France's Davis Cup captain Guy Forget hopes Russia's Marat Safin will not be at his best during this weekend's quarter final. The Russians beat France 3-2 in a memorable 2002 final in Paris, with Safin in intouchable form, and won by the same score in last year's quarter-finals in Moscow.
"Of course that will be on our minds but when you start a match thinking that you're going to take revenge, your concentration suffers and you're likely to miss your goal," Forget said.
Former world number one Safin made an impressive return from a seven-month injury layoff in February, beating compatriot Nikolay Davydenko in his first match at the Dubai Open. He also reached the fourth round in Indian Wells last month.
"We all know Safin and when he's on song, like he was in the 2002 final at Bercy, he's almost impossible to beat," Forget told reporters before the tie in Pau.
"I watched him twice in the United States and when you come back after such a long time out the game, there are times when you drop pace. Maybe we can make something out of that."
Safin has not played Davis Cup since 2005's first round, and he joins a Russian team of Davydenko, Igor Andreev, Dmitry Tursunov and 2002 Davis Cup final hero Mikhail Youzhny.
Forget will rely on the same four players who beat Germany 3-2 in the first round - Sebastien Grosjean, Richard Gasquet and the doubles pair of Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra.
Russia trounced the Netherlands 5-0 in the first round and realise France will be a tougher proposition.
"We have had some great battles with the French over the last few years and I'm sure our next match will be just as tough," said Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev.
"But the addition of Safin will give us greater options. He has been the leader of our team for a long time and his presence will help other players in many ways, on and off the court."
France have won the four Davis Cup ties they have played in Pau. This weekend's tie will be played indoors on a quick surface.
why don't one of you delightful Ruski's post a how-to-pronounce guide for us poor lost souls who can't quite manage to get our tongues around Safin, Davydenko or Tursunov ... ( :devil: linguistically, of course!!)
EDIT: OK, I see that you did :lol: ... so, just ignore me please!!! I have no idea how to pronounce any of them so I'll just call them all Bob ... plus I'm sure Marat prefers to be called BigBoy, instead of 'SAfeen' :devil:
:why don't one of you delightful Ruski's post a how-to-pronounce guide for us poor lost souls who can't quite manage to get our tongues around Safin, Davydenko or Tursunov ... ( :devil: linguistically, of course!!)
I have no idea how to pronounce any of them so I'll just call them all Bob ... plus I'm sure Marat prefers to be called BigBoy, instead of 'SAfeen' :devil:
FINALLY THE NEWS!!!!!!!!!! I will be at work and DEAD.
Safin to start Russia's French challenge
Marat Safin will make his Davis Cup by BNP Paribas return in a tricky opening match against Richard Gasquet on Friday, in a clash that could well set the tone for this intriguing quarterfinal tie between France and Russia.
Arnaud Clement takes France's second single spot behind Gasquet, and is drawn to play world No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko in the second singles rubber. Clement will play again on Saturday in the doubles with Michael Llodra, against Mikhail Youzhny and Dmitry Tursunov .
Russia has won its last two meetings against France, but the hosts are always imposing opposition, especially playing at home.
The full draw from Pau, made by French Olympic canoeing gold medallist Tony Estanguet, is as follows:
Richard Gasquet (FRA) v Marat Safin (RUS)
Arnaud Clement (FRA) v Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Mikhail Youzhny/Dmitry Tursunov (RUS)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) v Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
Arnaud Clement (FRA) v Marat Safin (RUS)
Marat will play first against Richard Gasquet on friday!!!!!!!
Then it's Arnaud Clément against Davydenko as Sébastien Grosjean has withdrawn because of injury!
I just want to be tommorow!!!!!!!
means any singles match can be a 5-setter and we don't him to look like a squeezed lemon... Mitya-Misha is a good combo for the doubles Good man Tarpi!!!! They both like the surface and one serves like a maniac and the other can be a maniac at the net
LET'S DO THIS BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want another bday present!!! :lol:
means any singles match can be a 5-setter and we don't him to look like a squeezed lemon... Mitya-Misha is a good combo for the doubles Good man Tarpi!!!! They both like the surface and one serves like a maniac and the other can be a maniac at the net
LET'S DO THIS BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want another bday present!!! :lol:
EDIT: OK, I see that you did :lol: ... so, just ignore me please!!! I have no idea how to pronounce any of them so I'll just call them all Bob ... plus I'm sure Marat prefers to be called BigBoy, instead of 'SAfeen' :devil:
I don't remember who posted the link to Kolya's itw but thanks I love what he says at the end about the French crowd comparing to others they've "faced" in the past; there are so many ppl who likes Marat, no one could seriously be mad at them for beating us
(btw, to keep the pronounciation convo alive, I'm rotfl everytime I hear ppl calling Gasquet "Gasquette" )
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