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Melbourne, April 10 - While Optus Australian Davis Cup captain John
Fitzgerald swore he would not stay up all night checking the internet
for updates on the Croatia v Argentina tie, he can now rest a little easier
knowing the outcome...for a few months at least.
Come September 22, Australia will once again travel to a South American
destination, most likely Buenos Aires and the chosen surface is sure to be clay.
"There’s a few nations at the moment who are at the top of the men’s game and
Argentine is one of them and we have a lot of respect for the difficulty factor
going down there," Fitzgerald said this week.
"It’s exciting though. A great challenge and we’re very pleased to be in the
semis and look forward to the challenge of this next tie." Claycourt results
leading into the French Open (starting May 28), will play a factor in team
selection for the semifinal, but more important will be the form of leading
Australian players in the build up to the US Open (August 28).
Peter Luczak, Australia's second highest ranked player (129) who featured in the
first round this year against Switzerland, was "always in the equation," said
Fitzgerald. "He went to Argentina last time we went down (2002) there as orange
boy. That was his first experience of Davis Cup level in the squad. I’m sure
he’ll be champing at the bit."
Also in the mix is Victorian Mark Philippoussis, this week ranked 166 behind
Lleyton Hewitt (12) and Wayne Arthurs (157), with Nathan Healey sitting at 177
and the star of the Kooyong tie, Chris Guccione, now 200. "That final he played
in 99 in France was, in my opinion, probably his best tennis," Fitzgerald said
of Philippoussis.
"He was outstanding there....We have a good friendship and relationship and
he knows where he’s at with his game. To his credit, he always makes himself
available. There’s no reason why he can’t get back to the level where he was
at."
Fitzgerald was pleased to have a core group of players who want to play Davis
Cup badly. "Even though some players are not in every team of four, they're
still there in spirit and are quite likely to be there the next time. It’s
great to have the same four, but you need other guys pushing. It’s great to
have a bond between five, six, seven guys who want to win this as a team."
Hewitt's campaign 'tie by tie'
By Leo Schlink
April 10, 2006
AUSTRALIA'S jubilation over reaching the Davis Cup semi-final was tempered
yesterday by Lleyton Hewitt's declaration he was not certain to play in the next
round.
Hewitt will delay a decision on the September 22-24 tie against Argentina until
mid-season.
The former world No.1 will assess his availability closer to the final grand slam of the season - the US Open in New York during August - mindful that Australia's hopes of a 29th title rest on his shoulders.
"There's a lot of tennis to be played between now and then (September)," Hewitt said yesterday.
"The tie is not until late September, so I'll sit down and evaluate it as we get a little bit closer.
"But it's been terrific being involved and it's great that we've got through to the semi-final."
The most successful player in Australia's Cup history, Hewitt has decided to contest cup matches on a tie-by-tie basis.
He missed the opening tie against Switzerland with a foot injury after a dispute with Tennis Australia involving now departed Australian Open chief Paul McNamee.
Hewitt will be unbothered by the animosity he is certain to encounter in South America.Hewitt sat out the dead rubber yesterday as Wayne Arthurs and Chris Guccione sealed a 5-0 thumping of Belarus.
Arthurs eked out a 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 win over Serguei Tarasevitch before
Guccione downed Alexandr Zotov 6-1, 6-3.
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Safety fear for grudge match
By Leo Schlink
April 11, 2006
TENNIS Australia will investigate security measures for the Davis Cup team
ahead of September's rugged semi-final clash with Argentina.
While TA is anxious to avoid inflaming relations between its players, in particular Lleyton Hewitt, and the Argentineans, it is determined to protect the team.
Hewitt was last year vilified as one of the five most hated sporting figures in Argentina, along with England football captain David Beckham.
He has clashed with most of Argentina's survivors of the sport's drug purge, including David Nalbandian, Guillermo Coria and Juan Ignacio Chela, over the past two years.
While the suspended Mariano Puerta and Guillermo Canas will not participate in the clay-court tie in five months, Argentina can still field a powerful outfit.
Chela, fined for spitting at Hewitt in the 2005 Australian Open, was the Zagreb hero for Argentina, downing Sasa Tuksar in the decisive fifth rubber in four sets.
Hewitt, Australia's most successful Davis Cup player, appears likely to play, subject to scheduling issues.
He is certain to receive a fiery welcome in Argentina, where he has never played in his career but is regarded as a demonic figure.
TA chief executive Steve Wood said he would seek to "create an environment which would placate any concerns the players had over security".
"If necessary, I would move to take measures that are appropriate to addressing any concerns the players might have," he said.
"But I do not expect there will be any issues."
Australia captain John Fitzgerald said yesterday he expects Hewitt to be available for the tie.
The former world No.1 has not played in South America since his wondrous 2001 quarter-final effort against Brazil in Florianopolis.
Hewitt won both his singles, downing then-world No.1 Gustavo Kuerten in straight sets, and doubles on clay without dropping serve.
"It's something I'll never forget," Fitzgerald said during a round of golf yesterday with his spearhead.
"For me, Lleyton's available for the semi-finals.
"I can't speak for him, but the intention is for everyone to play.
"I'm sure Lleyton is looking to play, but it is five months away," he added.
The winner of the tie between Argentina and Australia will play Russia or the US in the December 1 to 3 final.
Russia will host the US at an unspecified indoor venue.
Argentina's infamy spread wider in Zagreb last week when Nalbandian, cautioned for bumping Hewitt at the centenary Australian Open, drew the wrath of the Croat captain Ivan Ljubicic.
Ljubicic was angered during a losing doubles rubber by Nalbandian's verbal taunting of the crowd.
Ljubicic accused the Masters champion of "unforgivable" behaviour. Nalbandian later mocked members of the Croatian media, "making fun" of one man's dress sense.
Ljubicic, who later declared Argentina favourite to win the Davis Cup title, emerged fired up on the following day to crush Nalbandian in the first of the reverse singles.
But Chela, another Argentine suspended in the past for breaching drug rules,
sealed the tie with a 3-6 6-4 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) victory.
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Day 3
Australia completes whitewash
April 9, 2006
WAYNE Arthurs and Chris Guccione completed a Davis Cup whitewash for
Australia over Belarus today with victories in the two dead singles rubbers at
Kooyong.
Arthurs beat Sergui Tarasevitch 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 before Guccione outclassed
Alexandr Zotov 6-1 6-3 to give Australia a 5-0 victory over the Belarussians.
Arthurs and Paul Hanley had already secured Australia's path to a semi-final in September against either defending champion Croatia or South American arch-rival Argentina with a 3-6 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-5 win over Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov in yesterday's doubles.
Guccione edged out Mirnyi 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 7-5 3-6 6-4 and Lleyton Hewitt thrashed Voltchkov 6-2 6-1 6-2 in Friday's opening two singles matches.
Argentina led Croatia 2-1 heading into the final day of their quarter-final in Zagreb after winning the doubles rubber overnight.
Kooyong, April 8 - Australia advanced to the semifinals of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group today following a tense, five set victory to the home nation against Belarus in the doubles.
Aussie duo Paul Hanley and Wayne Arthurs pulled through the three hour, 53 minute nailbiter at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, beating Belarusians Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov 3-6 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-5.
Australia will play either Croatia or Argentina in the semis, with the two nations locked at 1-1 after singles play overnight in Zagreb.
“Whoever wins the doubles there are favourites,” said Optus Australian Davis Cup captain, John Fitzgerald. “I would prefer to play in Australia.”
In the early stages of today’s doubles in Melbourne, Mirnyi and Voltchkov appeared to be the stronger pairing, with Hanley losing his first serve in the eighth game of the opening set, aided by some loose volleys from his racquet.
Arthurs’ serve was threatened at 4-4 in the second set, which fired up the Victorians, who pushed on to break 195cm Mirnyi.
“Just really nervous, really
tight today, and I couldn't sort-of release myself," said 35-year-old Arthurs,
embracing his baby daughter Amber after the match. "I sort of dug deep and
actually thought about the 2003 final when I played so well and I sort of went
into that same zone (today) in probably the middle of the fourth set and the
whole way through the fifth set."
The two nations swapped breaks in the next two sets, with Hanley once more losing his serve in the third, and Mirnyi following suit in the fourth. With the match level, Arthurs played some of his best tennis and Hanley saved two break points mid-way through the decider.
“Fitzy always says - and Todd (Woodbridge) - they say you don’t have to play that great, you’ve just got to concentrate and work hard, and listen to what they’ve been saying,” said Hanley.
It was Voltchkov who finally snapped, leaving a Hanley forehand to sail onto the baseline at break-point in the fifth set. He went on to serve out the match, his second victory at Davis Cup level (the first coming on debut in Geneva this year when the Australians defeated Switzerland in the first round).
“I said to Paul after the match, ‘It doesn’t get any easier than that, but the good news is it doesn’t get any harder,'” Fitzgerald said. “It’s always pressurised like that, particularly the middle day. It’s about playing well at the right time, and this match today…it was just playing the right points at the right time, holding your nerve and that’s what they did. Paul held his serve at 3-4 (in the fifth). He held his nerve.”
Arthurs confirmed his availability for the September semifinal, quashing any talk of retirement. "I've got no plans to go anywhere else," said Arthurs. "If Fitzy wants me there, I'll be there. I've got a few more weeks off and then I'll get back on tour, just before the French Open, probably, sort of setting myself around the grass and plan to have a full-season on hardcourt after that and hopefully the Davis Cup will be in my plans as well.
"I think with the team we have, to get into a semi-final, I think everybody
probably wrote us off early in the piece not to go through to a semi-final, so
we've got great team spirit here and I hope we can go all the way this year."
Meanwhile, the Belarus Davis Cup team will return home knowing they came close to leading 2-1 after the second day. Both Mirnyi’s matches went to five sets, with a couple of points determining his singles loss to local Chris Guccione on day one.
“We felt like we had plenty of opportunities to win today,” Mirnyi said. “One or two points here or there.
“It is not something you write home about. Again, it’s not the end of the world and we lost to a dominant team in Davis Cup competition and we wish them luck for the further rounds. We gained a lot of experience by coming here and playing the Australian team, the atmosphere at Kooyong and the crowd, the supporters here despite the cold weather…at the end of the day it’s a tennis match. Unfortunately, we were the losers today but the sun will rise tomorrow.”
STAT BOX
Australia won a total of 160 points to Belarus’ 150.
Belarus had 16 break points and won two of them.
Australia had four break points and won three.
The Aussies served nine aces
and nine double faults.
The Belarusians served seven aces and 12 double faults.
Day 2
Doubles delivers Cup sweep
By Leo Schlink
April 9, 2006
AUSTRALIA yesterday led the charge into the Davis Cup semi-finals as Wayne
Arthurs and Paul Hanley added a theatrical twist to a 3-0 whitewash of Belarus.
John Fitzgerald's team will face defending champions Croatia or arch enemies
Argentina in the September 22-24 semi-finals after veterans Arthurs and Hanley
beat Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov at Kooyong.
Belarus's brave bid to keep alive the tie ended with a 3-6 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-5 defeat, leaving today's reverse singles a formality.
Arthurs, 35, extended his Cup career with a late flourish after struggling for much of the match as Hanley tried to keep Mirnyi and Voltchkov at bay.
The left-hander will again contemplate retirement at the end of the season, but not before contesting at least one more tie.
"I was just really nervous, really tight," Arthurs said.
"I couldn't release myself, but I dug deep today and actually thought about the 2003 final when I played so well."
The mid-match reflection was the catalyst Arthurs needed to pull the match from the fire as doubles world No3 Mirnyi and unpredictable Voltchkov threatened havoc.
"Some of these doubles matches are played on a knife's edge," Australian captain John Fitzgerald said.
"They (Belarus) are a very good doubles team. It was very tight out there and there were only a few points here or there."Australia's defence held firm under siege as Belarus were left to rue converting only two of their 16 break points. By contrast, Australia found the mark three times from four openings.
Hanley, contesting only his second tie, was outstanding and was the platform on which Australia built victory.
He revealed post-match he "didn't want to let the team down". The late bloomer certainly did not do that.
The Australians flirted with defeat in the eighth game of the deciding set when two Hanley double faults had Belarus holding a break point. In effect, it was a match point.
But the visitors could not capitalise, leaving Australia to pounce three games later when a wilting Voltchkov cracked as Hanley delivered a killer blow with an unreturnable forehand drive.
Australia must now await the outcome of the quarter-final between Croatia and Argentina in Zagreb. That tie was deadlocked at 1-all ahead of the doubles overnight.
If Argentina win, Australia face their most hostile world group foes in South America.
But, should Croatia succeed, the 28-time champions have the right to stage another home tie in the hope of reaching the December 1-3 final. Melbourne Park or Sydney's Olympic Park are the early favourites to stage a semi-final against Croatia.
Arthurs and Hanley's epic win followed singles triumphs by Chris Guccione and Lleyton Hewitt.
Australia wraps up Davis Cup tie
By Darren Walton
April 8, 2006
WAYNE Arthurs and Paul Hanley have beaten Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov
in a thrilling five-set doubles match to give Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead
over Belarus in their Davis Cup quarter-final at Kooyong.
Arthurs and Hanley prevailed 3-6 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-5 in a marathon encounter to send
Australia into its fifth cup quarter-final in eight years after Lleyton Hewitt
and Chris Guccione won yesterday's opening two singles rubbers.
Australia will play either defending champion Croatia at home or arch-rival Argentina in South America in the semi-finals in September.
Croatia and Argentina were locked at one rubber apiece after day one of their quarter-final in Zagreb.
Belarus achieved the only service break of the first set when Hanley committed a costly forehand volley error in the eighth game.
Australia hit back to break Mirnyi midway through the second to get back on level terms, only for Voltchkov to fire a sizzling forehand return winner to break Hanley in the 11th game of the third set.
Voltchkov comfortably served out the set and the Belarusian pair seemed on their way to victory when they established two break points with Arthurs serving at 2-2 and 15-40 in the fourth set.
But Australia escaped, broke Mirnyi to love the very next game and then held on to send the match into a fifth set.
Hanley staved off a break point in the eighth game of the deciding set, after dishing up consecutive double-faults, before unleashing a blistering forehand winner to grab the decisive break on Voltchkov's serve in the 11th game.
Hanley then kept his cool to serve out the match after almost four hours of tension.Melbourne April 9 - Wayne Arthurs improved his Davis Cup career record today,
but it expecting a tough road for future success should the Australians play
Argentina in the Davis Cup World Group semifinals in September.
Australia completed a 5-0 sweep against Belarus at Kooyong, with Arthurs
defeating rookie Sergei Tarasevitch 7-6 6-2 and Victorian Chris Guccione
following against junior Alexandr Zotov 6-1 6-3.
Arthurs is now 18-9 in Davis Cup matches, translating to nine singles victories
and eight doubles since his debut in 1999.
The youngest team member, Guccione, is 4-1, after singles wins in Geneva and
Melbourne this weekend, including an upset over world No.51 Max Mirnyi on Friday
in five sets. However, Arthurs said a potential encounter with Argentina in an
away tie, would present a stiff challenge to the Aussies, who were defeated by
the South Americans on grass in Sydney last year 4-1 and 5-0 in Buenos Aires in
2002.
“Not such good memories of the last two ties against Argentina,” Arthurs said.
“It’s a very tough task going down to Argentina and playing on clay. I know
Lleyton’s a pretty wanted man over in Argentina. Hopefully we can get over
there, if it does happen, and give it our best shot. Any time you go to South
America and you play on the clay, there’s a pretty hostile crowd over in Chile
and Argentina.”
Arthurs said team spirit was high in the Aussie ranks and was pleased to be part of another successful year. “I’m so fortunate to be a part of this team for the last seven years of three finals and a couple of semifinals and 13 out of my 18 ties have been at home,” he said. “Obviously a very difficult task going to Argentina, if we get over that hurdle and the US win their match, a home final would be a magnificent way to end the year.”
While Arthurs had found it hard to motivate himself for today's dead rubber against Tarasevtich, ranked 1256 in the world against Arthurs' 158 position, Guccione said he had no such problem stepping on to centre court once more.
"I was thrilled to get out there and play for my country, alive or a dead rubber," the Gooch said.
And he would also be thrilled to participate in the semifinals. "I'd love to go and support the team or be in the team. We'll see what happens. A lot can happen in four or five months."
Between now and the semifinals, three majors will pass including the French
Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. So Optus Australian Davis Cup captain
John Fitzgerald said he would not turn his thought processes to who would be in
the team until at least Wimbledon in late June.
"You can't expect to have an easy semifinal," he said. "It will be tough either
way."
Day 1
Lleyton Hewitt d Vladimir Voltchkov 6-2 6-1 6-2
Kooyong, April 7 - Australia’s No.1 Davis Cup representative Lleyton
Hewitt put his nation in the box seat today with a ruthless 6-2 6-1 6-2
demolition of Belarusian Vladimir Votchkov in the world group quarterfinal at
Kooyong.
Despite warnings that Voltchkov had few weapons to hurt him, the world No.457
was wiped out by the world No.12 in a match that lasted one hour and 31 minutes.
“It was an awkward match to go out there. Obviously I knew I was heavily
favoured to go out there and win but Davis Cup, I’ve been enough big ties and
been the underdog in big matches…it’s a different kind of pressure,” Hewitt
said.
“Tough conditions, but it was the same for all singles players today. It was a
matter of staying as positive as possible and then staying mentally tough.”
Earlier in the day, Victorian Chris Guccione set the Aussies up with an upset
victory over Belarus No.1 Max Mirnyi. 7-6(4) 3-6 7-5 3-6 6-4.
Hewitt said he had watched snatches of the match from the locker-room, but he
had tried not to get too involved. “It was a great start for us, obviously. I
think Max knew deep down that he had to win today to give them a good chance
tomorrow and it put a lot of pressure on Voltchkov going out there to play me.”
Belarus will field Mirnyi and Voltchkov in tomorrow’s doubles against Wayne
Arthurs and Paul Hanley, and Optus Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald
couldn’t be more happy with the wash up, especially the marathon performance of
Guccione. “It’s tough sitting out there for five sets when you play a young
player, you know is capable of winning and he’s on the threshold…to get over
that line is a big line to jump,” he said.
“A terrific day. He’s a confident kid, he’s just modest. He’s a few years away
yet from playing his best tennis, my message to him is to be aggressive and to
believe in himself.”
Voltchkov said it was like hitting a brick wall against Hewitt, who struck a
mere six unforced errors, but he was no fazed by fronting up for the doubles.
“Tomorrow’s another day,” he said. “You stand 90 minutes on court thinking
about things, then you have another 20 hours before tomorrow’s match.”
Australia, Russia set for semis
From correspodents in Paris
April 8, 2006
AUSTRALIA and Russia put one foot in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup
overnight after opening up 2-0 leads in their respective world group
quarter-final matches.
A gutsy effort from unheralded Chris Guccioni overshadowed the return to form of
former world number one Lleyton Hewitt in Melbourne, as the Aussies won both
opening singles rubbers against Belarus.
Guccioni battled to a 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 7-5 3-6 6-4 win over Max Mirnyi as a clinical Hewitt disposed of Vladimir Voltchkov in straight sets 6-2 6-1 6-2.
The wins at Melbourne's Kooyong put 28-times champions Australia on the brink of claiming the best-of-five tie and meeting either defending champions Croatia or Argentina in the last four next September.
It was Voltchkov's 28th birthday but Hewitt, fired up by his opponent's pre-match jibes that he lacked the weapons to hurt him, set about to crash any celebrations.
"It was a matter of concentrating in tough conditions out there today," he said. "It was a matter of being mentally tough and trying to be as positive as possible."
Russia meanwhile were buoyed by the return to form of the talismanic former world number one Marat Safin, who shrugged off a knee injury to help his team into a commanding position against France.
Safin got Russia off to a dream start after beating Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-3 6-7 (1-7) 6-1 in the first rubber.
The big-serving Safin conjured up some vintage strokes from his repertoire to down Gasquet before watching Nikolay Davydenko fight back from a set down to overcome Arnaud Clment 3-6 6-2 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
The two singles wins left the Russians needing only one victory from the weekend's remaning three rubbers, and history says that they should now advance safely to the semi-finals.On only three occasions before have France recovered from 2-0 down to win, the last occasion coming 10 years ago against Italy.
Both Gasquet and Clement started well but soon found themselves in trouble against their respective opponents Safin, now 50th in the world, and world number six Davydenko.
Safin was delighted with his performance, which he described as his best since clinching the Australian Open title in 2005.
"I'm really happy with the way I played, definitely my best since Melbourne last year," said the fiery Russian. "Since I came back from the injury I've really struggled to find my rhythm.
"But if I continue to play like I did tonight I should be able to get back into the top 10. I served really well which I haven't done for a while.
In the day's other quarter-finals, Crotia and Argentina will go into the weekend rubbers all square after sharing the opening singles.
Croatia drew first blood when Ivan Ljubicic squeezed past Agustin Calleri 6-7
(7-9) 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 6-2 before David Nalbandian swatted Mario Ancic 6-1 6-1
6-2 to level.
Agence France-Presse
Kooyong, April 7 - If Max Mirnyi saves his best tennis for Davis Cup, Australia’s Chris Guccione follows in equal measure and today won his first singles match against the Belarusian No.1 to give the host nation a 1-0 lead in the world group quarterfinal at Kooyong today.
In a match lasting three hours
and 41 minutes, the ‘Gooch’ edged past Mirnyi in a fluctuating battle to win
7/6(4) 3-6 7-5 3-6 6-4.
As predicted, the match between the two serve-volleying beanstalks was a case of
who would break serve, and at the end of the day the 20-year-old Victorian came
up with 22 aces to Mirnyi's eight.
"That was the biggest win (of my career)," said Guccione, who is now 3-1 in Davis Cup singles matches. "I couldn't be happier." Guccione is ranked No.51 to Mirnyi's No.168.
Australia's No.1 player, Lleyton Hewitt (ranked No.l2 in the world), will follow Guccione against Belarusian No.2 Vladimir Voltchkov (No.457).
In tomorrow's doubles, Mirnyi
and Voltchkov will compete against Australian doubles experts, Wayne Arthurs and
Paul Hanley.
The closest set was the first in today's opening match, and after serving his
first double fault in the tiebreak, Guccione was handed a get-out-of jail card
by the Belarusian, who also delivered his first double fault.
"I was really nervous and the wind didn’t help either," Guccione said. "It was
very swirly and gusty out there."
Guccione then belted a huge forehand over Mirnyi's head, which his opponent
knocked over the baseline. A wide Mirnyi backhand gave the hometown boy his
first set.
He then left the court for a toilet break, and appeared to momentarily
lose rhythm on his serve in the second set as he dropped his first serve with
three double faults. The 200cm left-handed redhead relinquished a second service
break late in the set, enabling Mirnyi to level the match.
Having competed for the last 13 years in Davis Cup with a 23-11 win-loss record in singles (overall 41-19), Mirnyi threatened to again advance his small nation's cause, but Guccione relaxed into the match and swung the balance in his favour in the third set.
Mirnyi responded by taking an
early break in the fourth set, and both broke early in the decider. However,
with Guccione serving first, the pressure fell to Mirnyi's considerable
shoulders and Gooch set up his first match point with a daring forehand pass.
On the final point, Mirnyi dumped a sitter into the net, handing Gooch his most
memorable victory to date.
"He served and volleyed better than I did," Mirnyi said. "He hit more aces and unreturnable serves."
Guccione said he performed well in Davis Cup because he liked representing his
country. "I’ve come through in a couple of tough matches, so I’ve just got to
transfer to when I play for myself and try to learn from that," he said.
Optus Australian assistant coach Todd Woodbridge said he believed Guccione's win
was a crucial blow to Belarus. "They probably felt they had to win that one to
have a chance to win the tie," he said, commending Guccione's potential.
"He's only getting half the potential out of his game so far," Woodbridge said.
"He’s still go so much better to get. He’s improved his volleys this week again
and I think he’s really understanding how intimidating he is and what a big
person he is out on the court."
However Mirnyi believed Belarus still had a chance to win the tie. "We’ve been
in this situation before, whether Vladimir wins we still have a chance going
into tomorrow," he said.
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Guccione sets victory course
By Darren Walton
April 7, 2006
CHRIS Guccione has continued his brilliant Davis Cup form to give Australia
the early advantage in its quarter-final tie with Belarus.
Playing inspired tennis in front of his hometown crowd in the first tie at
Kooyong since 1993, Guccione made a mockery of the world rankings to squeeze out
a thrilling 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 7-5 3-6 6-4 victory over Belarus No.1 Max Mirnyi.
At No.168 in the world, Guccione is 117 ranking places behind Mirnyi but not for the first time in his career the 20-year-old produced the goods when it mattered.
Lleyton Hewitt hammered Vladimir Voltchkov to put Australia in the box seat in the second rubber.
Hewitt took just 91 minutes to overwhelm Voltchkov 6-2 6-1 6-2 after Guccione's victory.
Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley have the opportunity to wrap up the tie tomorrow when they take on Mirnyi and Voltchkov in the doubles.
Guccione became the first Australian in 10 years to win a live fifth rubber in a Davis Cup tie when he overpowered Switzerland's George Bastle in February.
He had only won one match in three Challenger events since that watershed result and entered today's encounter as a clear underdog against a more-experienced rival boasting career wins over the likes of world No.1 Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt.
Guccione, though, has also accounted for a former world No.1, twice upsetting Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Sydney International, and it was clear from the outset he meant business against Mirnyi.
Pitting two of the biggest servers in world tennis against each other, there were no breaks in the opening set and Guccione showed great poise to recover from 4-1 down in the tiebreaker to take the set in 51 minutes.Guccione suffered a mental lapse to drop his opening service game of the second set and was broken for a second time as Mirnyi levelled the match at a set apiece.
It was Mirnyi's turn to concede an early break in the third but Guccione returned the favour when he failed to serve out the set at 5-4.
The 20-year-old shook off the disappointment to immediately break back, forcing Mirnyi into error with clever variety from the back of the court.
Guccione didn't need a third invitation to close out the set, going 2-1 up when Mirnyi meekly netted a service return.
The Belarussian achieved the only service break of the fourth set in the fourth game to push the marathon match into a fifth and deciding set.
The two traded early services breaks in the fifth before Guccione finally prevailed after three hours and 41 minutes when Mirnyi lost his nerve and serve for a second time in the set, netting a volley on match point.
Lleyton Hewitt was next on court for Australia, the world No.12 taking on the No.457 Vladimir Voltchkov.
Success for Hewitt would put Australia in control of the three-day tie as it
chases a semi-final berth against either defending champion Croatia or Argentina
in September.
Lead up
Kooyong, April 4 - World No.10 doubles player Paul Hanley
joined the Optus Australian Davis Cup team today for a practice session
partnering Wayne Arthurs against Lleyton Hewitt
and hitting partner Nathan Healey.
"It's very exciting," said Hanley, who flew in from Miami where Belarusian
Max Mirnyi won the doubles title with Jonas Bjorkman.
"I was born here in Melbourne and I was talking to Todd Woodbridge about
actually watching a match out here on centre court against I think it was Boom
Boom (Becker), I was probably eight years old, and it's very exciting.''
Hanley said he believed Mirnyi would be in great shape for the Davis Cup
quarterfinal, which starts this Friday.
"He's playing very well and I'm sure it's going to probably help him in a way
even though he's coming here late. I think that definitely helps - he's had a
lot of matches."
Hanley is expected to team with Arthurs, who said retirement plans were becoming
more of a consideration following the birth of his first child, daughter Amber,
two weeks ago.
"I'm probably going to take another month off to really enjoy the experience and
then get back on the clay just before the French Open, but more leading up into
the grass and then the hardcourt season, and the rest of the year, and I'll
reassess at the end of the year," 35-year-old Arthurs said.
"I'm 35 and retirement's sort of in the back of my mind, but I'm here and
prepared to play Davis Cup, and hopefully we get the win and that'll spur me on
to want to play in the semi-final."
World No.12 Hewitt is expected to play Belarus No.2 Vladimir Voltchkov in
Friday's first singles matches, with the second singles spot to be filled by
either Arthurs or Victorian Guccione.
"Voltchkov's not going to be an easy task, he's got a great Davis Cup record for
a guy who hasn't played a whole heap of tournaments but he's made the semis of
Wimbledon before, so it's not going to be easy match," said Hewitt. "But if I
can get through day one and whether I'm on first or second at least put us in a
good position hopefully and we'll have something to build on for the rest of the
weekend."
Optus Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said the outcome of the
tie was impossible to predict, and most likely would hang on a knife-edge.
"If it happens to be one-all after the first day the tie will probably go to the
wire, so to say either team is favourite is pulling straws I think.," Fitzgerald
said.
"This is a tight match and I think Belarus they obviously fight a lot higher
than their weight in Davis Cup competition. I mean, to beat Spain is a very
difficult thing to do, whether it's home or away. Home is probably easier, but
that said to beat a team of that stature is a very difficult thing to do, so you
can't help but have respect for this opposition.''
By Kim Trengove
Kooyong, April 3 - Optus Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald says he
has a fair idea how his team will line up for Friday's singles against Belarus
in the Davis Cup quarterfinal, but will not reveal his cards.
At an Australian practice session today, Australian No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, now
ranked No.12 in the world, worked out with rookie Chris Guccione (No.168).
Doubles pair Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley were due to practise later in the
day. "I’ve got a fair idea of what I’m going to do, but the draw will give you
that info on Thursday," Fitzgerald said.
Expecting the Belarusian team to lead with world No.51 Max Mirnyi and No.457
Vladimir Voltchkov (No.457), Fitzgerald said his main goal was to have the
Australian team players peaking by the weekend.
"If we get our guys right in the right position, we probably don’t have to worry
too much about the opposition," he said.
Fitzgerald is pleased with the way Hewitt is hitting the ball, and said the
Aussie spearhead was "keen as mustard" and pleased with the Rebound Ace surface.
He also complimented Guccione, who won the vital fifth rubber against
Switzerland in the first round.
"I think Chris is starting to understand what ability he’s got," Fitzgerald
said. "He’s a really good listener, he always tries to put into practice what
you say to him. He doesn’t always talk but he certainly listens well. He’s a
good learner and he’s learning quickly. He’s terrific to have in a team because
everybody likes him and he brings a good aura to the court. It’s a pleasure to
have him around.
"He’s a gentle guy in so many ways, if we can just get him more aggressive in a
competitive situation it will change his results."
Kooyong, April 2 - With sporting attention focussed on the Grand Prix in Melbourne today, the Optus Australian Davis Cup team is hard at practice for the forthcoming quarterfinal against Belarus, which starts this Friday.
World No.14 Lleyton Hewitt arrived last week and has been working out at Kooyong on the centre court of the famed club in Melbourne's east.
Working with him this weekend was Chris Guccione, captain John Fitzgerald and assistant captain for this tie, Todd Woodbridge.
Wayne Arthurs is also in the team together with Paul Hanley, who was defeated in the doubles semifinals of the Nasdaq-100 Open at Miami by Belarus No.1 Max Mirnyi and his partner, Jonas Bjorkman (Hanley played with Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe).
Yesterday, Mirnyi and Bjorkman won the title, defeating No.1 pair Mike and Bob Bryan. It was the second title together this season for the Swede and Belarusian doubles.
Mirnyi and his Davis Cup teammate Vladimir Voltchkov are expected to arrive in Melbourne shortly for the tie, beginning April 7 with two singles rubbers. '
Kooyong, March 30 - Australia’s No.1 player Lleyton Hewitt returned to Melbourne today for his first hit at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in readiness for the upcoming Davis Cup quarterfinal against Belarus from April 7-9.
Hewitt, who missed the first round tie against Switzerland in Geneva, said he was excited to be back in the Optus Australian Davis Cup team.
“It’s good to be back with the boys and I’m having a hit this afternoon with ‘Gooch'," the former Wimbledon and US Open champion said.
Hewitt, who returns to Australia having reached two finals in America (San Jose & Las Vegas ), and early losses at Miami and Indian Wells, said his ankle had been playing up for the first couple of weeks.
“The first couple of weeks were two stepping-stone weeks,” he said. “The next couple of weeks I didn’t play great in either of those matches. I feel like I’m extremely close to playing some really good tennis. In practice I’ve been hitting the ball great. I’ve just got to go out there and play on auto pilot like you do when you’re top two or three in the world.”
Hewitt said he was not a close friend of Max Mirnyi, who is Belarus’ No.1 player and with whom the South Australian won the US Open doubles in 2000.
“We never really spent a whole heap of time together,” he said. “The US Open was a once off, he didn’t have a partner and I wasn’t planning on playing doubles and he asked me last minute. We ended up beating some good name players to win the title.”
Hewitt said he was amazed Belarus had made it to the quarterfinals of Davis Cup, following a shock first round upset over Spain.
“Especially considering (Vladimir) Voltchkov. It’s a hell of a effort. The guy's hardly played a match except Davis Cup ties for the last year and a half and he can go out and beat David Ferrer, who is No. 10 in the world, in straight sets. That says a lot about where their passion lies. It’s not going to be an easy tie at all.”
Hewitt’s fellow Optus Australian Davis Cup teammates are Chris Guccione, Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley, who is still competing in the doubles at the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami with Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe.
Hewitt, who said it had felt ‘really weird’ not competing in Geneva, said he believed Guccione was in a stronger position to claim the No.2 singles spot.
“He’s probably favourite right at the moment, with Wayne having a baby and that. Not having those matches under his belt, whereas Gooch has been out there, he’s been playing quallies the last few weeks and he’s been playing tough matches against guys on the tour.”
Hewitt said he believed the Optus Australian Davis Cup team had a good chance of going all the way in 2006.
“I feel we’ve got a good crack at it this year,” he said. “If things all fall right. If we can get through this one and Croatia maybe gets through and maybe get another home tie against them, it really opens up the doors and hopefully tennis can be put in another strong position in Australia again.”
Melbourne, March 27 - Optus Australian Davis Cup Captain John Fitzgerald today announced the Team to contest the tough quarterfinal tie against Belarus on hardcourt at the historic Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club from 7-9 April.
Australia’s No.1 Lleyton Hewitt (world ranked 14) will return to spearhead the campaign, supported by first-round hero Chris Guccione (168), Wayne Arthurs (158) and Paul Hanley (No. 10 in doubles).
New South Wales’ Nathan Healey (180), who reached the third round at this year’s Australian Open – winning a set off world No.7 Nikolay Davydenko in the process – will join the squad as hitting partner for the first time.
Davis Cup and Grand Slam champion Todd Woodbridge will again work with Fitzgerald in a support role with the team.
"I was so proud of all the guys in Switzerland, they all had a big role to play and really stepped up and did the job for us," said Fitzgerald. "Of course it will be great to have Lleyton back in the team, which will strengthen the mix and give us some more options.
"We can’t underestimate the strength of the team from Belarus. Both Mirnyi and Voltchkov are experienced Davis Cup campaigners, and of course are also an excellent doubles pair. I’ve always said you can’t rely on rankings in Davis Cup, and any nation that can knock out Spain must be treated with a lot of respect," continued Fitzgerald.
Lleyton Hewitt will make his 21st Davis Cup appearance for
Australia in the quarterfinal tie against Belarus. It will also be the first
time he has played Davis Cup at Kooyong. Hewitt leads Mirnyi in their
head-to-head meetings 3-2, and won their two most recent meetings: at Queens
Club and Sydney, both in 2005. The former world No.1-ranked Aussie had a strong
US hardcourt season early in 2006, reaching finals at San Jose and Las Vegas.
Wayne Arthurs was the most experienced member of the Optus
Australian Davis Cup team in the first-round tie against Switzerland in Geneva
in February. He and Paul Hanley won their doubles rubber 7-6(6) 6-4 4-6 7-6(5)
over Yves Allegro and Stanislas Wawrinka. Arthurs holds a 16-9 win-loss record
in Davis Cup, with a 7-5 tally in doubles. Max Mirnyi has defeated Arthurs in
their only two encounters, at Sydney in 2002 and Wimbledon in 2001.
Chris Guccione was the hero of the first round tie in Geneva
when he overcame Swiss Davis Cup stalwart George Bastl in a live fifth rubber,
clinching the tie for Australia, and achieving his fastest ever serve – 248km/h.
The towering leftie also recorded impressive results on clay at the 2005 French
Open, successfully negotiating qualifying and advancing to the second round by
defeating Santiago Ventura of Spain (ranked 69). During the Australian summer
Guccione repeated his 2004 performance at the Medibank International, defeating
Juan Carlos Ferrero in the first round for the second time in three years.
Paul Hanley enjoyed a dream Davis Cup debut when he partnered
Wayne Arthurs to win the first round doubles rubber against Switzerland in
February. Hanley finished 2005 in the top 15 in doubles for the third straight
season, and last year he won 52 matches with four different partners, including
two titles with Arthurs. The pair finished in the No.7 spot in the ATP doubles
race and qualified for the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai. Over the Australian
summer Hanley reached the doubles final of the Next Generation Adelaide
International, and the semifinals of the Australian Open, where, with partner
Kevin Ullyett, they lost to eventual winners Bob and Mike Bryan. Hanley is the
95th player to represent Australia in Davis Cup.
Nathan Healey has been playing on the Kia Pro Circuit over the
past few weeks, reaching the final at the Kia International in Sydney and the
semi in Burnie. Healey gained much attention during the Australian Open, where
he reached the third round, managing to take a set off top ten player Nikolay
Davydenko before losing 2-6 7-5 4-6 5-7.
This is the first meeting between Australia and Belarus, a nation which has been playing Davis Cup for just 13 years and part of the World Group for only three years. After a first round win over tennis powerhouse Spain, they promise to be a formidable opponent. Belarus is yet to name their team, but it is likely it will be headed by Max Mirnyi (55) and Vladimir Voltchkov (549).
Mirnyi and Voltchkov both started their Davis Cup representation 12 years ago in 1994, and have played doubles since making their debut. Since that time they have won 15 of their 21 rubbers, most recently over Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.
Max Mirnyi had an outstanding 2005, finishing in the top 50 for singles, and top 15 for doubles for the sixth straight year. He reached two ATP finals, two semifinals and three quarterfinals, and won 35 matches, the second-most in a 12 month period. In doubles he won five of eight finals, including Roland Garros and AMS Miami, Hamburg, Cincinnati (with Jonas Bjorkman). 2006 started with a semi in Sydney, where he lost to Hewitt, and he achieved his best results on clay in Barcelona and Milan.
Vladimir Voltchkov will turn 28 on April 7, the first day of the tie in Australia. Voltchkov has been ranked as high as 25 (April 2001), but his singles results have slipped dramatically and he is currently ranked 549. He was dubbed 'The Vladiator' at Wimbledon in 2000, where he reached the semifinals and told the world’s media he had seen the Russell Crowe movie ‘Gladiator’ four times.
Voltchkov has a 39-23 Davis Cup win-loss record. In the first round tie against Spain he defeated world No.11 David Ferrer 6-3 6-4 6-3 in another example of world rankings not necessarily applying in Davis Cup.