Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber/Philipp Petzschner (GER) 7-6 7-5 6-4 | Cze Republic lead Germany 2-1
Davis Cup 2016
- Thread starter britbox
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Bryan Bros (USA) bt Lleyton Hewitt/John Peers (Aus) 6-3 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-3 in a Battle Royale | USA leads 2-1
Going to be tough for Australia to turn this around. I'd rather Lleyton was playing Isner than Sam Groth... but Lleyton won't pull that card out.
Moxie
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You've gotta hand it to Berdych/Stepanek. They've done very well as a two-man team for Czech Rep. They won in 2012 (Spain) and 2013 (Serbia) as the only two players, at least in the final. Surprising loss by Serbia today to a couple of guys ranked in the 200s.
USA get the win with John Isner defeating Bernard Tomic 6-4 6-4 5-7 7-6 (7-4) to give his team an unbeatable lead on the Kooyong grass.
Moxie
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That's the Aussies eating their own, much like the Argentines in the days of the Nalbandian/DelPotro squabbles. Anyone with eyes could see that Nick was hampered with injury last week at Dubai. Tomic had his chance at Isner and didn't get it done. They had home court advantage, and the nostalgia of Kooyong on top of it. It's puny of Bernie to complain that Nick wasn't there to save them, and goes some way to explain why he is a failed prodigy. I think it's awful that he came out with that.
EdbergsGhost
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That's one way of looking at the comment. It could be the Australian players, knowing the condition of their own better than you or I, Tomic may have voiced what the others were thinking.
Zverev did not handle the pressure ... easy win for Rosol .. "schade fur Sascha" ... he is too young, need to play lot of hard matches ..
Agreed, needs to get battle hardened. I thought he'd beat Rosol though... I guess he's not quite there yet. Maybe he was also feeling the Berdych match in his legs too. Tomas retired today.
Germany 2 Czech Republic 3
Final Day Matches
Kohlschreiber (Ger) bt Berdych (Cze) 6-3 7-5 Ret
Rosol (Cze) bt Zverev (Ger) 6-2 6-3 6-1
Great Britain 3 Japan 1
Andy Murray survives a scare, blowing a 2 set lead before wrapping up the fifth set decider against Kei Nishikori. 7-5 7-6(6) 3-6 4-6 6-3
Andy Murray survives a scare, blowing a 2 set lead before wrapping up the fifth set decider against Kei Nishikori. 7-5 7-6(6) 3-6 4-6 6-3
Serbia 3 Kazakhstan 2
Serbia come back from 2-1 down and looking in big trouble.
Novak Djokovic won a hard fought match with Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-3 6-2
and Viktor Triocki won the deciding rubber with Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-2 6-3 6-4
Serbia come back from 2-1 down and looking in big trouble.
Novak Djokovic won a hard fought match with Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-3 6-2
and Viktor Triocki won the deciding rubber with Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-2 6-3 6-4
Australia 1 USA 3
Tomic lost to Isner to seal Australia's fate and trigger a spat between Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios.
Italy 5 Switzerland 0
Switzerland outclassed without their big guns, Federer and Wawrinka.
Poland 2 Argentina 3
Renzo Olivo brings it home for Argentina in the deciding rubber.
France 5 Canada 0
France complete the whitewash on the final day.
Belgium 2 Croatia 3
Youngster Borna Coric wins the deciding frame for Croatia after David Goffin took it the distance by defeating Marin Cilic.
Tomic lost to Isner to seal Australia's fate and trigger a spat between Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios.
Italy 5 Switzerland 0
Switzerland outclassed without their big guns, Federer and Wawrinka.
Poland 2 Argentina 3
Renzo Olivo brings it home for Argentina in the deciding rubber.
France 5 Canada 0
France complete the whitewash on the final day.
Belgium 2 Croatia 3
Youngster Borna Coric wins the deciding frame for Croatia after David Goffin took it the distance by defeating Marin Cilic.
I really admire both Berdych and Stepanek for their dedication to DC. Rosol helped today, but for years it had been a 2-man show. Too bad that Berdych had to retire, I didn't follow it so I don't know what the problem is. Hopefully nothing serious.
As for Kazakhstan's doubles team, they played really well. Zimonjic is really getting old and not having much success lately and Nole's been off this whole weekend. The other two guys played really well, you could tell that they did this and beat better double teams in DC before.
I am also pretty sure that the players know each other's condition, especially the ones from the same country. Still Bernie should have kept his mouth shut, as this is something that teammates really should not air out in public.
I like Davis Cup competition, but the way how it is formatted now, I really don't think it is player friendly. Whoever feels that they can't play, or will jeopardize their regular ATP season, should not play. Either you play because you can and want to play for your country or you don't. Some of these players are under pressure from their country and federations and but they should be able to make a decision for themselves. So Tomic played this weekend in Australia and is now tired/hurt and has to fly thousands of miles to IW to play a Masters 1000 in a matter of days? A bit too much, if you ask me. The fact that they lost probably made his mood even crappier. I can understand him.
Moxie
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I thought Berdych would get it done today. I also hope he's not badly injured, and good on Rosol for stepping up. For sure, Novak has been "off" this weekend. Couldn't believe it took him 5 sets to finish today, though I didn't see any. I did see some of Murray/Nishikori, though and that was a great match. Also thought it was a big step for Coric to bring his team through.
I honestly felt bad for Kukushkin at the end today. He fought so well both days, hit with freedom and confidence. I was surprised that they didn't pick Golubev for the deciding tie today. He was so good yesterday in doubles and could have handled the pressure better than Nedovyesov, I thought.
Maybe struggling and fighting Nole helped Viktor to straighten his head. His attitude on the court was so much better today.
Maybe struggling and fighting Nole helped Viktor to straighten his head. His attitude on the court was so much better today.
Moxie
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I agree with you that Bernie shouldn't have aired his displeasure in public. I don't see what good ever comes of it.
There's forever the complaint that the the DC format is a burden on players. I don't disagree. It adds travel, surface changes and extra play in the middle of an already crowded calendar. But I, too, like DC, and I think it gives lesser players a chance to shine. And you know my theory of the Davis Cup bump, which I believe even Novak benefitted from. Shall we revive the conversation about how the format might be revised to make it more player-friendly? I'd love to hear peoples' ideas.
