Lopez levels matters as Delpo grinds to a halt
Spanish eye candy Feliciano Lopez
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Those Argentinean tennis fans with tickets for Sunday’s play can relax, though only slightly. The Davis Cup final will still be up for grabs on day three after Friday’s rubbers ended all square, but it will be the Spaniards sleeping a little sounder tonight.
After making the dream start in the day’s first match, the hosts face a nervous wait on news of the condition of their No.1 Juan Martin del Potro ahead of Sunday’s matches.
The 20-year-old limped out of the Mar del Plata’s Estadio Polideportivo Islas Malvinas on the verge of tears after what appeared to be a right thigh strain swung a tightly balanced match in favour of his feisty opponent, Feliciano Lopez.
The Spaniard, promoted from the team’s supporting cast in Rafael Nadal’s absence, produced a gutsy display to claim the second rubber 4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 6-3 and level the tie.
“He [Nadal] was calling the people on the bench in between points to find out [the score] because they cut the TV signal in the hotel he is staying at,” Lopez later revealed.
Lopez produced a gutsy display to level the tie…
It looked as if del Potro was set to pick up where Nalbandian had so comfortably left off, thrilling the partisan crowd with some of the great tennis that took him past his compatriot and into the world’s top ten this year.
On the back of a solid serving performance, the Argentine produced a flurry of flat returns and passing shots that left Lopez, intent on making the most of the quick conditions at the net whenever possible, hanging on at times. The Spaniard was broken in game five, and never found a way to break back as del Potro claimed the set.
It was the only break of the first three sets, as each players’ serves proved too hot to handle on the newly laid acrylic court. The second reached a tiebreak after both failed to produce a single break point, but Lopez played the more consistent tennis when it mattered, clinching the set after HawkEye confirmed del Potro had missed with his forehand.
Both players seemed resigned to the inevitability of a breaker in the third, though Lopez did produce two break points, swiftly snaffled by the Argentine. Again the set went the way of the Spaniard after a passionate display, sealing it with an ace and jogging back to his chair.
But the real drama unfolded in the fourth set. Lopez conjured his first break of the match in game four – and gave it straight back in game five. In the first point of game six, del Potro pulled up after chasing down a wickedly angled Lopez approach and slipping as he looked to change direction.
Saturday’s doubles, which Mancini predicted would seal it for Argentina, now becomes critical…
The Argentine immediately called for the trainer, who set to work on his right thigh, and returned to the court moving gingerly. Lopez capitalised, breaking again and this time consolidating his lead. Again the Argentine received treatment, and managed to hold serve, but was powerless as Lopez served the match out to love.
“I never felt this happy before in my career,” said Lopez. “It’s great to win a match like today, in a Davis Cup final, away from home.”
Del Potro is due to face David Ferrer in the first of the reverse singles on Sunday, depending on the seriousness of his thigh injury.
“The doctor could not make a diagnosis right now,” said del Potro. “I don’t know what the injury is – tomorrow we’ll find out what happened.”
The final singles rubber will pit the mercurial Nalbandian against the durable Lopez.
Saturday’s doubles rubber, which Mancini had boldly predicted would seal the final for Argentina, now becomes critical to their hopes of a first Davis Cup title. Both winners will return to court for Saturday’s action – Lopez will pair up with Fernando Verdasco to face Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri.
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john Nov 22, 04:04 AM
A tremendous start for Nalbandian but a disappointing ending for Del Potro. That is how you can summarized the overall performance from Day 1.
David Nalbandian was just perfect on every aspect of his game and he could do no wrong. Ferrer did had his moments where I felt that he could pull something, but Nalbandian gave him no room for revival. This was the one of the best performance from Nalbandian that I’ve seen in a while.
I have to admit that I was expecting Del Potro to give us a 2-0 lead. But I can put the blame entirely on him as he was carrying a minor injury during the game. I’m sure he will look back with plenty determination to win on Sunday.
Now here comes the moment which I fear the most. Just like what happened, it will be the double event that might be crucial for Argentina on their Davis Cup quest. I hope Nalbandian/Calleri can pull something out of this but Spain will have plenty of confidence following Feliciano’s win. We’ll see how things goes.
In the meantime, please check out my re-cap on the matches from Day 1. Of course, your feedback is highly appreciated.
http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com/2008/11/davis-cup-final-day-1-mixed-fortunes.html
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