Nalbandian Puts Argentina Ahead
Posted on July 17, 2005David Nalbandian and French Open finalist Mariano Puerta gave Lleyton Hewitt and Wayne Arthurs a grasscourt doubles schooling Saturday in Sydney, putting Argentina ahead 2-1 in the tie with a 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3 shocker.
"He was very confident and very motivated," said Nalbandian of Puerta's unexpected Aussie doubles clinic. "It was an incredible match...We just need to win one more match. Doesn't matter if it is me or Guillermo (Coria)."
Hewitt and Arthurs went in as the favorites, but had no answers for Puerta's inspired play, with pride on the line after Friday's blow-up between Hewitt and Coria.
"We felt like we were the better team," Hewitt said. "We had opportunities to break in the third set and we didn't take those chances when we needed to. Even when we were down we felt if we could get the third set, there would be some momentum."
Costly to the Aussies was the retirement of Todd Woodbridge after Wimbledon, forcing together the first-time pairing of Hewitt and Arthurs.
The Aussies will need to sweep both singles on Sunday, with Hewitt facing Nalbandian, then Arthurs against Coria.
"I always look forward to the big occasion and if Lleyton gets over the line then I'm going to be ready for that fifth rubber," Arthurs said. "The momentum has shifted with us losing today and if Lleyton can win that first match then the momentum will shift back to our side. It's going to be a big day."
"He was very confident and very motivated," said Nalbandian of Puerta's unexpected Aussie doubles clinic. "It was an incredible match...We just need to win one more match. Doesn't matter if it is me or Guillermo (Coria)."
Hewitt and Arthurs went in as the favorites, but had no answers for Puerta's inspired play, with pride on the line after Friday's blow-up between Hewitt and Coria.
"We felt like we were the better team," Hewitt said. "We had opportunities to break in the third set and we didn't take those chances when we needed to. Even when we were down we felt if we could get the third set, there would be some momentum."
Costly to the Aussies was the retirement of Todd Woodbridge after Wimbledon, forcing together the first-time pairing of Hewitt and Arthurs.
The Aussies will need to sweep both singles on Sunday, with Hewitt facing Nalbandian, then Arthurs against Coria.
"I always look forward to the big occasion and if Lleyton gets over the line then I'm going to be ready for that fifth rubber," Arthurs said. "The momentum has shifted with us losing today and if Lleyton can win that first match then the momentum will shift back to our side. It's going to be a big day."