Anyone prepared to do some live-scoring on this one? Players must surely be warming up now...

Ah Ha Mr. I
I assume it is on sky? I will go and check now. :ok:

I can't do livescoring, but the match has already started, with Davydenko holding serve.

EDIT: DD breaks

This is the last message I'll do on this for a while, due to work...

Anyway, Davydenko has made a good confident start, broken Chela and is leading 2-0...

3-1 Davydenko ... B) Go Russia Go...It will be great Davy and Marat at the top B)

and Davydenko holds the serve:

4-1 Not bad for the new "Agassi" (I am joking) :D

Russia won the first set 6 - 1

Dav in fire it seems... :yikes: But I guess he wants to close the match as quickly as possible...He was playing so much this season ;)

Hi JymJilly BTW :rolleyes:

Its already started....I thought I could catch some at home....oh well.

Safin and Nalby is going to be a humdinger!

Hello there how are you.
Glad you joined this board btw. Your a real asset. :ok:

Good to see Davydenko off to a good start, taking the first two sets 6-1 6-2. He's in a bit of trouble now, though, 1-4 in the third. Just one break, though.

Go Nikolay!

Well, Davydenko raced through those first two sets. To his credit though, Chela is fighting back well in the 3rd set...would love this to go to 5 sets (although I'm sure the Davy'donkey' won't!).

bp for Davydenko.

Davydenko has broken back!

I want him to do well --- I think he's a good player, and it annoys me that some people seem to criticize him a lot.

Nikolay wins the third game in succession to level at 4-4. Cela now has to serve and try to stop the rot ...

I have argued for a long time on the BBC board that Davydenko doesn't get the respect he deserves - he's a solid top 10 player and has lifted his game to new heights this year. I cheekily call him Davydonkey sometimes, but that's more a term of affection in my case...

Both players hold. 5 all.

Tie-break?

Argentina leads 6-5.

Davydenko will serve to force a tie-break, and the chance to win this in three.

Chela takes the third set. :(

Well well well...wasn't expecting that - Chela often tends to throw in the towel if losing badly - but I guess playing for Argentina inspires him more.

Apparently, the Argentinian team's harmony had been broken in the run up to this match. There had been a big argument between Nalbandian and the team coach Mancini, over Chela's selection. Nalbandian felt that Callieri should have been selected (better recent form, etc), but Mancini stuck to his guns and selected Chela based on his good head-to-head record against Davydenko.

The conclusion of this match will tell us whether Mancinci's decision was a masterstroke or a blunder...

Youp quite bad for Davy...I really hope he can handle: Once again in case of a long match he is likely to suffer more than Chela...We will see :wacko:

Davydenko breaks to go 2-1 up in 4th set...

Davydenko breaks Chela early in the fourth. After being 40-0 up, Chela loses the next 5 points! :blink:

Apparently there is a trainer on the court for Chela. Is anyone watching this? Does it look like he is injured?

(I'm just listening to DC radio.)

3-1 Now for Devy..

Great...

BTW Thanks :ok: MrInvisible about the inside news concerning the "Argentinian team's harmony" roflmao ...

After being up 40-0, it sounds almost like Davydenko is going to pulled back to deuce, but ends up holding to 30, and consolidates his break. :yahoo:

Davydenko breaks again! This makes it 4-1, with two breaks. The first point in the DC final is now firmly in his sight.

Chela isn't going to lose without a fight.

4-2 now

Davydenko loses one of the breaks. :(

4-2 Chela took a break back...quite hot down there :wacko:

Davydenko holds with an ace, for 5-3.

MP Russia!

MP saved by Chela.

Chela holds. Davydenko will now have to serve for the match.

2 match points on Davy's serve! :yahoo:

Chela puts his return into the net --- Russia has won the first rubber!

:yahoo:

Davydenko :bow: :bow:

This is really good for him... B)

Yes - I'm pleased he won. :yahoo:

BTW mightyjeditribble...Unfortunately there is no way to obtain the "remarks" of Nalbi about his captain... roflmao ...

I read this elsewhere - supposedly it has been reported (at least) in South American newspapers that Nalbandian and his coach didn't agree about Chela's inclusion.

If it's true, he might be angry now ... hope it makes him lose his cool. Go Marat!

Even the commentators on the DC radio channel are now referring to the fact that Nalbandian apparently wanted Callieri rather than Chela.