17
Speriamo, speriamo sopratutto che venga gestito bene il passaggio dall’età adolescenziale a quella adulta e che non gli vengano messe addosso troppe pressioni, Quinzi, in particolare, è ancora quasi un bambino…a proposito Ubaldo, nessuna notizia di Adelchi Virgili, sai se si allena, se sta bene, male o che altro??
30 Novembre 2007 alle 17:22
Ubaldo, veramente vai Off-Topic per Quinzi, un under 12, quando quest’anno Corinna Dentoni, una toscana come noi, entra tra le prime 250 del mondo e, tu, neanche una parola, proprio per lei? Nemmeno una parola, una intervistina, per una ragazzina che non è più una promessa under 12 ma una bella realtà da incoraggiare?
Vorrai dirle che è stata brava o no?
30 Novembre 2007 alle 17:41
Le dichiarazioni dei russi (in inglese, sorry…) al sorteggio:
An interview with:
THE RUSSIAN DAVIS CUP TEAM
(All answers through translation unless otherwise noted.)
THE MODERATOR: Questions for the Russian team, please.
Q. Shamil, can you explain your choice of singles players? Obviously a lot of people expected to see Nikolay play, being the top ranked player on your team.
CAPTAIN TARPISCHEV: The answer to this question is really very simple. We have four equal players. The choice of Youzhny was made for tactical reasons.
Q. Captain, we know that the former president was a great fan of your team. We wonder if you’ve heard from President Putin about this final?
CAPTAIN TARPISCHEV: Our president himself is a very athletic guy. A lot of attention is paid in Russia to the development of sports.
It’s not by chance that Sochi is going to be the host of the Olympic Games. After the previous Davis Cup tournament, our president had a reception for us in his residence in Ogaryovo.
Also the president council on sports, which I am a member. These issues are discussed here frequently.
Q. How fast is the court? Do you like it? Dislike it? You beat your foes last year on clay. Now you’re playing them on a fast court. How fast is it? Is this to your advantage?
MIKHAIL YOUZHNY: This court is faster than in Moscow, and it will be to the American team’s advantage. But it’s not as fast as we expected.
Q. Dmitry, when did you find out you were going to play singles? Can you take anything from last year’s semifinal against Andy? It was a different surface to this.
DMITRY TURSUNOV: I learned only a couple minutes ago at the draw ceremony (smiling). It was our captain’s Christmas gift for me.
As to last year’s match, of course it’s going to be played on a totally different surface, and it’s going to be quite different.
Q. Nikolay, are you disappointed because you are not playing singles?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: Well, it was our captain’s decision that the strongest are at this point Tursunov and Youzhny.
Q. Andy Roddick is undefeated this year in Davis Cup play. Certainly on a fast surface he is a formidable player. You’re known as a wily coach. What have you told your players about how to play and defeat Roddick?
CAPTAIN TARPISCHEV: We have less chance with the American team here on this kind of court. But Tursunov was able to win on the surface that was different from what we’re having now, so we’re going to utilize. We have resources. We have this kind of surface.
Q. Dmitry, where does that match with Roddick rank for you in your career in terms of victories? Will you have mixed emotions at all, or will it be strange for you to be playing in America with the crowd cheering against you? And if you could answer in English, if possible.
DMITRY TURSUNOV: (In English.) So I think that it ranks pretty high because it wasn’t an individual competition; it was a team competition. I don’t put an emphasis on country versus country because to me it’s not a battle of countries, it’s a battle of the team.
I was playing for the team. It was very special to me that I was able to help the team move into the finals.
Q. Will it be strange for you? Will you have mixed emotions playing in America where you have strong connections and have the crowd cheering against you tomorrow?
DMITRY TURSUNOV: (In English.) Well, I don’t really have any special connections in Oregon, but it’s close to California.
I think on the court it doesn’t help or it doesn’t hurt me. It doesn’t matter where I play. You know, I’ve lived here for quite a while, but I don’t feel that Americans should be cheering for a Russian. I think everyone wants their team to win. You know, it’s understandable.
So I will have to, you know, kind of block it out, if possible.
Q. James Blake has had pretty good success against your players. Can you talk about what you’ve told your team to go up against him?
CAPTAIN TARPISCHEV: We are very aware of the strengths of both the American team and our team. This is what dictated our nominations for the first match. Whether our reasons were correct or not, we’ll see.
Q. As defending champions, do you feel like you have a deeper and more talented team than America does?
CAPTAIN TARPISCHEV: It’s probably not fair to make this kind of comparison. Russia has made great strides in tennis in the last 15 years, and the United States has a long history of excellent and first class tennis. It’s really unfair to draw these comparisons.
All I can say is that we have a strong team and they’re versatile. With this team, we won two victories. We hope that we’ll do equally well here. It’s very prestigious for us and a great honor for us to participate in this event.
Q. Captain, I’m wondering if you could elaborate a little bit more on your singles choices. Apparently his own players only learned moments ago they were going to be playing.
CAPTAIN TARPISCHEV: As far as Davis Cup events are concerned, the United States team has both strong doubles and singles players. We have four strong, powerful players for every style, be it singles or doubles. So the choice was made for tactical reasons.
Q. Dmitry, you spend so much time here in America, spend so much time in Russia, as well. Kind of a tough question. What do you think the two countries have the most in common and maybe the one thing that’s most different?
DMITRY TURSUNOV: (In English.) Well, I think obviously the main similarities are both countries are big geographically. Both owned Alaska at one point (smiling).
But I think the biggest difference, other than the language, I think that the cultures are quite different. Although, you know, there’s obvious similarities. I’m not going to go into details because there’s quite a lot of similar things. I think it also depends from person to person. Even from state to state everyone is slightly different.
I forgot the first part of the question.
Q. How are they most in common, the two cultures.
DMITRY TURSUNOV: (In English.) Both cultures eat food, cook food. I don’t know (smiling). It’s a very strange question because you could be very similar to a Russian, but the person next to you could be very different. It’s very hard to answer that question. You dress. We dress as well. We don’t have bears running in the streets. You know, you don’t have Indians camping by the fire in the streets either.
I’m not even sure if it pertains to tennis.
30 Novembre 2007 alle 17:44
E ora le dichiarazioni degli americani al sorteggio (ma nessuna mi pare spiritosa come alcune di Tursunov nel commento precedente):
An interview with:
THE U.S. DAVIS CUP TEAM
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please, for the U.S. team.
Q. James, we’ve heard Andy talk about being in Fort Worth in 1992, how he was thrilled. What is your first connection with Davis Cup?
JAMES BLAKE: I actually really wasn’t as big a tennis fan when I was a kid in terms of watching. I loved playing, but I didn’t watch as many matches. I didn’t watch too many tournaments. I watched the US Open. I would go and watch with my father. Other than that, I didn’t really go to too many.
My first real big memories of the Davis Cup weren’t till much later in my life. My best memory was being in college, my first year in college, and watching Jim Courier against Greg Rusedski, watching them defeat them in the fifth match. Jim Courier pulled his shirt up and pointed to his heart. Pretty inspirational stuff. Those guys were a great team.
I think it inspired Pete Sampras to play later that year when he saw how much effort Todd Martin and Jim Courier were putting in. I don’t have the story from being eight, nine, ten years old and watching. I really was more a fan of watching basketball on TV or watching baseball. I learned to love watching tennis much later in life.
Q. Patrick, can you comment on the singles choices, whether you were surprised by them, and also whether you expect that doubles team to stay the same Saturday?
CAPTAIN McENROE: No, we were not surprised by the selections for the singles. No, I do not expect that to be the doubles team. To elaborate on the singles, you know, Davydenko has obviously been struggling a little bit with some injuries. I mean, I saw him playing in Shanghai. Saw his foot bothered him a little bit. Not real surprised.
But the Russians, one of their strengths is they have a lot of versatile players. It certainly wouldn’t surprise us to see him at some point in the weekend. You know, Tursunov has played pretty well on fast courts in his career. He’s obviously a little bit streaky, but he’s certainly capable of hitting the ball pretty big.
And Youzhny, you know, has proved that he can pretty much play on any surface. Played some big Davis Cup matches for them in his career.
No, we’re not particularly surprised. I don’t think they probably even know who their doubles team will be. That will probably depend somewhat on what happens on Friday.
Q. Andy, you had obviously a really memorable matchup last year that lasted a long time. Given that you’re going to get another chance at it, does that add some hunger for you?
ANDY RODDICK: I don’t need any added hunger, I promise you that. No, I mean, I don’t see a lot of relevance between the two just because of how different the court surfaces are.
You know, we’ve played since that match. So I think people will be talking about it a lot more than I’m thinking about it. I’m just going out and looking to try to get us the lead.
Q. Andy, you won the US Open at 21 years old. Here at 25, if you are on this winning team, what do you think would be the difference or similarity between winning a Grand Slam and a Davis Cup competition?
ANDY RODDICK: I don’t know. There’s no way to predict. You know, the two are on par in my mind as far as accomplishments. You know, it might be just that much more special because we’ve kind of shared this journey, you know, for the last seven years.
I mean, my first tie was Patrick’s first tie, also. Just with James and the boys, even Mardy and Robby have stepped in, and they’re here this week also.
You know, might mean even more because you shared the process with these guys. You know, it’s something that I think we all want together. You know, hopefully I’ll be able to give you a definitive answer sometime next week. I’d love for that opportunity.
Q. Andy, how would you say you’re most alike from James on and off the court?
ANDY RODDICK: Did you already answer that question?
JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, I did.
ANDY RODDICK: I think kind of similar to what James said. On first glance we probably don’t seem much alike, you know. But I think when you get deeper, you know, we both enjoy sports, we both enjoy cards. You know, he likes to rehash soliloquies he read at Harvard. I like to brief him on The Little Engine that Could.
JAMES BLAKE: He’s lying (smiling).
ANDY RODDICK: I’m not lying. I wouldn’t do that to all of you. That’s it (smiling).
Q. James, could you talk about your mental toughness coming into this final.
JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, I think it takes a great deal of mental toughness to be in any situation that we’re in. I credit the other team as well to be in a Davis Cup final. It takes a lot of mental toughness for anyone to be on those teams.
To be a top 15, top 20 player, top 10 player for a while, it takes mental toughness. It takes a lot more than just strength or speed or talent to get there.
So anyone that’s been in that position I think can be credited with having a great deal of mental toughness. I think it’s tough to relate to people that haven’t been in those situations and dealt with that kind of pressure.
I’m happy with the way I’ve dealt with it so far. I hope it will show tomorrow, as well, and if needed on Sunday. But I know the guys I’m facing right now aren’t lacking in mental toughness either so it’s not going to be easy, but I’m proud of the effort I’ve put into this point and I’m happy with my preparation.
Q. James, I think you played Youzhny once in your career on clay. What do you remember about that match? What sort of challenges does he present to you?
JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, I lost to him last year in Moscow on clay. I remember he played an excellent match. I was a little streaky at that time on clay, which happens to me since it’s not my favorite surface. He just played a little more solid than me throughout the match.
This time I feel like I won’t need to leave my comfort zone as much as I do on clay and I’ll be able to hopefully go after my shots, be aggressive and still play the way I want to play on a surface that suits me much better.
But that being said, I know he’s an excellent player and he’s not going to make that very easy for me. He’s going to try to do everything he can to get me out of my comfort zone. He has unbelievable timing, great returns, is a great competitor, so I know it won’t be easy.
But I feel like I’ve prepared as well as I can and I feel good on this surface and ready to play my game.
Q. What will you do during Andy’s match? If Andy wins, what does it do for going out and playing?
JAMES BLAKE: I was going to read soliloquies (laughter). No, I might steal Green Eggs and Ham out of his bag.
It’s a situation where most times you know you’re waiting for matches in normal tournaments, but you’re not as emotionally invested in those. But in this situation, you’re very invested in the match. It’s your teammate, your friend, someone you want to do well. So I’m going to be watching. Most likely from the locker room.
It’s tougher to be out on the court sitting there getting involved in every single point, getting up and cheering every time. I’ll be still hanging on almost every point in the locker room and just making sure I’m doing everything I can to prepare, whether it’s warming up, stretching out a little, making sure I’m eating everything I need to to be properly prepared for the match. But I’ll definitely have my eye on the match the whole time.
Q. Andy, everyone up there with you has had a brother who helped them be involved in tennis, including your captain. Can you talk about what that means having older brothers as a motivator.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean, I don’t know how much relevance it has as far as our Davis Cup team goes. But, you know, it was great ’cause when my brother was young, in Nebraska, my parents had never really seen tennis before, but they liked individual sports, so they put him in a clinic.
By the time I came around seven years later they had a little bit of an idea. I was lucky that they had kind of gained knowledge through him.
You know, it’s nice to have someone to relate to and share kind of a common bond. Our common bond is tennis. To kind of have someone around who you know will call you on your stuff sometimes, not let you get away with much. It’s nice having that support system in place.
Q. Andy and James, do you have any memories of when the Russians were the bad guys in this world, when we perceived them as that? Patrick, how in your mind has the sporting relationship changed between you and the Russians between then and now?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, the only bad Russian I remember growing up was Drago against Rocky. Beyond that, I wasn’t up on my, you know, social politics at three years old. Most likely I was still reading the same books that I’m still reading today. I don’t even know what the other part of the question was. I was busy planning that answer during the second part of your question (smiling).
Q. Patrick, who probably does have more memories, how has the sporting relationship changed between the countries?
CAPTAIN McENROE: Well, I think it’s obviously changed a lot. I mean, I remember studying in college, studying the Soviet Union, you know, when it was together as the Soviet Union.
I think tennis has obviously been a big sport for the Russians. They’ve excelled in the men’s and the women’s game. They’ve become a real power in tennis. I wouldn’t say it’s a love fest that we have with them, but all these guys know their team pretty well and they’re all good guys, good competitors.
But, you know, I think this match is bigger than just the U.S. against Russia. It’s really, you know, sort of a quest that this team has been on for a long time. I think it’s nice to play a team like Russia in the final, you know, another big final. They’re a country that’s gone through a lot of changes, but they’re doing very well.
For the U.S., for the Russians, still two of the biggest countries in the world, tennis powers, I think the bigger goal for us is to try to win the whole thing. I think as an event it’s nice to have a big country like Russia in the final and a big country like the U.S.
Q. Bob and Mike, you had to campaign at one point to get your spot on this team and convince Patrick that he should forego having four singles players. In consideration of that, how big a moment is this for the both of you to be here and competing for the title?
BOB BRYAN: Yeah, I mean, it’s everything to be competing for this Davis Cup title. We’ve wanted to win this since we were 10 years old. You know, I’d trade any Grand Slam for this title right here, to win it for these guys.
As far as, you know, Pat taking us five years ago, we obviously feel that was a good decision for the team (smiling). You know, that first tie in Slovakia, we were pretty nervous because he just changed his philosophy on picking a doubles team.
But he was great. We thought we had one chance. We thought we had to prove it to him then. He called us the night before and said, You’re the team for the next five or 10 years. Doesn’t matter how you do today. Just go out there and play your heart out.
That gave us a lot of confidence to be here today.
MIKE BRYAN: Yeah, I mean, I want to add that, you know, it’s really helped our career playing Davis Cup. I think once Pat picked us, that’s when we really took off. I mean, knowing that he had confidence in us to step up in a big match really helped us go out there and play a Grand Slam final and continue to work hard, because we wanted to, you know, excel in these big moments.
So he’s the reason why. He’s one of the reasons why.
Q. Patrick, there has been so much anticipation for this. First time in the United States in 15 years. They’ve been talking about it for a while now. What kind of emotions are going through your mind right now?
CAPTAIN McENROE: I’m just excited. I mean, I’m excited for these guys because, you know, we’ve been to a lot of different places around the world to play Davis Cup ties. We’ve been in the final. We’ve had to go to Spain, play a great team there on clay, which was obviously a tough task.
So to play at home, you know, this has been a goal of the team for a long time, so I’m excited. We’ll all be a little bit nervous I’m sure tomorrow. That’s a good thing. We’ll just try to keep an even keel while at the same time sort of using the energy of the crowd and the energy of the moment. You know, it’s here in front of us.
I’m just hoping that these guys go out and go for it because, you know, we’ve had an unbelievable week in practice. They’re all playing great. All feel really confident. We’re just going to go out there and try to make it happen. We’re not going to wait for it to happen; we’re going to go try to make it happen.
Q. Andy and James, this moment, how do you compare it to when you were little kids playing tennis, to be here on this stage?
ANDY RODDICK: I didn’t have to answer so many questions when I was a little kid playing tennis. I don’t really I mean, what are you looking for there?
Q. How much fun is this?
ANDY RODDICK: Oh, it’s a lot of fun. But at the same time the stress levels are a little bit higher than, you know, the 10 and Under Texas Closed Championships.
Q. Obviously you loved tennis as a kid.
ANDY RODDICK: Sure.
Q. How much do you love it now and to be on this stage playing?
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, I never really thought I’d be part of a Davis Cup team growing up, so I think weekends like this will never cease to be a little bit surreal, you know. But you try to kind of keep that in check at least until it’s done because, you know, we haven’t accomplished anything yet.
You know, we still have to get a job done. I think more so than looking at it as a fun weekend, we’re looking at it as, you know, it’s we’ve got a job to do.
Q. Bob and Mike, I know you always think you have an advantage over so called cut and paste doubles teams. Sometimes they give you trouble, like the Spanish did in the quarters. Are you going to expend any energy at all on trying to prepare for the named team, or are you going to just kind of try to prepare yourselves for anybody? What is your approach going into that match?
BOB BRYAN: I mean, I think this team right here would be a team that would stay back a little more. I could see them serving, maybe on a first serve and second serve staying in, just ripping forehands, playing more of a singles type of game against us.
Yeah, we’re going to prepare a little bit different. We’re going to go out there today and work on some stuff. We have formulas figured out for that. We’ve played teams that play that style all through the last three years, especially with all the singles players entering doubles.
Yeah, I mean, we know all four of these guys. We’re going to be prepared for each one individually also.
Q. Last five, seven years Russia becomes a significant Davis Cup team. Are you ever sitting back saying, We’re just as good as them; it’s going to be our turn soon? We have depth, talent, we should be able to do this.
MIKE BRYAN: I mean, I think we are. I mean, we have a great bunch of guys here. I mean, I think it’s a little bit luck of the draw. I mean, if we played that final in ‘04 at home we’d probably have a Cup by now.
But, you know, every year is different. It’s just how it stacks up in the draw. We want to seize this opportunity. This is our best shot. We never know if we’re going to get in the luck of the draw again and get back to a home tie in the final.
So this is the one. Could be the only chance we’ll see.
Q. Andy, Patrick spoke about the seven year effort in Davis Cup as a quest. You referred to it as a journey. Can you step back and look at the big picture? What has it meant to you, the frustrations, how central to your career?
ANDY RODDICK: I’m not sure how to relate it to my career, but it’s been amazing. I mean, it’s been so much fun. You know, you really kind of get to know someone when you’re in Ostrava or Bratislava and you don’t really know what’s going on. You’re there to play some tennis matches.
There’s definitely been ups and downs. The highs in Davis Cup are amazing, and the lows are probably lower than regular tournaments, you know. You know, it feels like a million years ago, I was 18 and just starting. There’s a ton of memories, good and bad. Even with our relationships and everything, it’s just been a great journey.
But, you know, we’re here and we have this opportunity. I have a feeling if we get a win here, you know, it will all be upside.
Q. Bob and Mike, how is it to know that on Saturday you’re going to have a day where the whole world is paying attention to a doubles match?
BOB BRYAN: Yeah, I mean, doubles is always in the spotlight in Davis Cup. It’s the swing point. It’s really pivotal. You know the stats. That’s why we enjoy playing so much. Doubles is huge. This is the biggest stage for doubles, Davis Cup.
We want to win that match for these guys up here. On Saturday it’s going to be the biggest match of our career, I think.
Q. Patrick, you mentioned you had a great week of practice. This being an individual sport, combining individuals in a team, versus a football coach who might be working on drills, what is your outlook on the week as far as practice goes? How much do you coach? What is your role during the week of practice, per se, versus match day?
CAPTAIN McENROE: Look, they all have their own coaches. Part of what we’ve done, it’s really a team effort. So their coaches oftentimes are here with them. You know, my job is to open the balls, the cans of balls, let them practice. That’s my job (smiling).
You know, it’s to get them ready, to get them confident. My job has always been over the years to communicate with the coaches as much, sometimes more than even with the players. Obviously come match time it’s different since you’re actually on the court. It’s, you know, sometimes less is more. It really depends on the match situation.
30 Novembre 2007 alle 17:50
a vedere queste interviste ho preso paura. ma quanto parlano? e pure in inglese…
30 Novembre 2007 alle 17:57
Angelica, mi pare di capire che se il prode Marat non sfrutta quelle due orette buone durante il pomeriggio…sono dolori
Per il resto hai non ragione, ma ragionissima. Tutto quel ben di Dio sprecato. Questi giorni in cui si parlava sempre del trito e ritrito argomento Sampras-Federer eccetera, pensavo alla finale di Safin contro l’americano allo US Open. Un massacro. E parliamo di un Sampras ancora ad altissimo livello. E ppure non ci fu storia. Mi pare che a un certo punto, nel terzo set, ci furono 2 palle break a favore di Sampras e il pubblico cominciò a rumoreggiare emozionato. Dopo 30 secondi parola al giudice di sedia: game Safin! Fantastico. Speriamo torni.
30 Novembre 2007 alle 20:04
Adesso sarò ucciso e massacrato…ma quel Safin della finale dell’Us Open 2000 contro Sampras raggiungeva livelli che (SECONDO ME, RIPETO E RIBADISCO SECONDO ME E SOTTOLINEO E RIBADISCO SECONDO ME
Federer non ha mai toccato
30 Novembre 2007 alle 20:52
si si safin è un grande, ma mi mi piace anche come parla questo tursunov
“QUESTION: How are they most in common, the two cultures.
DMITRY TURSUNOV: (In English.) Both cultures eat food, cook food. I don’t know (smiling). It’s a very strange question because you could be very similar to a Russian, but the person next to you could be very different. It’s very hard to answer that question. You dress. We dress as well. We don’t have bears running in the streets. You know, you don’t have Indians camping by the fire in the streets either.
I’m not even sure if it pertains to tennis.”
se ha la scioltezza di mano come dimostra di averla di lingua…
quanto riguarda OFF TOPIC - Quinzi (jones
non è un gran che come battuta ma cosa volete che vi dica… ) ha stracciato tutti fino in semifinale, cosa alla quale è abbastanza abituato e fa sovente anche con under 14, ha anche gia giocato tornei under 16 pur essendo non solo quasi un bambino ma ad 11 anni direi che è proprio ancora un bambino, ragazzino se proprio vogliamo… ad ogni modo non sono i risultati quelli che contano ma il gioco del quale è capace e la grinta che ha, quindi direi di non dare troppo peso ai risultati che difficilmente possono raccontarci quello che uno vede, (forse è quasi meglio che ognitanto na partita la perda pure, fin che non contano molto, per il carattere) ma tanto per dare un esempio di qual è la norma per gigi
1°TURNO: G. Quinzi- SEOK KIM 61 60
2°TURNO: G. Quinzi- ARCONADA 60 60
3°TURNO: G. Quinzi- IANAKIEV 61 61
Ottavi: G. Quinzi-G. Goldin 63 63
Quarti: Gianluigi Quinzi - Filip Obucina 64 61
risultati sono presi da http://www.tennisteen.it che ha un forum per Quinzi
http://forum.tennisteen.it/1-vt3793.html?postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
e pure uno per Miccini
http://forum.tennisteen.it/1-vt4038.html?postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0