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Art · 08-12-2010 00:45:41

Sweet Serb win tinged with sour taste

It should have been the sweetest tennis story of the year. Little Serbia's stunning victory over France had all the things you want from a piece of sporting drama: excitement, a rollicking atmosphere and some outstanding personal performances.

But some incidents throughout the weekend have left a sour, bitter taste that Tramlines just cannot wash out of its mouth. None more so than the utterly disgraceful comments from the Serbian captain Bogdan Obradovic after the doubles rubber.

Rather than praise France's Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra for a fantastic come-from-behind victory, Obradovic instead decided to have a petty rant that was the height of ignorance and bad sportsmanship by essentially slamming the line judges for not cheating in his side's favour.

"We are not asking them to be thieves and give us anything," he said before immediately asking them to do just that.

"But some of them were absolutely awful today and they made several bad calls at key moments in the match.

"They were like a dark force out there and their lack of patriotism was astounding. If they feel anything for their country they ought to wait for a customary second at close calls to make the right decision.

"We know them very well and we are completely aware that they are trying to build a career by siding to the (International Tennis Federation). We won't stand in their way but they must remember that they are only here because Serbian tennis has become a force."

The true character of individuals comes out not when they win, but when they lose. Obradovic said all the right things after the tie was finished - "France were great opponents, it was a fantastic match...blah blah" - but it is very easy to suddenly become magnanimous when your side has won and you are clutching the trophy in your arms.

Where was that grace when Serbia were 2-1 down though? Completely lacking - and one is left wondering how he would have responded if France had won the Cup.

Tramlines also has to take issue with Serbia's much-lauded supporters, but not for the same flippant reason as France's captain Guy Forget whose pandering sugar-coating around an insult couldn't disguise the fact that he was still calling some Serb fans 'idiots' for making a bit of noise. It is a Davis Cup final, Mr Forget, for God's sake - get over it.

No, instead Tramlines again goes back to the Saturday doubles match to find disappointment from the legions in Belgrade.

The crowd were a fizzing cacophony as they watched their side go 2-0 up but then, as France started to work their way back into the match, the home fans went into a shell and let the surprisingly large and noisy contingent of away supporters completely drown them out.

All reports on Sunday's memorable final day praised the noise generated in the arena, but again, that is the easy part; Serbia enjoyed two three-set victories to win the Davis Cup - of course they're going to get excited about that.

When the supporters were really needed in latter stages of the doubles though they were found wanting - some of them even went home before the match had finished.

For Tramlines there was one particularly telling moment early in the fifth set. At that stage of the match Viktor Troicki's game had completely fallen apart and he was clearly having major confidence issues. Seeing that, his partner Nenad Zimonjic asked the crowd to give Troicki a lift by gesturing to them to pump up the volume. However, after a half-hearted roar, everything quickly calmed down again and France were able to clinically go on and win the match with all the singing and shouting in the building coming from their travelling support.

At this point Tramlines should perhaps point out that it was not neutral going into this final - it was cheering for Serbia.

Nothing against France as a team or a country, but they have experienced lots of sporting success in the past and are a well-established tennis nation.

A Serbian victory was always going to be a bigger story; a sporting landmark for a nation and a Cinderella story for the sport of tennis.

Novak Djokovic played like a man possessed and also acted as a remarkably effective cheerleader by consistently reminding the fans that they should be caring as much about the tie as he clearly was.

Troicki, after looking like a scared boy in the doubles, put in the performance of his career to win the deciding rubber.

Zimonjic was suffering from an injured elbow and missed his child's birthday so he could compete, but still produced some superb stuff in the doubles even if it was a losing effort.

And while Janko Tipsarevic didn't have the best of weekends, who can forget his stunning contribution in getting Serbia into the final?

They deserved better from sections of their crowd and most certainly from their captain who discredited himself, the sport and his country with his comments on Saturday. Those comments will not, and should not, be easily forgotten.

No doubt the Serbian fans will flood the comment section below accusing Tramlines of trying to rain on their parade. I'm sure the party went on long and hard into the Belgrade night, but the truth is, this was not the sweet, memorable, feel-good story it should have been for this outsider looking in.

It's just an inescapable shame that some of those associated with the Serbian team could not have shown as much passion and class as their players did.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/tr … ticle/146/

Art · 08-12-2010 00:46:58

Patrick Mouratoglou: France will come back stronger

As with all French people, the feeling which prevails within me following Davis Cup final defeat at the weekend is disappointment.

Reaching the final of such a big event then watching the trophy snatched away is tough to accept. And even tougher, I guess, for the players and staff who saw this campaign through together.

But all the matches they have won this season in order to get there should not be forgotten. As the team said, the result is encouraging: the players are young and there are plenty of reasons to believe they can get there again - and this time to emerge as winners.

Losing matches like that also helps in the gaining of experience. We have to accept it, learn from it and use it to go further next time. In France we can count on an amazing generation of players. Who else in the world can bring together a team featuring guys like Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon?

They have reached the top 10 and are still young - four gifted players who can still improve. So, if the team can keep a good spirit, and if the players continue to feature in the competition and give everything each time, then the Davis Cup will be ours one day.

Now, what to take from the weekend... were the Serbians just too strong? Yes - they've been amazing. But it's impossible to explain this loss with only that reason.

The French played with the handbrake on, which is difficult to understand: the whole team played too safe. In a final, you'd have thought that being so close to the goal would be the perfect time to let everything go. After so much effort and with so many matches played under the pressure of being favourites, the final is where you should give everything in order to achieve your dreams.

Unfortunately, it was not with this state of mind that the French players entered the court. On Friday, Gilles was never able to play freely against Novak Djokovic, who had a great match. He could not take advantage of his momentum at 5-5 when the Serbian started to struggle with nerves. He looked so shy: I didn't see the usual fighter within him.

Gael won his first match against a Janko Tipsarevic totally taken over by the pressure; the Frenchman did not have the greatest game. He was playing short, with no real gameplan and wasn't moving as well as he is used to.

On Saturday in the doubles, Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement started the match trussed up with tightness - and therefore lost the first two sets. Without a wake-up call from Clement, it would have been all over.

Sunday was like the two previous days: Gael and Mika were never able to play their best tennis. Even if both Serbians played great, they didn't face a lot of opposition. Gael, who usually brings back so many unreachable balls, was rather clumsy and committed way too many unforced errors. Mika, if he felt Viktor Troicki was returning so well, was not able to find his usual shot zones; his volleying game wasn't crushing enough; and his legs weren't able to handle the pressure of the game. He wasn't the shining Mika we saw in Bercy. On Sunday, when his volleying was so-so, he was also anticipating the passing shot way too early and leaving easy shots for his opponent.

It seems overall that, instead of being inspired by the event, the French players were muffled, speechless, unable to break free of the pressure.

Was it also down to the Serbian crowd? I don't know. The only positive thing is that this failure is a collective one - so not a single player will have to carry the burden on his back alone.

The Serbians came to 'kick our asses' and played with total freedom. Tipsarevic excepted, they weren't afraid of disappointing the huge expectations of the crowd. They come into the battle convinced that they would win, with rage lying inside of their stomach, ready to break through every obstacle in their way.

Djoko was the most impressive of all of them. When he trashed his racquet after getting broken, he sent out a strong message: "It's out of the question to even lose a single set."

I've found the Serbians very impressive charisma- and power-wise, whereas we looked like frail sheep. As Guy Forget stated, there was not a single moment on Sunday when we dared hope to win. We didn't even believe it when we were 2-1 up after Saturday.

So let us congratulate the Serbians, who taught us a huge lesson in ambition and self belief. As far as France is concerned, I'm sure we'll regroup and come back stronger next season. There's no way we won't learn from such a tennis lesson - and with our young guys still full of passion for the Davis Cup, people should keep an eye on France in the years to come.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/pa … ticle/992/

Art · 08-12-2010 00:48:56

List of Davis Cup champions

List of Davis Cup champions and beaten finalists since 1946, after Serbia beat France 3-2 in the 2010 final in Belgrade on Sunday:

2010 Serbia beat France 3-2

2009 Spain beat Czech Republic 5-0

2008 Spain beat Argentina 3-1

2007 U.S. beat Russia 4-1

2006 Russia beat Argentina 3-2

2005 Croatia beat Slovakia 3-2

2004 Spain beat U.S. 3-2

2003 Australia beat Spain 3-1

2002 Russia beat France 3-2

2001 France beat Australia 3-2

2000 Spain beat Australia 3-1

1999 Australia beat France 3-2

1998 Sweden beat Italy 4-1

1997 Sweden beat U.S. 5-0

1996 France beat Sweden 3-2

1995 U.S. beat Russia 3-2

1994 Sweden beat Russia 4-1

1993 Germany beat Australia 4-1

1992 U.S. beat Switzerland 3-1

1991 France beat U.S. 3-1

1990 U.S. beat Australia 3-2

1989 Germany beat Sweden 3-2

1988 Germany beat Sweden 4-1

1987 Sweden beat India 5-0

1986 Australia beat Sweden 3-2

1985 Sweden beat Germany 3-2

1984 Sweden beat U.S. 4-1

1983 Australia beat Sweden 3-2

1982 U.S. beat France 4-1

1981 U.S. beat Argentina 3-1

1980 Czechoslovakia beat Italy 4-1

1979 U.S. beat Italy 5-0

1978 U.S. beat Britain 4-1

1977 Australia beat Italy 3-1

1976 Italy beat Chile 4-1

1975 Sweden beat Czechoslovakia 3-2

1974 South Africa beat India (walkover)

1973 Australia beat U.S. 5-0

1972 U.S. beat Romania 3-2

1971 U.S. beat Romania 3-2

1970 U.S. beat Germany 5-0

1969 U.S. beat Romania 5-0

1968 U.S. beat Australia 4-1

1967 Australia beat Spain 4-1

1966 Australia beat India 4-1

1965 Australia beat Spain 4-1

1964 Australia beat U.S. 3-2

1963 U.S. beat Australia 3-2

1962 Australia beat Mexico 5-0

1961 Australia beat Italy 5-0

1960 Australia beat Italy 4-1

1959 Australia beat U.S. 3-2

1958 U.S. beat Australia 3-2

1957 Australia beat U.S. 3-2

1956 Australia beat U.S. 5-0

1955 Australia beat U.S. 5-0

1954 U.S. beat Australia 3-2

1953 Australia beat U.S. 3-2

1952 Australia beat U.S. 4-1

1951 Australia beat U.S. 3-2

1950 Australia beat U.S. 4-1

1949 U.S. beat Australia 4-1

1948 U.S. beat Australia 5-0

1947 U.S. beat Australia 4-1

1946 U.S. beat Australia 5-0

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/05122010/2/t … pions.html

Sempere · 13-12-2010 21:10:02

Forget pozostanie kapitanem Francuzów

Były tenisista Guy Forget pozostanie przez kolejne dwa lata kapitanem reprezentacji Francji startującej w rozgrywkach o Puchar Davisa. Przed tygodniem jego zespół przegrał w finale z Serbią 2:3, choć w Belgradzie prowadził po dwóch dniach 2:1.

Informację o przedłużeniu umowy na dwa kolejne sezony podała Francuska Federacja Tenisowa (FFT). Współpraca ta rozpoczęła się w 1999 roku i zaowocowała czterema występami "Les Bleus" w finałach prestiżowych rozgrywek, w latach 1999, 2001-02 i 2010. Srebrną Salaterę zdobyli za drugim podejściem (2001), ale po raz dziewiąty w historii.

Nowy kontrakt oznacza, że Forget będzie nadzorował też przygotowania reprezentacji narodowej do startu w letnich igrzyskach, które w 2012 roku odbędą się w Londynie. W najbliższym sezonie Francuzi rozpoczną zmagania o Puchar Davisa od wyjazdowego spotkania z Austrią w Wiedniu, w dniach 4-7 marca.

http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/2010/ … francuzow/

Ogłoszenie

#141 08-12-2010 00:45:41

Re: Puchar Davisa 2010

#142 08-12-2010 00:46:58

Re: Puchar Davisa 2010

#143 08-12-2010 00:48:56

Re: Puchar Davisa 2010

#144 13-12-2010 21:10:02

Re: Puchar Davisa 2010

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