|
 |
|
|
Hewitt Slams Davis Cup; WTA Tokyo PreviewsView Discussions
Posted on February 3, 2004
 Tennis-X will preview two matches per day of the eight first round match-ups during the days leading to the first round World Group matches for the 2004 Davis Cup, finishing with the first ball hit on Friday. Today's features are defending champion Australia vs. Sweden, and the U.S. vs. Austria:
AUSTRALIA vs. SWEDEN
Site: Memorial Drive, Adelaide, AUS
Surface: Hard outdoors (Rebound Ace)
Ball Type: Slazenger Championship
This is the third meeting in three years between these two storied Cup countries, but unfortunately for Sweden, this match will go the same direction of the last two -- the Aussie way. But a glimmer of hope remains for the Swedes, with dissension in the Aussie camp after doubles specialist Todd Woodbridge lambasted Mark Philippoussis in the press after Flipper's loss at the Australian Open, questioning his dedication. Guess that old "Aussie camaraderie" is a thing of the past.
The Swedes will also have to make a tough decision between leading with the old guard in singles in Thomas Enqvist and Jonas Bjorkman, or giving youngsters Robin Soderling and Joachim "I'm Dating Lleyton's Sister" Johansson a trial by fire. With all the practice hitting Johansson has been doing with Lleyton Hewitt of late, it would be an interesting tactic.
The defending champ Aussies are the resounding favorites, on their home courts in Adelaide, with Hewitt and Philippoussis in singles, and Woodbridge and lefty serving machine Wayne Arthurs almost guaranteeing the doubles point. The winner here will meet the winner of the U.S.-Austria meeting in the second round.
"We believe we can surprise the Australian team and we do not feel threatened," said Swedish captain Mats Wilander from his perch in fantasy land. The only surprise in this one will be if the Swedes somehow avoid the 5-0 shutout like last April.
U.S. vs. AUSTRIA
Site: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Surface: Hard indoors (Premier)
Ball Type: Wilson US Open Tournament Select
Not even the return of former No. 1 Thomas Muster would help the Austrians in this one. Last year's No. 1 Andy Roddick and Davis Cup rookie Robby Ginepri lead the singles effort for the Americans, while last year's No. 1 doubles team in twins Bob and Mike Bryan will be tough to beat, coming off a runner-up effort to Frenchmen Michael Llodra/Fabrice Santoro at the Australian Open.
"Robby has stepped up his game to the next level," U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said. "He's had very consistent results. He had a very good tournament (at the Australian Open). His ranking is continuing to improve, and I felt like this was an excellent opportunity for him."
Ginepri's debut reinforced Pat Mac's lack of confidence in James Blake, who lost the No. 2 singles spot after his ranking took a nosedive in 2003. Taylor Dent took himself out of the running after getting pasted by Roddick in Melbourne, with the oft-injured serve-and-volleyer suffering from a hip problem.
Austria features the underpowered singles squad of Stefan "Tony" Koubek and Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer, both ranked well outside the Top 50 on the ATP Rankings. Julian Knowle and Alexander Peya have also been named to the Austrian team, and some combination from the four will be offered up to the Bryan brothers in the Saturday doubles. The only hope the Austrians have is catching the U.S. squad looking too far ahead to their potential second round match with the defending champion Australians.
DAVIS CUP TITLE LEADERS (WORLD GROUP)
Here are the Davis Cup title leaders since the inception of the 16-team World Group in 1981:
------------
6--Sweden
------------
5--Australia
5--USA
------------
3--France
3--Germany
------------
2--Russia
------------
1--Spain
------------
WTA PREVIEW
The WTA Tour is in Tokyo this week for the Toray Pan Pacific Open, with Venus Williams center stage in her attempt to regain the form that lifted her to No. 1 in the world.
"What I need to do now is just put my break behind me and keep moving on with the now and with each match that I play from here," said Williams after her shocking Australian Open exit to countrywoman Lisa Raymond.
Jennifer Capriati pulled from the event with a back injury, but the field remains strong with seven seeds joining Venus in defending champion Lindsay Davenport, Elena Dementieva, Ai Sugiyama, Chanda Rubin, Nadia Petrova, Jelena "Back with Dad" Dokic making her 2004 debut, and Daniela "The Walking Stick" Hantuchova looking to turn around her miserable 2004 campaign.
The unseeded Raymond could again meet Venus if she can win out to the semifinals, while (8)Hantuchova features in the only tough first round match-up against Aussie riser Alicia Molik. In last year's final, the No. 3-seeded Davenport upset top-seeded Monica Seles in three sets.
JUNIOR NO. 1 TO ATP NO. 1
Roger Federer became the fifth player to go from year-end No. 1 junior in the world to ATP No. 1:
Roger Federer
Andy Roddick
Marcelo Rios
Stefan Edberg
Ivan Lendl
SAMPRAS AND CHANG HIT THE LINKS
From ATP
Former TMS-Indian Wells champions Pete Sampras and Michael Chang returned to the California desert last week for the PGA Tour event at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in La Quinta. Sampras' team placed sixth in the amateur competition at 56 under par for four rounds. His playing partners were actor Luke Wilson and Louis Siracusano. Chang's team finished at 45 under par. His teammates were singer Michael Bolton and Robert Fraiman. Justin Leonard, the 1997 British Open champion who played with Chang in Wednesday's first round, said: "I played with Michael [Chang] and Michael Bolton today. I got to pick Chang's brain all day long about tennis and what is this tournament like and what is this player like. I probably wore the guy out. I certainly enjoyed playing with him more than he enjoyed playing with me."
FREE TENNIS-X DAILY E-MAIL
Check the top of the home page for the new daily e-mail, sign up to get your daily fix of Tennis-X new in your in-box.
NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Martina Navratilova after losing in the Aussie Open mixed doubles final in her last appearance at the event: "It was not quite the ending that I was hoping for, but it was a pleasure to be here on a Sunday, and I want to thank all of you for your support throughout the years. I'm not saying goodbye to Australia, I'm just saying goodbye to playing tennis here."...The Aussie Open has had many homes in its 99-year existence, including the Perth Zoo when it was carted around Australasia to satisfy provincial interests...Belgian journalists are saying Lleyton Hewitt and Kim Clijsters will get married soon after Wimbledon...Word is that Roger Federer will seek out Darren Cahill, Andre Agassi's coach, after Agassi hangs it up...After shooting off his mouth then getting the "I'm-going-to-beat-your-ass" phone call, tough-guy-turned-whuss Pat Cash says he is thinking about getting the police to issue a restraining order again Mark Phillipoussis...The World Anti-Doping Agency is poised to re-open cases against seven ATP players who last year tested positive to the steroid nandrolone, but were cleared by the ATP on a technicality, according to the Herald Sun...Magnus Norman had over three hours of surgery on both hips on Friday, Jan. 23, in Nashville, Tennessee. He is expected to be out of action for at least six months...Jonas Bjorkman slammed Pat Cash, saying former grand slam winners Bjorn Bjorg, Mats Wilander, and Stefan Edberg did not "have to be in the spotlight" like Cash wants to be: "It's unfortunate. It wouldn't happen in Sweden that a player who played in the past are going aggressively (against) any other players. They don't have to be in the spotlight any more. They can handle doing something different and they go back to a normal life. That's the Swedish mentality and it works well."...Lleyton Hewitt is leading complaints that the break is too short between the November Davis Cup finals and the February Davis Cup first round...Marat Safin says no one will win all four majors in one year: "Tennis is too equal, and everybody can beat everybody. Maybe two a year but not all four of them. It takes a lot of energy. It's too difficult. Too many matches."...Gael Monfils won the junior boys title at the Australian Open, beating Josselyn Ouanna 6-0, 6-3 in an all-French final.
View Discussions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
