Title: Davis Cup 2007 World Group semifinals
Description: 21-23 September
mightyjeditribble - September 17, 2007 06:46 PM (GMT)
Davis Cup WebpageRUSSIA v GERMANYVenue: Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia (clay – indoors)
RUSSIANikolay Davydenko
Mikhail Youzhny
Dmitry Tursunov
Igor Andreev
Captain: Shamil Tarpischev
GERMANYTommy Haas
Philipp Kohlschreiber
Alexander Waske
Philipp Petzschner
Captain: Patrik Kuhnen
SWEDEN v USAVenue: Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden (carpet-indoors)
SWEDENJonas Bjorkman
Thomas Johansson
Joachim Johansson
Simon Aspelin
Captain: Mats Wilander
USAAndy Roddick
James Blake
Mike Bryan
Bob Bryan
Captain: Patrick McEnroe
mightyjeditribble - September 18, 2007 10:40 AM (GMT)
Well, two very clear favorites here ... will we see any surprises?
Germany face a very very tough task against Russia, particularly with Kohlmann being out with injury. It is going to be vastly important for the Germans to take the doubles point, and that's going to be more difficult now. Tommy could have a chance to get the point against Youzhny, but it's very hard to see Kohly take out Davydenko. If Germany take two points in the first three rubbers, they might be able to sneak it ... but it's a very, very, big ask.
Go Germany! :clap: :pray:
The second semifinal tie is perhaps a bit more open, with the US never playing their best abroad, but still Sweden will be doing well to keep it live going into Sunday. However, Johannson could be good for a surprise, and maybe Blake will lose to a second oldie within one week when he faces Bjorkman? :D
But in reality the US is likely to run away with it, I guess.
mightyjeditribble - September 18, 2007 10:41 AM (GMT)
I was a bit surprised not to see Kiefer on the German team, btw, particularly with Kohlmann out.
Dinky Jo - September 18, 2007 10:44 AM (GMT)
I think the Russians, inconsistent though they are, tend to play their best tennis for Davis Cup - i really think it's going to be tough for the Germans to win this one :unsure:
liam_valid - September 18, 2007 10:46 AM (GMT)
Well i predicted a Germany-USA final when the 1/4 final draw was made so i guess i will stick with that
mightyjeditribble - September 18, 2007 10:54 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (liam_valid @ Sep 18 2007, 11:46 AM) |
| Well i predicted a Germany-USA final when the 1/4 final draw was made so i guess i will stick with that |
:clap:
mightyjeditribble - September 19, 2007 09:09 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (mightyjeditribble @ Sep 18 2007, 11:41 AM) |
| I was a bit surprised not to see Kiefer on the German team, btw, particularly with Kohlmann out. |
From the TENNIS.com website:
| QUOTE |
Kiefer says he would have played for Germany in this week's Davis Cup tie against Russia but was not invited to join the team. Kiefer, who returned earlier this summer from a long layoff because of a wrist injury, reached the semifinals of Beijing last week. Haas, Kohlschreiber, Waske and Petzschner are the four members of the German team.
|
:o
mightyjeditribble - September 20, 2007 10:19 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
Andreev to begin Russia's defence
Russian's No. 2 player, Igor Andreev, will open up his nation's defence of the Davis Cup title when he takes on Tommy Haas in the first rubber of this Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinal between Russia and Germany.
World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko will hope to put Russia in a commanding position in the second match on Friday. He faces German No. 2 and No. 32-ranked Philipp Kohlschreiber. The full draw is as follows:
Friday
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Tommy Haas (GER)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Saturday
Dmitry Tursunov/Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Philipp Petzschner/Alexander Waske (GER)
Sunday
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) v Tommy Haas (GER)
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
|
mightyjeditribble - September 20, 2007 01:46 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
Joachim Johansson returns for Sweden
Andy Roddick will take on Joachim Johansson in the opening rubber of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas semifinal between Sweden and USA in Gothenburg. The full draw is as follows:
Friday
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Andy Roddick (USA)
Thomas Johansson (SWE) v James Blake (USA)
Saturday
Simon Aspelin/Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) v Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA)
Sunday
Thomas Johansson (SWE) v Andy Roddick (USA)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v James Blake (USA)
|
mightyjeditribble - September 21, 2007 07:04 PM (GMT)
Semifinal results
Russia v Germany 1-1
Haas put in a disappointing performance to lose in straight sets to Andreev, but Kohlschreiber made up for it all in his gutsy five-set defeat of Nikolay Davydenko. Tomorrow's doubles match may well hold the key to this tie, and Germany will feel the absence of doubles specialist Michael Kohlmann.
USA v Sweden 1-1
Roddick won the opener, as expected, but Blake's woes continue as he went out in four sets to Thomas Johansson. The Bryans will be favorites to put the US ahead tomorrow. But with Bjorkman on the Swedish team, this is far from going to be a walk in the park for the Americans.
mightyjeditribble - September 23, 2007 08:11 PM (GMT)
It's a Russia v USA final
Germany, hampered by the absence of Tommy Haas, went into the final day with a 2-1 lead, but ended up 3-2 after losing both singles rubbers on Sunday. :(
The Bryan brothers put the US 2-1 up against Sweden on Saturday, and it only took Andy Roddick's victory over Jonas Bjorkman to put them in the final. After that, James Blake made it 4-1 against Aspelin.