Davis Cup Final

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Starts tomorrow. They're doing the indoor grass thing at Melb Park again, and their horticultural efforts on the last occasion proved a sad precursor to their tennis once the match got under way. Hopefully all parties concerned will have learnt from that debacle.

First up: Lleyt the Llout v JCF, with the Big Ouzo v the Ultimate CCH Moya to follow (tht stands for Clay Court Hack BTW).

Let the fun begin. C'mon!!!!!!

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 27 November 2003 09:21 (twenty years ago) link

I am excited about this though I won't see any of it and, in fact, I haven't seen a Davis Cup final for years. I do remember the Aussie victory in '86 though - was that at Kooyong? Its final fling before Rebound Ace became de rigueur in Oz tennis. Pernfors destroying McNamee and two-thirds of the way to doing the same to Pattercake before Mikael ran out of change.

It's all about rubber #1, I think. If Llanwrst nails the Jackal, it's all over.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 27 November 2003 14:47 (twenty years ago) link

I don't watch tennis much, but there's something about the Davis Cup that always gets me watching, despite the fact that New Zealand are no-hopers in the competition. (I don't even know if they are involved.) I would like to see Austraila win, after what happened 2 years ago.

― Kiwi in Oz (Kiwi in Oz), Thursday, 27 November 2003 23:48 (twenty years ago) link

It's amazing how many retirements there have been in crucial Davis Cup final rubbers in recent years - Gaudenzi at 6-6 in the 5th vs Magnus Norman in 1998's opener leaving the Italians on a hiding to nothing thereafter; Sampras the year before vs Larsson; Mr Rafter's various problems; Edberg short of throwing in towel in but obviously not fit in his pro farewell in the '96 final.

I suspect Chewitt will be like an overwound Timex going into this, like Gazza in the '91 Cup final. He'll snap something.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 28 November 2003 00:07 (twenty years ago) link

Hewitt up 3-1 in the 5th.
http://www.sportstab.com.au/livescores/menu.asp

― Poseiden (Poseiden), Friday, 28 November 2003 03:50 (twenty years ago) link

Hewitt d. Ferrero; 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2

― Poseiden (Poseiden), Friday, 28 November 2003 04:27 (twenty years ago) link

Well I may have to revise my opinion of the UCCH if that effort against Fabulous Phil was anythging to go by.

And as for Lleyton Hewitt, the Steve Waugh of tennis (take that anyhow you like), what more need be said?

Banal Observation No True Tennis Nut Would Ever Feel The Need To Utter #12783: 'It all depends on the doubles.' Woodie and the much more well-equipped Wayne Arthurs hold the Davis Cup in their hands 'cos suddenly I don't fancy the Big Ouzo's chances againbst the Jackal.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 28 November 2003 08:58 (twenty years ago) link

Bloody poo.

― Poo Poo, Friday, 28 November 2003 08:59 (twenty years ago) link

What a terrific opening day - the hosts play "Himno de Riego" instead of the Spanish national anthem beforehand and Wayne Arthurs is shot in the ensuing skirmish (not completely true).

Hewitt's fighting qualities never in question, but Moya beating Phlopp to level the tie? Serve-volleying in the process? I think Fred needs to sizzle up his words in shallow sunflower oil and prepare for an unpleasantly chewy breakfast.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 28 November 2003 09:09 (twenty years ago) link

I really was rather hoping (OK, it was futile) that I could get through the tie without being reminded of that particular fiasco.

It did get me thinking of similar possible stuff-ups in history: if Canada ever won an Olympic yachting gold medal 'The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald' would be similarly appreciated I'm sure.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 28 November 2003 10:31 (twenty years ago) link

I very much enjoyed them getting the national anthem wrong. Highlight of the day, really. The trumpeter looked so pleased with himself.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Friday, 28 November 2003 21:35 (twenty years ago) link

Straight sets to Aus in the doubles!

It has not been clever or original to call Wayne Arthurs 'the Ringo Starr of Australian tennis' for many years, but today came the final confirmation that it ia also completely inaccurate. Well done Woody and Wayne.

DO IT, HEWITT!!!

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:24 (twenty years ago) link

Wow, Correkta and Acousmatix took a pounding - where's Casal and Sanchez when you need them? Hiding from Franco after yesterday's tune apocalypse, probably.

Is MP ready to repeat his heroics of Nice '99? Or are we looking at a live fifth rubber, LleytsTSB vs The Man Who Thinks He's Stan Smith (All Of A Sudden)?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 29 November 2003 10:47 (twenty years ago) link

Shame. Losing this final as well might have taught the Australians something about humility. Ah well.

― Markelby (Mark C), Saturday, 29 November 2003 11:24 (twenty years ago) link

OK, explain to me how Philp won it because right now the live scores box over at the offishall website makes for mighty bizarre reading.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 30 November 2003 04:58 (twenty years ago) link

No pudo ser. España ha perdido la final de la Copa Davis ante Australia por 3-1, tras la derrota de Juan Carlos Ferrero ante Mark Philippoussis por 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 2-6 y 6-0. El gigante 'aussie' comenzó dominando el choque con su consistente juego de saque y volea, pero el español reaccionó en la tercera y cuarta manga mostrando sus mejores virtudes. Cuando todo estaba de cara, Philippoussis vivió una recuperación prodigiosa y arrolló al de Onteniente en un último set sin historia.

It was not to be. Spain lost the Davis Cup final against Australia 3-1, following the defeat of JCF by MP, 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 2-6 and 6-0. The Aussie giant started out dominating the clash with his consistent serve and volley game, but the Spaniard fought back in the third and fourth sets, showing his best virtues. When everything was going against him, MP underwent a prodigious recovery and steamrollered the Man from Onteniente in a final set without a story.

(Probably not required by now, but still...)

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:12 (twenty years ago) link

Markelby, Australians really do try to be humble, but then they encounter another Pompous Ass Pom Of A Certain Yype and realise that compared with him/her/it, feeling humble is completely irrational.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 1 December 2003 01:52 (twenty years ago) link

And we feel the exact same way about you. Stalemate I guess.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 1 December 2003 12:00 (twenty years ago) link

I don't really associate Aussie tennis players with arrogance and lack of humility because of that flock of Hopmanite princes who dominated the game in the late Am/early Open era. And Mr Rafter of course.

I hesitate to throw my lot in with national generalisations until I've met a few who fit the stereotype. Just as I don't know any irony-free, loud, boorish Americans, I don't know any arrogant Aussies either.

Disappointed with this result though, just cos I like the Spanish.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 1 December 2003 14:25 (twenty years ago) link

ten years pass...

i think fed prob handles tsonga (tho a loss wouldnt shock me) but stan/monfils for the cup has incred potential for a sick match

― johnny crunch, Sunday, 23 November 2014 01:10 (nine years ago) link

Good grief, this thread. 11 years.

― Michael Jones, Sunday, 23 November 2014 02:20 (nine years ago) link

i like gasquet but there was no earthly way he was beating roger in this spot

― johnny crunch, Sunday, 23 November 2014 14:00 (nine years ago) link

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