…and Czech tennis is better than it has ever been – don’t tell Martina Navratilova…
Less than a week after Andy Murray won his first Grand Slam title at the 2012 U.S. Open…it was semifinal Davis Cup weekend in both Spain and Argentina: Spain vs. United States and Argentina vs. Czech Republic.
Despite a grueling road the semifinals at the U.S. Open, David Ferrer traveled well and was ready for both Isner and Querrey in Spain. In Gijon, Ferrer beat Querrey in 4-sets on Day-1 of the Tie, while Nicolas Almagro took-out John Isner in five-sets. The Bryan Brothers earned a point for the United States with a four-set win over Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez on Saturday; but David Ferrer sealed the deal with an easy four-set win over John Isner in the first match on Sunday.
HIGHLIGHTS ON THE CLAY:
In Argentina – it was all Tomas Berdych (and Juan Martin del Potro’s wrist). Juan won the first match of the weekend in three sets over Radek Stepanek, while it took Berdych five sets to defeat Juan Monaco. Berdych and Stepanek (US Open Doubles Finalist) easily defeated Carlos Berlocq and Eduardo Schwank on Saturday, before Juan Martin del Potro’s wrist flared-up (dropped-out) and Tomas Berdych anihilated Carlos Berlocq in three sets on Sunday.
The 2012 Davis Cup Final will be played the weekend of 16 November – 18 November in the Czech Republic…most likely NOT on clay. That said, this is a banner year for the Czech Republic, seeing as the ladies are also playing for the Fed Cup title 3 November – 4 November in Prague at the O2 Arena versus Ana Ivanovic and Team Serbia.
In other action over the weekend, congrats to Romanian Irina-Camellia Begu who defeated Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the Tashkent, Uzbekistan Final. In Quebec, Belgium’s unseeded Kirsten Flipkens was able to wrestle away the Bell Challenge trophy from the 8th seeded Lucie Hradecka (surprise, from the Czech Republic)!
This week, the ladies are in Guangzhou, China and Seoul, Korea – while the guys are in St. Petersburg, Russia and Metz, France…congrats to James Blake on his first round win over Albano Olivetti!
Let’s talk next Monday, friends!
