[the cat]

With the great tennis Canas and Nalbandian have played recently. And with the terrible tennis Safin and Kafelnikov have played recently, don't be surprised to see Argentina go into Moscow and beat Russia in the upcoming Davis Cup semifinal! Poor Eggy! What once looked like an easy Tie against Argentina, is now at best a toss up for Russia!

And playing on carpet won't mean much. Canas and Nalbandian have proven that they can play off the clay!

It may come down to who wins the doubles wins the Tie. Who does Argentina have for the doubles team? I would think Safin and Kafelnikov would have the edge in doubles. But asking Kafelnikov to beat either Canas or Nalbandian is asking alot. And asking Safin, who generally plays poorly in Davis Cup, to win both his singles matches, is asking alot.

What once seemed like a certainty that Russia would be in the Davis Cup Finals, is now in great jeapordy! I definately want to see Russia win the Davis Cup this year. But with Argentina looking so strong, things just got tougher for the Russians!

And didn't Argentina already beat Russia in the World Team Cup Final this year? I think they did. So they already have a psychological edge on the Russians!

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

I'm not worried at all

Zhenya in Moscow is unbeatable on the carpet
Marat will bring his A game out, no Sun/heat to make him mad

We will still win

 

[the cat]

But it will be much tougher than you originally thought. Right?

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

a little but theres no harm in that

looking forward to the tie.

 

[TennisHack]

Well, cat, I think it's interesting that Nalbandian has never been asked to play for his Davis Cup team, and still may not be top choice for this team.

Yes Argentina defated Russia 3-0 at World Team Cup, but that was on clay. Nalbandian hasn't played on indoor carpet yet (tour level), and Cañas has a poor indoor record (1-2 last year alone). I agree with Eggy, Jenya wants this more than anything and I think he can motivate the team to want it as well. Marat seems to be on the up-and-up, and they are playing doubles in the tournaments leading up to the tie so they can get used to each other.

All in all, I'd say a good strategy. I think the Russians will still win it.

 

[safin_fan]

Mikhail can beat Canas
Safin can beat Nalbandian, Chela

I see no problem!

Now us the USA have problems! No one can beat Grosjean,Clement, or Escude!

 

[TennisHack]

Now us the USA have problems! No one can beat Grosjean,Clement, or Escude!

AND WE'RE TAKING PETE!! Talk about brain cramps and kissing up . . .

 

[safin_fan]

LOL! He can't even win on grass anymore.

 

[Lucas Arg]

Canas and Nalbandian in Davis Cup will be interesting

Vamos Argentina

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

I do look forward to seeing how David will play indoors.

Even though they are good on fast surfaces too, as proven (Toronto was playing quite fast I heard), it appears the Russians are stil favoured.

When is the last time that Kafelnikov lost on the surface? 1975 or something

He will pump up his team and they will win.

I would be shocked at an upset, but it is harder than one would have thought.

With a good draw, Argentina should contend for the cup the next 5 years at least.

 

[the cat]

Eggy, you're not a worried as I thought you'd be! If Safin is confident and in good form by the Davis Cup semifinals, then Russia should win. But if he isn't is good form, then watch out! Argentina could end up in the 2002 Davis Cup Finals. It is a realistic possibility at this point.

 

[Nimi]

Ya but im pretty sure France will defend their Davis Cup title

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

the cat - I would be surprised if Safin comes out in tank mode, know how much this means to Yevgeny.

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

our places never refuse to play for the country unlike ..........

 

[Catriel]

Gattiker, the Argentina´s Capitain has a problem to choose the players cause there are a lot in a great moment

But the obvious choose is:
Guillermo Cañas = The #1 argentinian today, and who has defeated Kafelnikov too many times, in different places.
Gaston Gaudio = He get´s bigger when he puts the white and blue flag on his shoulders. I mean, he is a perfect player for Davis, he loves the public when is local, and he doesn´t get intimated when visitor. And he get´s stronger when playing for the cup
Lucas Arnold & Gastón Etlis = They are a great team, they play together since long ago, and they also can play any surface.

Indoor, and carpet... will be tough... But they know that all the people from Argentina will have bothe eyes on them, all their hopes in them, waiting a piece of joy since those painfull and sad 2 last years in this country and waiting for a happiness that ..... we didn´t get in Corea-Japón 2002.
All the hopes that we had in the fútbol (soccer) team are now in our tennis team. Remember that they were the first to use the shirt with the colours of the country, and since last year they idea will be obligatory!

I know that Russia is more powerfull, maybe the best team with those 2 giant stars there (Marat and Yevgevny) but ... Argentina will have a chance.... a big chance

bye!

 

[tennischick]

Russia may hve 2 giants but Argentina has a slew of talented giant slayers... (GS!!!)

go Argentina!!!!!!!!!!!

nothing personal Egg...

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

I dont see why they wouldnt pick David, who is their number 2 ranked player, and has proven he plays well on fast surfaces (Wimbledon, Toronto was playing very fast)

 

[Lucas Arg]

First of all, David Nalbandian never played on carpet indoors but he has very good results in his 1st appearance of the big tournaments:
U S Open 2001 4th Round
Wimbledon 2002 Runner up

He is not a claycourt player, when he was a child his grandfather made a hardcourt (cement) for the family so David is very familiar to this kind of surfaces. I think he can do great on carpet, he loves to play fast and to volley.

Gattiker makes his pics one week before the Davis Cup, he always take a look the latest results, so we have to wait and see how the boys do in Cincinatti and Us Open.

Canas is sure in the team, not only cos' he beat Safin and Kafelnikov on hardcourts or because he won a TMS, is because he also play doubles very well.

Catriel is right about Gaudio and his high performance on Davis Cup, he is really great, but my doubt is how Gaudio can adapt his game on hardcourts, he has to play very well in this tournaments for being a singlist against Russia.

Nalbandian as I said before has very good chances to play.

Chela can play well also on hardcourts, he also has Davis Cup experience in Buenos Aires. But his results lately are not very good. He lost today in Cincinatti to Guillermo Coria (another great argentinean player).

To make a list for the lastest performances the team should be:

Guillermo Canas (singles & doubles)
David Nalbandian (singles)
Gaudio or Chela (reserve)
Lucas Arnold (doubles)

This could be the team

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

I hope you are right, David deserve to be there

 

[Lindsayfan]

i think Russia will beat easily Argentina cos of the surface..on carpet in Moscow Kafel is unbeatable,he has great motivations when he plays DC.and Safin will do his job winning his matches.if they played on hard court or clay,i would pick Argentina,but on carpet Russia is clearly the favourite.
my prediction: Russia b. Argentina 4-1!

Niminator:agree with u,France will defend his title,they can play home both semifinals and final so...