[SKozak]

Ukraine and Slovak Republic will try to avoid relegation to Group II in this Group I playoff that will be held in Bratislava. This will be the first time that these two countries meet in Davis Cup.

Slovak Republic is facing the relegation playoff after a 4-1 loss to Portugal in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I first round in Cruz Quebrada. The Portuguese won all four singles rubbers to ease to victory.

Ukraine will need to battle to keep its place in Group I after a 3-2 loss to Netherlands in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I first round in Kharkiv. Robin Haase was the hero for the Duth, as he fought back from two sets down to clinch the deciding fifth rubber against Illya Marchenko.

Ukraine has spent the last three years in Group I and reached the World Group playoffs for the first time in 2009. Slovak Republic reached the World Group final in 2006 and has since then played in Group I.

Venue: Sibimac Arena, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Date: 16-18 Sept 2011
Day 1: 1400 hrs (1200 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1400 hrs (1200 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1300 hrs (1100 hrs GMT)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay), Outdoor
Ball: Wilson Australian Open

Slovakia
Martin Klizan (Date of birth: 11 Jul 1989, Singles ranking: 103)
Lukas Lacko (03 Nov 1987, Singles ranking: 162)
Pavol Cervenak (01 Jul 1987, Singles ranking: 243)
Filip Polasek (21 Jul 1985, Doubles ranking: 32)

Ukraine
Sergiy Stakhovsky (06 Jan 1986, Singles ranking: 55)
Illya Marchenko (08 Sep 1987, Singles ranking: 149)
Sergei Bubka (10 Feb 1987, Singles ranking: 207)
Artem Smirnov (02 Feb 1988, Singles ranking: 294)

[SKozak]

The surface type "OUTDOOR" is very conditional

[SKozak]

Tibor Toth, former coach of Stakhovsky and Bubka, and, it seems, current(?) coach of Lacko gave the recipe of win over Ukrainians:



"The only way is through the clay, very soft and slow clay"




Source: Ukrainian forum http://sapronov-tennis.org/phpbb3/vi...t=727&start=40

[SKozak]

Last moment change in Slovakia's team: Lacko is OUT, Zelenay IN
Reason??

Rounds
R1 M. KLIZAN vs I. MARCHENKO
R2 P. CERVENAK vs S. STAKHOVSKY
R3 F. POLASEK/I. ZELENAY vs S. BUBKA/S. STAKHOVSKY
R4 M. KLIZAN vs S. STAKHOVSKY
R5 P. CERVENAK vs I.MARCHENKO

[SKozak]

[SKozak]

Source: http://sapronov-tennis.org/files/2(38).jpg

[SKozak]

R1 M. KLIZAN vs I. MARCHENKO

Klizan vs Marchenko 0*-0 ... 1-0* ... 1*-1 (love game for Marchenko)

[SKozak]

Hard 3rd game, Marchenko has BP... then again BP, but Klizan hold - 2-1*

[SKozak]

2*-2 (Klizan had two BPs)

[panama]

а на видео нет ссылки случайно??

[SKozak]

Originally Posted by panama

а на видео нет ссылки случайно??

don't see video stream, only text translation on http://sapronov-tennis.org/index.php...=25&refresh=60

[SKozak]

Break! 2-3*

[SKozak]

BP Klizan, DF Marchenko and 3*-3

[SKozak]

Break again 3-4*, Marchenko serves

[SKozak]

Klizan 5-4*