Articles day two
|
||
|
PERTH, 10 February - Ecuador is still in with a chance of a quarterfinal berth in the 2001 Davis Cup by NEC after staging a remarkable comeback in the doubles rubber at Perth's Royal Kings Park on Saturday. With Australia up two rubbers to nil, Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs led 5-3, 40-0 in the fifth set against Giovanni and Nicolas Lapentti, but eventually fell 62 26 16 76[1] 1210. "You don't often see matches turn around like that," said Australian captain John Fitzgerald. "Even towards the end I was confident we were going to win it." "We played a great match," said Nicolas Lapentti. "Giovanni hung tough - he was the least experienced of all on the court. He was tough mentally and he's got a great future." Lleyton Hewitt and Nicolas Lapentti do battle first up on Sunday, followed by Patrick Rafter and Giovanni Lapentti. "Australia still has the advantage," added Nicolas Lapentti. "Lleyton's going to be 100 per cent, maybe I'll be 80, 90 per cent. I'm happy to get through this doubles and look forward to tomorrow." |
10 February, 2001 , PERTH , Royal Kings Park
| Double Act loses it shine Just as this weekend's Western Australian election was tipped to be a desperately close contest, Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs yesterday failed to confirm Australia's 3-0 Davis Cup majority against Ecuador at Royal Kings Park, losing an epic five-set doubles match to the Lapentti brothers to push the first-round tie into a final day. On Friday, the vote for Australia as the superior grasscourt nation was unanimous, with both Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt winning in straight sets against the Lapenttis, Nicolas and the younger Giovanni. Still, Ecuador's despondent but not defeated captain, Raul Antonio Viver, had predicted an improved performance in the doubles from the family team that had upset Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski on the same unfamiliar surface during last year's qualifying tie against Britain at Wimbledon. And so it was. Woodbridge had not lost a Davis Cup doubles match since 1994, compiling a 12-rubber run with Mark Woodforde that he failed to carry-over into the fledgling partnership with Wayne Arthurs. The Lapenttis won 6-2, 2-6, 1-6, 7-6 (7-1), 12-10. Nicolas Lapentti leads off this morning against Hewitt, his opposite No.1, with Rafter to follow against Giovanni. Australia is still favored to advance to a likely away quarter-final against Brazil, but its doubles dilemma in the wake of Woodbridge's retirement still has not been resolved.
What has seemed like a honeymoon introduction for new captain John Fitzgerald and coach Wally Masur has not quite worked out that way. Despite Rafter and Hewitt's impressive singles form, Fitzgerald may not have found the right answer to his doubles question in the experimental Woodbridge-Arthurs partnership. It made its tournament debut encouragingly enough with a finals appearance in Adelaide last month and, in the wake of Mark Woodforde's retirement, is a possible Plan B should Mark Philippoussis choose not to complete a versatile singles "A" squad replete with various doubles options. Yesterday's effort was patchy in heat so extreme that one elderly woman failed to make it until the first change of ends before being carried out for medical attention. A reduced crowd sought out what little shade they could, and Rafter and Hewitt left their sauna-like courtside seats for a spell after the first two sets were split, in case they were required for meaningful work today. Indeed, the Australians had booked a 3.30pm tee time for a group game of golf, but their chances of making it were always doubtful once the Lapenttis burst to a one-set lead in far more positive fashion than either could manage in singles losses the previous day, and then held their own in the early stages of the second. Gradually, the Australians' serving improved, and the match turned in their favor in the sixth game when Nicolas Lapentti was broken on the back of a string of intelligent Woodbridge returns. Two games later, a Giovanni double fault at 0-40 gave Australia the set and the momentum. But only briefly.
Woodbridge had to save four break chances in the third set, but Nicolas was broken twice in the first six games. The resistance did not wilt in the fourth, however, and the Lapenttis dominated the tiebreak to force a decider. It should have been over when Woodbridge served for the match at 5-3 and led 0-40, but the Ecuadorians saved three match points and then grabbed the advantage 12 games later, breaking Woodbridge before Nicolas served out the match to 30. "We're still here and we're still fighting," the elder Lapentti said later. Indeed. |
Ecuador Stuns Australia with Doubles Victory
Perth, Feb. 10 (Davis Cup Site)
Ecuador has come back from the brink of defeat to keep the first round Davis
Cup by NEC tie alive going into the final day with the reverse singles.
Nicolas and Giovanni Lapentti rallied back from two sets to one down and then
three match points down in the fifth set to defeat Australia with Wayne
Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge 6-2, 2-6, 1-6, 7-6(7/1), 12-10.
Going into the doubles Australia had a 2-0 lead, having won the opening day's
singles, but so often the doubles rubber is regarded as the crucial match
over the three days. The Ecuadorian combination showed plenty of courage
during the 3 hour 53 minute match to keep things open for the final day.
"That was the one that got away," exclaimed Australian Davis Cup
captain John
Fitzgerald. "You don't often see matches turnaround like that. Till the end
I
was confident we'd win it. The boys played well even though their standard
dropped a little a couple of times, but I am still proud of the way they
played. All credit must go to Nicolas and Giovanni, they played very
courageous tennis."
The Lapentti brothers started off very well by breaking Woodbridge's serve in
the third game of the match and then two games later handed the same
treatment to Wayne Arthurs, but from 2-2 in the second set the Ecuadorians
suffered a bit of a letdown and the Aussies charged back into contention,
winning the second and third sets for the loss of just three games.
Unfortunately they played a terrible fourth set tiebreak and managed to pick
up just one point. Even so Arthurs and Woodbridge were looking confident with
the way they were hitting the ball and they opened up a 3-0 lead in the
deciding set by breaking Nicolas Lapentti in the second game.
The good work was undone in the fifth game when Woodbridge's serve was
broken. But the Australians had another chance, a huge opportunity when they
broke Giovanni to lead 5-3. Woodbridge was serving for the match and a place
in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup. It was a game that should never have
been lost. He had 40/0, three match points. However the Lapenttis did come up
with some great returns that had heavy topspin.
"They had a tough time coming out of the letdown," said Raul Viver,
the
Ecuadorian captain. "I had to keep telling them to come out of it, they had
to hold serve. Then, when they did, we started to believe they could win the
match."
Giovanni showed much maturity as he withstood the pressure from Arthurs and
Woodbridge and kept coming up with great shots. He had become the backbone of
the visiting team.
The set went with serve till the 21st game. With Woodbridge serving, he faced
two break points, one was saved but on the second a topspin lob from Nicolas
landed on the line. Ecuador was serving for the match, Nicolas was steering
the match with his serve. He opened the game with big serves, and on match
point, a backhand from Arthurs found the middle of the net.
"Together it's our best result," said Nicolas. "We haven't played
too much
together, so, no doubt, it's the most important one for us. We have never
played together in the World Group, and also the way it finished, 12-10 in
the fifth, it was good."
So with the reverse singles still alive, Lleyton Hewitt will face Nicolas
Lapentti, their only meeting was in the final of Lyon in 1999, won by the
Ecuadorian, and then Patrick Rafter takes on Giovanni Lapentti, which is a
first time meeting.
"Lots has changed since then," said Nicolas. "It is very
different match and
it's tough to compare playing a tour match to Davis Cup. Lleyton has proved
he plays well for his country and me too. We will both battle. He will be
100% and I will be 89%. It will be a different match to the one against Pat,
Lleyton will play from the baseline and that means I can play more my
game."
If the series goes down to the last match, it will not be a new situation for
Giovanni because he played and won the decider against Great Britain last
July on grass at Wimbledon which allowed Ecuador to enter the Davis Cup World
Group.
"I'm confident we are going to win this tie, but you can't take anything
for
granted," said Fitzgerald.
END--http://www.daviscup.org/daviscup.htm
Ecuador win cup doubles
From our wire services
10 February 01 (FoxSports-AUS)
AUSTRALIA need a singles victory tomorrow to advance to the Davis Cup quarter
finals after Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs lost a marathon five-set
doubles match to Ecuador at Royal Kings Park in Perth today.
The Ecuadorians overcame a two sets to one deficit and scorching 37C heat to
claim the match 6-2 2-6 1-6 7-6 (7-1) 12-10.
After squandering three match points on Woodbridge's serve at 5-3 in the
fifth set, Australia traded service games until 10-10 when Woodbridge was
broken.
Nicolas Lapentti then served Ecuador to victory to keep the rubber alive.
At times the crowd seeking refuge from the heat under the stands matched
those still braving their seats as the match entered the fourth hour.
Australia hold a 2-1 lead after convincing victories to Pat Rafter and
Lleyton Hewitt in the singles on day one.
If Rafter or Hewitt can wrap up the tie tomorrow, Australia faces a likely
tough quarter final against Brazil.
Brazil's team of world No.1 Gustavo Kuerten and Fernando Melegini both won
their singles rubbers in the tie against Morocco in Rio this weekend and are
a doubles victory away from booking a return meeting with the Australians who
handed them a 5-0 spanking in Brisbane last July.
The Australians were outgunned by the pumped-up Ecuadorians in the first set.
After Arthurs won his first service game, the Ecuadorians claimed the next
five and looked like closing out the set before Woodbridge delayed the
inevitable with a service victory.
With Arthurs looking lost in the doubles format and struggling with his
returns and Woodbridge's serve unconvincing, the Ecuadorians took the first
6-2 and looked capable of an upset
But Arthurs soon found his feet and began to hit his ground strokes, his
backhand in particular troubled the visitors, and the locals stormed through
the second set 6-2.
That signalled a temporary end to the Lapenttis' resistance and the third set
went quickly Australia's way, 6-1.
But Ecuador were not ready to concede defeat and the two sides traded service
games in an engrossing fourth set to set up a tiebreak.
Eight points later and the rubber was alive again, tied at two sets apiece.
Then in a final set that lasted 83 minutes, the Lapenttis ensured Australia
will use at least one of its top line singles players tomorrow to ensure the
tie is won.
Australia's captain John Fitzgerald said he retained confidence his side
could win the tie, but would not be taking tomorrow's reverse singles lightly.
"These guys are quality players, they proved that today," he said.
"They have a lot of courage, they hung in there and their confidence grew
as
the match wore on."
Lleyton Hewitt will start proceedings when he meets Nicolas Lapentti and
Fitzgerald predicted the Adelaide teenager would sew up the tie.
END--http://www.foxsports.com.au/
Ecuador upset Australia in epic doubles
PERTH, Australia, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Nicolas and Giovanni Lapentti beat Wayne
Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge in an epic doubles match on Saturday to keep
alive Ecuador's slim hopes of beating Australia in their world group first
round Davis Cup tie.
The Lapentti brothers saved three match points before clinching victory 6-2
2-6 1-6 7-6 12-10 to prevent Australia from taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in
the best-of-five tie.
"We kept fighting, we won that tiebreak in the fourth and in the end it was
just who was hanging in the toughest," Nicolas said.
Australia are still strong favourites to win the tie and advance to a second
round meeting with either Brazil or Morocco in April.
They lead 2-1 after winning Friday's two singles matches and need to win just
one of Sunday's two reverse singles to claim victory.
But Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said his players knew they
would have to play well to secure the victory.
"These guys are quality players, they proved that today," Fitzgerald
said.
"They have a lot of courage, they hung in there and their confidence grew
as
the match wore on."
Giovanni will take on Patrick Rafter in Sunday's first reverse singles before
his older brother Nicolas faces Lleyton Hewitt in the final match.
"I'm confident we will win this game, but you can't take anything for
granted," Fitzgerald said.
"You've got to go out and do the job on the day."
Australia went into Saturday's doubles match as big favourites but knew they
were in for a long day in the 37C heat after the Ecuadorians comfortably took
the first set.
But the Australians regained control, easily winning the next two, before
Ecuador, who made the world group for the first time by beating Britain at
Wimbledon last year, won the fourth in a tiebreak.
Woodbridge served for the match at 5-3 in the fifth and held three match
points but could not convert any as the Lapentti brothers broke and went on
to win the 83-minute long final set.
04:59 02-10-01
Ecuador crush champions
10 February 2001
By Sports.com's MATTHEW BARBOUR
Nicolas and Giovanni Lapentti created the biggest upset of this year's Davis
Cup on Saturday after powering their way to victory over Wayne Arthurs and
Todd Woodbridge in an epic doubles showdown.
The decisive win keeps alive Ecuador's slim hopes of beating defending
champions Australia in their world group first round Davis Cup tie.
The Lapentti brothers rallied back from two sets to one down and then saved
three match points in the fifth to defeat Australian pair 6-2, 2-6, 1-6,
7-6(7/1), 12-10.
Going into the crucial doubles rubber, Australia had a 2-0 lead, having won
both the opening day's singles. However, over the course of the grueling 3
hour 53 minute match the Ecuadorians proved that they had more resolve than
they had previously been given credit for, preventing the Aussies from taking
an unbeatable 3-0 lead by the skin of their teeth.
"We kept fighting, we won that tiebreak in the fourth and in the end it was
just who was hanging in the toughest," Nicolas said.
Australia are still strong favourites to win the tie and advance to a second
round meeting with either Brazil or Morocco in April, needing just one win
from either of the remaining two reverse singles rubbers to claim victory.
Following the marathon match, Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald
said he always knew the match would be difficult.
"These guys are quality players, they proved that today," he said.
"They have a lot of courage, they hung in there and their confidence grew
as
the match wore on."
Giovanni will take on Patrick Rafter in Sunday's first reverse singles before
his older brother Nicolas faces Lleyton Hewitt in the final match.
"I'm confident we will win this game, but you can't take anything for
granted," Fitzgerald said.
"You've got to go out and do the job on the day."
Australia went into Saturday's doubles match as big favourites but knew they
were in for a long day in the 37C heat after the Ecuadorians comfortably took
the first set.
But the Australians regained control, easily winning the next two, before
Ecuador, who made the world group for the first time by beating Britain at
Wimbledon last year, won the fourth in a tiebreak.
Woodbridge served for the match at 5-3 in the fifth and held three match
points but could not convert any as the Lapentti brothers broke and went on
to win the 83-minute long final set.