Post by Lisa on Nov 19, 2006 17:39:31 GMT
Russia chooses fast surface for the Final
Over the past five years, the Russians have proved capable of playing on all sorts of different surfaces, and their versatility means the choice of a synthetic surface for the final is not solely to thwart the visitors. Marat Safin has won Masters Series titles indoors, Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny can play on anything, and Dmitry Tursunov – the hero last weekend on supposedly his least favourite surface – will be delighted with anything fast.
But no-one should assume Russia’s second Davis Cup by BNP Paribas title is already half-won. In the past 15 months Argentina has beaten Australia on the grass of Sydney and the reigning Davis Cup champions Croatia on a quick indoor court in Zagreb. The top-ranked player scheduled to appear in the final, David Nalbandian, can play on anything, and assuming Argentina’s captain Alberto Mancini picks the same squad for the third tie running, he will have Agustin Calleri and Juan-Ignacio Chela who have both posted good results on hard courts. Only Jose Acasuso looks in danger of losing his singles berth, yet he could well partner Nalbandian in the doubles.
The surface alone won't win you the tie - Alberto Mancini
Russia is certainly the favourite, but a comment from Mancini’s playing days seems worth digging up. Known as a claycourt specialist, he beat Chris Bailey in a Davis Cup tie away to Great Britain in Eastbourne, and was asked afterwards whether he was surprised to have beaten a grasscourt specialist on grass.
“No,” replied the calm Mancini, “the home team chooses the surface to give it an advantage, but it still has to do the work. No-one should think the surface will win a tie for you, you still have to win the matches.”
Llet nobody assume the surface will win the title for Russia. The Russian players have to do that for themselves, and their opponents are well capable of spoiling the party.
Interesting choice of surface.. but most players are very versatile so I believe this will prove a very entertaining final !
Over the past five years, the Russians have proved capable of playing on all sorts of different surfaces, and their versatility means the choice of a synthetic surface for the final is not solely to thwart the visitors. Marat Safin has won Masters Series titles indoors, Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny can play on anything, and Dmitry Tursunov – the hero last weekend on supposedly his least favourite surface – will be delighted with anything fast.
But no-one should assume Russia’s second Davis Cup by BNP Paribas title is already half-won. In the past 15 months Argentina has beaten Australia on the grass of Sydney and the reigning Davis Cup champions Croatia on a quick indoor court in Zagreb. The top-ranked player scheduled to appear in the final, David Nalbandian, can play on anything, and assuming Argentina’s captain Alberto Mancini picks the same squad for the third tie running, he will have Agustin Calleri and Juan-Ignacio Chela who have both posted good results on hard courts. Only Jose Acasuso looks in danger of losing his singles berth, yet he could well partner Nalbandian in the doubles.
The surface alone won't win you the tie - Alberto Mancini
Russia is certainly the favourite, but a comment from Mancini’s playing days seems worth digging up. Known as a claycourt specialist, he beat Chris Bailey in a Davis Cup tie away to Great Britain in Eastbourne, and was asked afterwards whether he was surprised to have beaten a grasscourt specialist on grass.
“No,” replied the calm Mancini, “the home team chooses the surface to give it an advantage, but it still has to do the work. No-one should think the surface will win a tie for you, you still have to win the matches.”
Llet nobody assume the surface will win the title for Russia. The Russian players have to do that for themselves, and their opponents are well capable of spoiling the party.
Interesting choice of surface.. but most players are very versatile so I believe this will prove a very entertaining final !