Congrats from the Pennster
Two guys won the whole thing. What happened to doubles WTF champs?

What happened is WTF doubles format is not real tennis : 4 points to win a game, when it gets to deuce next point wins game, 3rd set is match tiebreak to 10 win by 2. This was done to guarantee the doubles matches don't go on too long before the singles matches. Over a long best of 5 match the weakness of Granola showed.

Czech Republic wins Davis, Fed, and Hopman Cup. They are the first nation to have ever done this? Very nice for Berdych and co.

Looks like he was right when he said Almagro was the weakest point.

Hopefully Nico will learn from this. Corretja seemed to have faith in him and was quite encouraging at the end of the match, hugging him. Ferrer looked OK (must be disappointed though); Ferrero looked unhappy, crossing his arms, not smiling. The whole Spanish team looked disappointed, but couldn't begrudge the Czechs, for it's after 32 years that they won this Cup again. The Spanairds had won it five times, and with Rafa, and hopefully Ferrer around for another one, two or three years, I'm confident they'll win some more Davis Cup.

Good for Stepanek, that at the twilight of his career, he has won something big for his country. I hope the same may happen for Nalby, but not at Spain's expense though.

Congrats to Czech Republic. Amazing win for Stephanek, as lucky says. Isn't he like 34?
Shame for Ferrer after his heroic win.

I liked the way Corretja treated all his players during their matches and I think he will prove to be a popular captain. Ditto the Czech captain.

That fifth rubber was very ragged tennis but Stepanek has always been good at raising his level in DC matches and yesterday was a man with a mission. Good for him clinching the doubles match and the final rubber to take the trophy. Not bad for an almost 34yr old- even if he does look like a grouper fish.

It was very mischievous of Kelli to choose the shot above to illustrate her write up ;-)

Felli was right, which means Corretja's judgement is suspect, which makes his captaincy suspect.......

The way Almagro played, he had no business being on court. He looked completely befuddled. And it's not as if Steps was ripping winners left right and center, no, he was just bunting the ball straight back at Almagro confident that Almagro would make a hash of it...............Almagro duly obliged.

Steps played with his head, kudos to him. Almagro left his in the locker room.............

Congratulations to the Czechs, although I didn't see any of the matches It sounds like it was a close contest. At least it stops Rafa haters from gloating that Spain does not need Rafa.


#Rafa Kool-Aid drinker and die-heard armada bandwagon driver.

Many congrats to the Czechs and it was nice that Stepanek pulled it out in the 5th rubber.

Here' a question I have: if the Czechs can win DC with a 2-man crew, why can't Switzerland?

Please Miss, may I answer that one?

very well deserved victory for the czech team. they have given everything for so many years.

Answers please, ed251137..................I am honestly puzzled.

Czech out Stepanek winning the Deciding rubber;). Congrats to him and his team! :)

Q: Why can't Switzerland win DC with a 2-man crew?

A: (i) They only have a 2-man crew once every four years.
(ii) According to No.1 Swiss player, No. 2 is 'still work in progress'.
(iii) No.1 has to carry No.2 in the doubles

Source: Part (ii) and part (iii) based on quotes from the horse's mouth.

Thanks ed251137. Reading from your comments I would add the following as another factor:

It helps to trust your partner, improves team spirit and harmony necessary for a winning mentality.

Also judging by some recent remarks made, the admiring apprentice has ceased to quite so admiring.

It's funny how all you rafans are constantly chirping about how all things need to be rafa in others' eyes. Yet it's clearly obvious how all things need to be about Fed with you. Where is Federer ever mentioned in this article or thread? Oh yeah, nowhere, until someone called "rafaisthebest" brought him into a discussion for no reason whatsoever. Apparently someone called "rafaisthebest" is more interested in talking about Federer than about Nadal himself. I am curious to see what these threads turn into once Federer does retire, because clearly you don't have lives without him.

Why can't GB win with two men?

It takes two to tango.
Murray cant dance on his own.
Maybe if Laura were allowed to play DC they would be in with a chance ;-)

ts38 is voicing his delusions.

ts38 neither talks about any player but spends most of his time criticizing rafans and muzz fans. haha

Stepanek looks like a fish out of water in that pic. LOL

#NiceToBeThoughtOf
#ThankYouMyFan
#Humble

Ed
they have Murray and his brother and that doubles pair. It's a start.

ts38, please do NOT generalize about the Rafa fans! Not everyone is interested in Fed. Sometimes his name was mentioned because we're talking about tennis in general. Nole, Murray, Delpo and Ferrer are also being discussed here, you're the one who's always so sensitive and pick up only those Fed talks. Not to worry, when Fed retires, there're still many more tennis players to talk about. I would very much like to talk about the three younger guys in the top four, plus Delpo, Berdych, Marin, Ferrer, and Jerzy boy.

RITB talks more about Rafa than Fed, so you're wrong here. I would say chr18 talked more about Rafa than Fed, even though he's a Fed supporter. You should tell him to concentrate on Fed instead of Rafa.

Others are being discussed, but I don't see any one of them being brought into a discussion out of left field for the sole reason of knocking them...

And I admit you're right that this does happen with Rafa too, not just Fed. But clearly Fed is more disliked here than Rafa and I've noticed anything negative said about Rafa never goes unresponded. The same can't be said about Federer.

Case in point, I feel like I could change my screen name to "IH8RFederer" and I'd instantly become the most popular poster on TT

You are so right Luckystar. crap18 is obsessed with Rafa and ts38 is obsessed with Rafans. They can't see it of course their tunnel vision being rather...tunnelled.

Of course Fed is more disliked, why shouldn't he be? All ever ever does is gives excuses ALL the time, take nasty jibes at his victors ALL the time, fawns upon himself ALL the time. This is tennis, true fans enjoy the sport, not the self-flaterring, ego-inflating fawning from the TMF.

jean do you know RF personally? did he dump you for Mirka or something? Because you can always be counted on being in an "I hate Federer" discussion. Or, more frequently, having one with yourself.

No 2 British player- Josh Goodall- singles ranking 243
Jamie Murray- doubles ranking 77. No singles ranking
#NeverLetTheFactsInterfereWithTryingToGiveAndyAKicking

ts38,

Maybe you are lonely or whatever, but you are being quite petty. Just because ritb mentioned Fed and it happened to be derogatory, does not mean that ritb always talks about Fed! That is a truly silly generalization! If you have been reading the comments on this forum, you would who says what about which players.

You are making blatant generalizations about Rafa fans that are quite offensive. Don't lump us all into one category. We are individuals and can have our disagreements on many issues, even Rafa. That's what a forum is all about, in case you forgot.

Oh and having read your posts, I sincerely doubt that if you changed your screen name to "IH*RFederer", I highly doubt that you would become the most popular poster on TT. Wishful thinking!

Oops sorry, I hit the asterisk instead of the 8! Here - "IH8RFederer"! That's it!

ts38,

I asked the question about the Swiss DC chances because like the Czechs, the Swiss happen to rely on 2 players for their DC team. Seeing the result the Czechs got with a 2 man team, I think it is a fair question as to why other 2 man DC teams cannot emulate them. I cannot think of another prominent 2 man DC team apart from the Swiss and the Czechs at this moment.

It also just happens that Fed makes up one of those 2. You cannot blame me for that. It could have been anyone else other than Fed in which case I do not think you would have leapt to a criticism of me. The fact that you did shows that it is you who is obsessed with Fed, not me.

Thanks Rafans for pointing out the obvious, Fed is but a foot-note on my radar screen...............I have a more important player to follow: RAFA!!

My my ts38, touched a raw nerve I see.

Have a nice day, deary. Eat some ice cream and cool off.

Each of the top four lock horns everytime they meet. Ergo, Fed will inevitably come into the discussion at some point whenever one of the other three are being talked about.

#FactOfLife

and ts38, this is just for you:

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Federer-not-invited-for-Mubadala -World-Tennis-Championship-articolo7064.html

choice quote:

" Roger Federer is regarded as the best player the sport of tennis has ever seen but the organizers of Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi have ditched the Swiss Maestro from the exhibition event this time.

Federer had been a part of this season opening event every year since its beginning in 2009. However, organizers of the event did not invite the 17-time Grand Slam champion for the coming event, saying that he did not go well with this edition?s theme of the event.

Greg Sproule, cleared that the reason of Federer?s exclusion was the desire of organizers to invite past champions of the event.

Sproule also said that the organizers wanted to invite the youth, the ATP baton careers of future."

Note the last sentence: Fed is past it!

Why would I obsess about a player who is already being regarded as a has-been by major tournaments?

A has been lol. They're probably being diplomatic.

deuce: söderling kept the swedish davis cup team alive during many years, to no real avail since there was never a second singles player... made him lose very much time and effort, and there was never much success. murray better learn from that.

Thanks for the link ritb. More organizers should follow the Mubadala example. Fed's passed his best-before date.

Croc raises an interesting point re Soderling. Personally I dont believe it is right for players to be pressurised to play DC, when it conflicts with their schedule and preparation for major tournaments, and for it then to be suggested they are unpatriotic if they are not prepared to lay down their tennis career for their country.

How long should any of the top players makes sacrifices when called upon for DC duties knowing it will be to no avail and may jeopardise their next tournament(s). e.g. Federer and Murray.

Andy Murray had a public falling out with his brother in 2008 when Jamie added his voice to the criticism of Andy for pulling out from the match against Argentine. This happened to be Andy's breakout year (first Masters title and first GS final) and also at the time of a recurring wrist problem. The next year he played DC, in spite of the wrist injury which had flared up, with the result he missed the next six weeks of the tour.

Deuce
It is a start. Why not try it?

All this Fed hate, come on guys you must have something better to do? Not naming any names! :P

lol jean, touched what nerve? You're the one who's never written anything on this forum except for trashing Federer, Roddick, or Fedfans. I don't think you've ever discussed tennis here before. And you openly make generalizations and start pointless flame wars with other posters. But you're not jumped on like I am...why? Oh yeah, because you're anti-Federer (I guess your crush on him never did work out).

Thanks for the link ritb. More organizers should follow the Mubadala example. Fed's passed his best-before date.
nadline, 11/20/12 3:10 PM ha ha Nadline at it again. Wishful thinking again. One who passed best before date could not have accomplished those done by Fed in 2012. At least you can sleep peaceful today as your quota of Fed-bashing is over!!!