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France rules, India back in top group
Source: Agencies |
September 20, 2010, Monday
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GILLES Simon beat Eduardo Schwank 7-6 (5), 6-7 (6), 6-3 as France cruised into a 4-0 lead against Argentina in Lyon in their Davis Cup semifinal.
With a place in the final already secured after victory in Saturday's doubles gave the French an unassailable 3-0 lead, captain Guy Forget rested Gael Monfils for yesterday's reverse singles and chose Simon instead.
Simon did not face a single break point and closed out the match on serve after breaking Schwank's serve for the first time in the eighth game of the final set.
France could complete a 5-0 rout if Arnaud Clement beats Horacio Zeballos in the final rubber later.
France plays either the Czech Republic or Serbia in the December 3-5 final. The Czechs were leading that semifinal 2-1 before yesterday's reverse singles.
"We have such a talented team, and we can't be satisfied with a runner-up place. We want to win (the trophy)," Forget said on Saturday.
In Chennai, India returned to the Davis Cup world group yesterday after staging a remarkable comeback from 0-2 down on the opening day to beat Brazil in the playoff tie.
Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna won the reverse singles against higher ranked opponents, to clinch the tie in India's favor. Both players had lost their singles matches in five sets on Friday.
Doubles specialists Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi had made it 1-2 for the hosts on Saturday, beating Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares.
Reverse singles
Yesterday, India drew level when Thomaz Bellucci, ranked 27th in the world, conceded the first of the reverse singles to 113th-ranked Devvarman midway through the second set. Devvarman was leading 7-6 (3), 4-0 when Bellucci retired due to dehydration in the searing Chennai heat.
Ranked 479th, Bopanna then defeated world No. 75 Ricardo Mello 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 to make the tie 3-2 for India.
"After the heartbreak we had on Friday, losing those two marathons ... to turn it around against Brazil and win today, it takes five lionhearts to do that. We are very proud of what we achieved," the 36-year old Bhupathi told a news conference.
"I keep saying that in Davis Cup you throw the rankings out of the window. It's all about the team. We are back in the world group where we deserve to be," Paes, who made his Davis Cup debut 21 years ago against Japan, said.
In Cairns, Australia's Peter Luczak and Belgium's Olivier Rochus remain locked at 4-4 in the first set after rain stopped play in the reverse singles on the third day of their Davis Cup tie.
Australia leads 2-1 and needs to win to regain a place in the world group for the first time since 2007.
Only 51 minutes of play was possible yesterday before rain forced players off the court. The tie will resume this morning, weather permitting.
Earlier, Australian No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt withdrew from the tie with a wrist injury after teaming with Paul Hanley to win Saturday's doubles. The 36th-ranked Hewitt is expected to be sidelined for three weeks.
With a place in the final already secured after victory in Saturday's doubles gave the French an unassailable 3-0 lead, captain Guy Forget rested Gael Monfils for yesterday's reverse singles and chose Simon instead.
Simon did not face a single break point and closed out the match on serve after breaking Schwank's serve for the first time in the eighth game of the final set.
France could complete a 5-0 rout if Arnaud Clement beats Horacio Zeballos in the final rubber later.
France plays either the Czech Republic or Serbia in the December 3-5 final. The Czechs were leading that semifinal 2-1 before yesterday's reverse singles.
"We have such a talented team, and we can't be satisfied with a runner-up place. We want to win (the trophy)," Forget said on Saturday.
In Chennai, India returned to the Davis Cup world group yesterday after staging a remarkable comeback from 0-2 down on the opening day to beat Brazil in the playoff tie.
Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna won the reverse singles against higher ranked opponents, to clinch the tie in India's favor. Both players had lost their singles matches in five sets on Friday.
Doubles specialists Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi had made it 1-2 for the hosts on Saturday, beating Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares.
Reverse singles
Yesterday, India drew level when Thomaz Bellucci, ranked 27th in the world, conceded the first of the reverse singles to 113th-ranked Devvarman midway through the second set. Devvarman was leading 7-6 (3), 4-0 when Bellucci retired due to dehydration in the searing Chennai heat.
Ranked 479th, Bopanna then defeated world No. 75 Ricardo Mello 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 to make the tie 3-2 for India.
"After the heartbreak we had on Friday, losing those two marathons ... to turn it around against Brazil and win today, it takes five lionhearts to do that. We are very proud of what we achieved," the 36-year old Bhupathi told a news conference.
"I keep saying that in Davis Cup you throw the rankings out of the window. It's all about the team. We are back in the world group where we deserve to be," Paes, who made his Davis Cup debut 21 years ago against Japan, said.
In Cairns, Australia's Peter Luczak and Belgium's Olivier Rochus remain locked at 4-4 in the first set after rain stopped play in the reverse singles on the third day of their Davis Cup tie.
Australia leads 2-1 and needs to win to regain a place in the world group for the first time since 2007.
Only 51 minutes of play was possible yesterday before rain forced players off the court. The tie will resume this morning, weather permitting.
Earlier, Australian No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt withdrew from the tie with a wrist injury after teaming with Paul Hanley to win Saturday's doubles. The 36th-ranked Hewitt is expected to be sidelined for three weeks.
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