[is6]

Zhenya did it himself... He wanted that DC more than anybody else...

Anyway, this is the story:

"Kafelnikov had an x-ray post match to determine whether he had fractured a finger on his left hand during a freak accident in his match against Srichaphan. Kafelnikov injured a finger when he attempted to block a fierce body serve - which had been called a let - with his hand."

his opponent in this match (Yevgeny won 6-2 6-4 - impressive !!!) Srichaphan: "Kafelnikov has a good chance of winning the tournament, but he has hurt his hand, so I don't know."

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

I think it is too soon to say they are shattered.

If it isn't *too* serious, he wants it bad enough that he could try and play through the pain.

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

Furthermore, even if Kafel was only good for the doubles tie - Safin is a fave in both his matches (if his head on) - and I can't recall who their third singles player would be, but never count anyone out in DC.

 

[the cat]

There third singles player is Mikhail Youzhny. And he should be playing singles instead of Kafelnikov. But they will miss Yevgeny in the doubles if he can't play by then.

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

He should be playing singles over Kafel? I assume you are meaning only if Kafel is actually injured and not healthy? How many years has it been since Kafel lost on that exact surface? 6?

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

Anyways.... how is Youzhny indoors? This could really be his chance to shine if he's good in side

 

[is6]

I don't think Michail is good on indoors courts...

in the past two years he played 11 matches, six of which he lost


btw, Safin in his present form is far from being a favourite

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

Well the Argentine team consists of:

David Nalbandian
Gaston Gaudio
Juan Ignacio Chela
Lucas Arnold

So are David and Gaston their top 2 singles players for the tie Or will Chela replace one of them?

Well lets examine their indoors records:

The source for all of my stats is www.tenniscorner.net which may differ slightly from atptennis and itf depending on which counts DC and which doesn't.

Anyhow, their records indoors are as follows:

David Nalbandian: 1-1
He's only been fulltime for about a year now, which would account for the lack of experience. Both matches were played in 2001 in Moscow. He beat Anthony Dupuis, then lost 4-6 6-7 to Kafelnikov.
So his indoor abilities are a question mark. However as the Wimbledon final, Toronto quarters, and US Open 3rd round from last year (where he beat Escude 7-5 in the fifth, then lost to Kafelnikov in 4) would indicate, he definately does have the ability to play on faster surfaces then some would assume.


Gaston Gaudio: 2-6.
He didnt play his first atp indoor tournament untill 2000 where he went 0-4, with losses against: Prinosil, Golmard, Rafter and Pavel. In 2001 he went 2-2 with wins against Dupuis, and Tabara. His losses were from Clement, and Ljubicic.
I'm not sure what to make of this really. If he possess the ability to do well on indoor courts, he is yet to draw from it.

Chela: 0-0
He has no record of having played indoors on tenniscorner.

Arnold: 0-0
Seeing as he is here as a doubles player his record indoors in singles, is fairly irrelevant.



I did this all to kill time, but it did satisfy my point. Even in poor form, Safin should definately be the fave against Gaudio, and has more experience indoors then both David and Chela.

Though both of the latter two are questionable as we haven't seen enough of them/any of them indoors to make that call.

I think Chela is potentially their toughest challenger, personally.

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

For the most part I think head to heads are irrelevant in Davis Cup, But I will include some to humour myself.

I will not use Kafelnikov's, for the fact that we do not know if he will play yet. I will also not include the doubles players (Llorda and Arnold).



Safin leads Chela 2-0. Both matches were played this year, one in Hamburg on clay and the other in Toronto on hard. Chela didn't win a set either.

Safin is tied with Gaudio at 2-2. All 4 were played on clay, with Gaudio winning the last one. They haven't played since 2001.

Safin leads David 2-0. Both were played on clay, and both this year. Monte Carlo went to three sets, and Roland Garros to 4.


It is hard to guage how they would fare against Marat on an indoor court since the only one who has played him on a surface either than clay is Chela. Though I have to think that if Marat is competitive with Gaudio on Gaudio's best surface, then chances are he will do well against him on possibley Gaston's worst surface. As for David and Chela, neither has enough indoor experience for me to really know that to make of them.


Now, assuming that Youzhny ends up playing, we'll look at his records against the three as well:

He has played neither Nalbandian, nor Chela.

Youzhny is 1-1 vs Gaudio. Both matches were played this year. Gaudio won the match on clay, Youzhny won the one on Grass at Wimbledon. If it wasn't for the fact it was a titanic 5 set clash at Wimbledon I would find that fact very telling.


So even without Kafelnikov, IMO the Russian team still stands a chance. If anything, without Kafelnikov it is a level playing feild. With him, the Russians are by far the faves.


Alright, that is all I'm good for at the moment

 

[Ryan]

Lol, Kafelnikov would be a liability IMO if he played not injured anyway. He's had an AWFUL year, and the team should be fine with Youzhny. Safi should win both his matches, Russia is sittin pretty if ya ask me.*watches Russia lose 5-0 now*

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

Not in Davis Cup, in Moscow on Carpet,

Yevgeny is the Indoor Monster Supreme

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

Ryan - Kafel has had a terrible year, you put him indoors and next thing you know he schools Paradorn and is headed for the finals.

LIke what TBE said.

Kafel just needs to be motivated, and preferable inside

 

[the cat]

Good point Becca! Thanks for giving me an escape route by intimating I meant that Youzhny should play ahead of Kafelnikov only if Kafelnikov is injured and can't play. Of course that's what I meant!

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

I can't decide if you are making fun of me or not

 

[the cat]

No Becca. I'm not making fun of you. All the points you've made this thread are valid.

 

[is6]

more bad news....

Marat's BMW ($90,000) has been stolen... more stuff to think about...

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

oh oh
i hope he better focus on his tennis

 

[Nimi]

Ryan, 5 straight Moscow titles on Indoor Supreme, & as Eggy said, its DC.

 

[Nimi]

more bad news....

Marat's BMW ($90,000) has been stolen... more stuff to think about...

Oh dear. Russia are doomed
Well, Chela & Gaudio will play singles, Marat & Yevgeny will play singles & itll be Nalbandian/Arnold v Marat/Yevgeny.

The usual for Russia. But both Yevgeny & Marat are not in the right situation to win. The best thing is that no matter what, one of my fave teams will make the final

 

[tennischick]

you sure it was stolen and he didn't just crash it hoping to get a new one...

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