first?

Great post. Tennis match scores can be so deceptive.

Go USA!

I was very surprised in a picture of the team how tall the Bryans are. They tower over Andy, Patrick and James are a foot shorter! Was it trick photography?

I'll be honest and say that I think the teams are evenly matched, at best. They have two "stars" -- Davydenko and Roddick. But the other players on the Russian side are, to my mind, stronger than Blake, by a long shot, who has not looked good in Davis Cup.

I have a dark feeling about this.

Great post.

-- Maybe I'm just a sentimental schmoe, but I have a soft spot for that sort of familiarity, it's one thing that cannot be faked, the way you can feign having respect or admiration. --

Pete, ITA. This is one reason why I love the USA team so much. There isn't a jealous bone in anybody's body, they are all such close good friends and you can feel how much they want to win Davis Cup, with or without the support of a media that isn't interested in covering the final. Unlike Pete Sampras who was sorely disappointed when he wasn't treated like a King after winning on Russian clay, Roddick et al doesn't care about any of that. Davis Cup is very personal for them and the fans will give them all the glory they want.

-- Once again, Roddick was asked to reflect on the the Davis Cup tie he attended in 1992 at Fort Worth, Tx., when he was 10. He said, "I saw possibly the greatest Davis Cup team ever play and win there. And you know, it really struck a chord with me. I've always been excited about Davis Cup." --

This is important to note because I have noticed lately that the media (including your associates James Martin, Kamakshi Tandon, and Steve Tignor) have been suggesting that poor Andy Roddick has to "settle" for winning DC because he won't win any slams with Federer around. That is all fallacy. Roger Federer has absolutely nothing to do with Roddick's love for Davis Cup. If Andy Roddick has to "settle" for the winning the DC title, then I gather that he will be thrilled to pieces to have it because it's been a lifelong dream of his. I pray and hope that he finally gets his wish.

A-Rod is 11-5 against the dragos, 9-3 since 2003, 10-3 on surfraces-other-than-clay. So does Tarpi make Igor play A-Rod cuz has a winning record vs. him and he beat him on somethin hard last year? Or make misha play him cuz misha beat him on grass back in the day?

Povere Kolya is 11-0 against blakesy and a-rod.

1 day, 23 hours, 20 minutes, 32 seconds!

Hey dcfan, thanks for the props. I do think you're being a little harsh on Pete re. his performance in Moscow. Is was one of the all-time DC feats, and yet it was barely acknowledged in the US. IN fact, the only US reporter present in Moscow was Bud Collins. The epic performance hardly made the ESPN news crawl, and Sampras felt that partly because of DC, he had no appreciable off-season at all at the end of that year - hence his mediocre showing in the next AO.

Choke choke choke. We desperately need a definition here.

To my way of thinking it's always been the same as iron elbow, with perhaps an element of asphyxiation thrown in. You simply can't perform, mostly out of fear. You might be ahead, running even or behind, but for some reason you fall prey to the "what if's" and freeze.

Whether this is what happened to Sampras in '92 DC, or ever, is another matter. But we need to agree on what it means. If only so Miguel and Pete can be on the same page. :)

BTW, didn't Ashe write that it's happened to everyone, at one time or another?

On another note, there's nothing like Davis Cup.

Sorry, "what happened to Sampras in '91 DC..."

ha ha ha Can't believe how young Sampras, Agassi & McEnroe were!!!

I can't believe how maniacal Agassi looks in that picture.

Ooooooooooooooh, I'm excited about this event! Thanks, Pete!

Hey folks,

What's up? I've been out of the loop for nearly a month, and have not been able to post here. Any high TW drama during that time span. Dog fights? TW marriages? Fed abductions?

--Liron

I have said a LOT of snotty things about Andy Roddick and, on occasion, American tennis. But boy, do I want the U.S. to win this BADLY! I'm slowly coming around on Roddick--he's kinda gone from hyped underachiever to frustrated but hard-working overachiever--a guy with a limited (but still explosive) game who can't always challenge the top guys, but doesn't go down with a fight, and that's exactly what you need in Davis Cup.

speaking of Texas- wouldn't the lone star state have been a more rambunctious and vocally supportive place to put the DC final?

Liron- I was thinking about you this morning and wondering where you've been...

I've never been able get excited about Davis or Fed Cup, mostly because the schedule and draws always confounded and eluded me, especially when younger -- I wasn't watching much TV at all, so trying to get Davis Cup was like shooting fish in... an ocean. Kind of similar to Sampras in that regard.

Still not so diligent about catching it on TV, but this has me the closest to excited about it I've ever been. Great lineup on both sides. Here's hoping for some great matches.

I absolutely cannot wait. I went to the US tie with Spain in April in Winston-Salem. It was more exciting and more pure fun than I had ever expected -- winning did help of course. I expect to be a Davis Cup fan forever no matter which countries are playing.

And yes Agassi looks more than a bit crazed in the picture!

I'd really love to see Davis Cup/Fed Cup combined-- Hopman Cup seems like a big fun party to me- which isn't bad, per se, but the DC/FC intensity is missing- or maybe that was just last year during the Spain/Russia match :)

Hi everyone,

Just returned from Thanksgiving vacation in Seattle. I fell in love with the word "schmuck," which was uttered by an elderly in-law. It was a typical dysfunctional American Thanksgiving with yummy food, endless dishwashing, several child tantrums, a few adult melt-downs, sullen teenagers, grouchy but funny elders (who had to have the football game turned up to almost full volume), and lots of hugging and promising to do this again soon ... even though nobody wants to do this again for at least another year.

Bring on DC!

Hello, Liron! :) I'm not tellin'! :P

I'm excited about this DC final. Go Andy!

Well, crap. If you're gonna tease someone, you should probably type in your name. 'Twas me @ 6:27. :)

LOL, highpockets. And welcome back. :)

highpockets!
glad you are back - we are having one of those kind of weeks here at my house
My parents go home tomorrow
We have been shouting at the hard of hearing - but too stubborn to get a hearing aid - elderly all week as well.
Davis cup - I am excited for the weekend match
will be interesting to say the least
and that is the worst picture of Agassi - he looks like a mad dog
Mcenroe looks so young in that photo

It's funny, Pete, but I recall that pivotal doubles match -- and Pete Sampras' behaviour -- in quite a different manner...

I was there that year at Fort Worth and actually thought from the beginning that Marc Rosset (when he was on, he was on... and loved to play the big guns on big occasions; and he'd been coronated olympic champion a few months earlier, let's not forget!) would win both his singles matches and the tandem Rosset/Hlasek would win the doubles.

So, after the 1-1 on the first day (Rosset did beat then world number one Jim Courier), I was expecting Switzerland to go ahead on the second day. Rosset and Hlasek won the first two sets and then McEnroe managed to fire up Sampras after trashtalking Hlasek (who had been playing doubles with him!) at the net.

I watched most of that match sitting with US photographer Fred Mullane in the photographers' pit really close to the court and we were both stunned to see the always calm Sampras starting to fist-pump and shout «c'mon!». I even remember telling Fred something like «if this guy learns how to use emotion to his advantage he will be great», and both of us commenting that it looked like the kid was becoming a man right there. To me, that match was some sort of career defining moment, much like Rafa Nadal in that match versus Roddick in the 2004 Davis Cup final in Seville.

Yes, McEnroe went berserk, yes he lost it a bit and I remember Pete talking to him -- but after winning the third set, both went to the locker room (back then there usually was a 10 minute interval between third and fourth sets) really pumped up (Mac was shouting something like «Let's kick ass») and came back also pumped up. Sampras started serving unbelievably from then on...

The next day Courier beat Hlasek and the match that I would pay to watch never happened -- Rosset vs. Agassi. I was in the same hotel as the swiss and Rosset was sooooo eager to play Agassi you guys wouldn't believe!

Anyway, at least the swiss party on sunday night was great, even though the players were completely drunk, dancing on top of the tables and falling down, crashing glasses and dishes along the way...

Another thing I remember vividly from that tie was that, in the first day, the noise that the swiss supporters were making with their cowbells outshone any noise made by the US supporters. So, the next day they had to bring hornets and flags and whatever to try to match the visitors... and talk about the swiss being a neutral country!

Regarding the 'choking' part... ok, Pete, I accept that choking definition of yours. But I also think that a player can also choke when he is the overwhelming favorite and is supposed to win a match -- much like Sampras in several circumstances. Regarding that 1991 Davis Cup final match against Henri Leconte, Sampras was the favourite because he had just won the Masters Cup (then ATP Championships) and Riton was lowly ranked and coming out of a hospital bed following cack surgery... but Pete didn't choke because he was simply mystified by the magic of Leconte (he did choke a bit against Forget on the last day, though). Even I was mystified and got emotional, because what Leconte did right there was something out of this world and even Federer at his best couldn't match his brilliant shotmaking.

Finally: I'm really interested in knowing if Sampras mentions in the book his old habit of getting the tongue out of his mouth in tough moments (a hint that showed his opponents and observers that he was nervous) and how his then girlfriend Delaina Mulcahy talked him out of doing that...

omg I am soooo excited about davis cup this weekend!!
go go go Usa!!!!
bring the cup back home!

Great article about captain Patrick McEnroe to pass along:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2007-11-26-patrick-mcenroe-cover_N.htm

Mmmmm, Davis Cup!
This is fun... I'm VERY excited for Friday! WOOH!

I'm also very excited for Davis Cup, but I will not be able to watch any matches until Sunday, so I hope that there are not two dead rubbers then. I want it to be exciting, but want the USA to win.

whoo hoo! this post was great Pete! Love hearing the background - an interesting to hear Miguel's view of the Pete / JMac doubles match dynamic.

And of course - definately puts me in the mood for Davis Cup! I'm actually all set for the weekend - orange food and diet pepsi in house. Mhm - they're nite matches - slight menu change....

Orange food and GE's for everyone!

I'm torn over Davis Cup.

As a patriotic American, of course I want my country to win it. But, as a tennis fan, I much prefer the Russian team, particularly Tursunov, Davydenko, Andreev (in that order). Nationality has never been important to me regarding my favorite players.

So, I'll go with the underdogs, which I haven't exactly determined yet. The US has won it 31X, but Russia is the defending champion. I guess the surface and home court advantage favors the US, but Russia has the highest ranked player. But, Russia won Fed Cup this year. Hopefully, I'll make up my mind by Friday.

Also, I think Agassi has aged more gracefully than Sampras. In the 1992 picture above Pete looks so much younger than Andre. But now it's the opposite, imo.

I've watched Davis Cup in person only once, as a 10 year old... in 1988 in Delhi, India... when the erstwhile Yugoslavia came visiting... the Indians held the tie on grass, having Vijay Amritraj (well past his prime, IMHO), Ramesh Krishnan and Anand Amritraj in the squad... established grass courters all..

And in walked Slobodan "Bobo" Zivojinovic.... the biggest man i'd seen in my short life... standing 6 ft 6 in and weighing in at around a 100 kg ... to my 10 year old eyes he was a walking mountain... and he proceed to blast the Indians off the court in the singles, winning against V.Amritraj and Krishnan in straight sets..

the tie in itself was awesome... going to the deciding 5th match, where Bobo got the better of V.Amritraj 3, 4 and 4.... the doubles was a nail-biter... all credit to the Indians for taking the match to the fifth, which the Slavs (I think Bobo was partnering Prpic.. ok.. just checked daviscup.com and it was Goran Prpic) won 9-7...

Bobo probably wasn't the most accomplished player around... as a career singles record of 150-138 attests... but man.. was he big and strong and deceptively fast... i can sometimes still see in my mind's eye, if i look hard enough... Bobo hitting aces which Amritraj literally did not have time to even react to...

Ah.. Davis cup...

Split infinitive didnt india reach the DC finals in 87. Aah if only if he had a decent singles player in the Paes/Bhupathi era.And regarding the Mcenroe/Sampras doubles match,i kind of read the same thing that miguel said.John succeeded in getting pete all fired up. I read this in Arthur Ashe's book i think.

Miguel, KA et al --- yes, John and Pete did get all fired up and emotional after that Mac meltdown and the rest interval, I just didn't go into it here, but probably should have (It will be in the "long version").

Go USA!

When will the draw be announced?

The draw will be announced today, robbyfan.

GO USA!!!

Hi dcfan! I know the draw is today but do you know what time?

Pete is unbelievable. You know that in Davis Cup he didn't loose a match on clay. 6 matchs, 6 winners.

So he was de Davis Cup player, he could play great tennis on caly and he did it.

Go USA Go.

From France with Love

Flo

robbyfan, the draw should be out any minute now.

Here's one reason why I am such a big Roddick fan. No other top player in the field shows this kind of commitment to a team effort.

PATRICK MCENROE: "Roddick has missed one Davis Cup match since I've been the captain, and I've been the captain for seven years. If you can name another player in the world that's got that kind of record and commitment to Davis Cup, please let me know who that is because I can't think of any off the top of my head.  He's been unbelievable. He's played in the toughest of circumstances, Andy has, and performed with everything he has every time. Again, that doesn't always guarantee a win or a loss, but you know that both mentally and physically he's always going to be there."

the draw ceremony is at noon pacific time

Thanks dcfan.

Go USA and Andy! Also, Robby should be there tuning the players. so go Robby!

does anyone know which thread had Pete & Miguel Seabra debate whether Sampras ever choked? I'd like to read that.

all the lines of what Pete said in this thread, has Sampras ever failed to close out a match when serving for the match? or even when serving for a set?

oh, and as far as sampras saying he was the wrong man for the job, I disagree. On paper there was no other better option, he was playing great.

Would Courier have done any better? I doubt it. And Courier had a tough initiation in Davis Cup that year, he lost 2 matches vs Mexico in the 1st round! So Sampras wasn't alone in this, davis cup is a tough adjustment, esp in in a final.

Loved the description of the '92 doubles point, let's face it doubles really does pale in comparison to singles, but not that day. Don't think there was any singles match that year that had as much drama, excitement, quality of play, or starpower as that match. Was as good as the sport gets.

Was just re-watching that Courier-Rosset match, Courier really lost it at one point, thought he may get defaulted. Scary looking dude when he was really angry.

Its a shame we didn't get to see Rosset-Agassi, that could have been a classic. Rosset really stepped it up when playing for his country.

If you want the definition of choke... watch Blake this weekend.

Who Cares

Roddick & Blake are bonafide losers in top tier competition (slams, masters series) and their hyping up Davis Cup with a depleted field is a sorry indictment of the state of US men's tennis. All their friendly, folksy talk just reflects weak competitive instincts and its no wonder that they cannot beat the top 5 players. My guess is that they spend more time preparing witty one-liners for press conferences instead of figuring out how to win slams. Also, seems like they're left going for the scraps (D-Cup) left on the table by the Fed & Nadal. Bring back pistol pete!

'But I also think that a player can also choke when he is the overwhelming favorite and is supposed to win a match -- much like Sampras in several circumstances. '

Miguel, that line got me curious....