Defending Davis Cup Champs Spain Down 0-2; Serena Out at Dubai

Posted on March 5, 2005

Serena Retires, Davenport in Final at WTA Dubai

Serena Williams derailed the foreseeable all-American final at the WTA stop in Dubai on Friday, retiring in the second set against Jelena Jankovic at 0-6, 3-4 with an arm injury.

The injury-and-illness-ridden American also defaulted in her last event in the quarterfinals at the Paris Open.

"When I came into this event I had a shoulder problem," Serena said. "I honestly believe it's the balls, because the last time I had this problem was at the (WTA) Championships. They used the same balls and that resulted in a severe stomach strain. Ever since I've been practicing I've been getting the same symptoms. My arm's hurting really bad where I serve. My whole arm hurts, except for my hand and my wrist. That's doing excellent right now. But everything else hurts, which could lead to another abdominal strain. I have a strained shoulder tendon, I guess."

In the final the unseeded Jankovic will have her hands full against world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, who came from a set down to defeat Swiss Patty Schnyder 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

"In the first set I felt so wild," said Davenport, who suffered from an upset stomach during the match. "I was trying so hard and the balls were just flying on me. It was so hard keeping balls in. Finally I got my shots inside the lines and didn't go for so much and I was able to play a little bit more percentage tennis."

Davenport has won both her meetings with Jankovic in straight sets.

The doubles final will be (1) Ruano Pascual/Suarez (d. (WC) Hantuchova/Schiavone in three in the semis) against (2) Kuznetsova/Molik (d. Yan/Zheng).

Davis Cup World Group Results

Spain at Slovak Republic (Slovaks lead 2-0)
Surface: Hard indoors

Karol Beck (SVK) d. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) d. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3

Beck comes through with a straight-set shocker over F-Lo, and Spain pays for not going with Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal in singles when The Dominator takes out Verdasco. It's a long road back for Spain if Nadal and Al Costa can win the doubles over The Dominator and virtual unknown Michal Mertinak on Saturday.
 
Netherlands at Switzerland (Dutch lead 2-0)
Surface: Hard indoors

Sjeng Schalken (NED) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
Peter Wessels (NED) d. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 7-6(12), 6-7(4), 7-6(7), 6-4

Schalken repels a valiant five-set effort by the aggressive "Chud," then Pete "Nuclear" Wessels serves and volleys the Dutch to a 2-0 lead over the Federer-abandoned Swiss. The shaky doubles team of Yves Allegro and George "I Beat Sampras at Wimbledon" Bastl will try and keep the Swiss in it against "Everybody Loves" Raemon Sluiter and Wessels.

Austria at Australia (Australia leads 2-0)
Surface: Grass

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d. Alexander Peya (AUT) 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
Wayne Arthurs (AUS) d. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-4

"I was feeling pretty dodgy the first day I arrived," Arthurs said. "I got a good nights sleep Tuesday and Wednesday and got into the swing very quickly. To come out here with probably only two hours practice on this grasscourt, it makes it one of my most pleasing wins." Julian Knowle and Peya will try and keep Austria in it on Saturday against Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge.

Czech Republic at Argentina (Gauchos lead 2-0)
Surface: Clay outdoors

David Nalbandian (ARG) d. Jiri Novak (CZE) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
Guillermo Coria (ARG) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3

The Top 10 team of Nalbandian and Coria subdue the Czechs on the home red clay, with Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas looking to clinch Saturday against Czechs Jan Hernych and Tomas Zib in the doubles.

Chile at Russia (tied 1-1)
Surface: Carpet indoors

Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) d. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(4)
Marat Safin (RUS) d. Adrian Garcia (CHI) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4)

Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev makes an error playing the back-from-injury Youzhny over Nikolay Davydenko, but Safin saves the day to tie it 1-1. The leader will be determined Saturday when Russia's Igor Andreev and Davydenko face Garcia and Gonzalez.

Sweden at France (tied 1-1)
Surface: Clay indoors

Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) d. Joachim Johansson (SWE) 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
Thomas Johansson (SWE) vs. Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(1)

Swede captain Mats Wilander makes a mistake going with the injured J.Johansson, but T.Johansson levels it at 1-1 with a win over the out-of-shape and thigh-injured Grosjean. The Saturday doubles will see Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra for France against Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman for the Swedes.

Belarus at Romania (tied 1-1)
Surface: Clay indoors

Max Mirnyi (BLR) d. Victor Hanescu (ROM) 7-6(6), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Andrei Pavel (ROM) d. Vladimir Voltchkov (BLR) 6-4, 7-6(2), 7-6(2)

The Beast brings timely net approaches to defeat Hanescu, but the Romanian-rock Pavel levels it at 1-1, defeating Voltchkov in straights. Scheduled for Saturday in the doubles are Pavel and Gabriel Trifu for Romania versus The Beast and 17-year-old neophyte Aliaksandr Bury.

Croatia at USA (tied 1-1)
Surface: Hard outdoors

Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) d. Andre Agassi (USA) 6-3, 7-6(0), 6-3
Andy Roddick (USA) d. Mario Ancic (CRO) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4

Ljubicic rolls a slow, footwork-lacking rattled-looking Agassi in windy conditions, but Roddick saves the day after a first-set hiccup against Baby Goran. The Bryan brothers will be the favorites Saturday against Ljubicic-Ancic.

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