Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpishchev
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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The Davis Cup: Russia v. Germany?
The semifinal match between Russia and Germany begins today in the U.S. Open tennis tournament. Unless something unforeseen happens, the Russian team, the current trophy holders, should advance to the final, in which it is most likely to face the United States' team.
Captain of the Russian team Shamil Tarpishchev surprised those around him yesterday when he pitted Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev against Germans Tommy Haas and Philipp Kohlschreiber in singles. Mikhail Yuzhny and Dmitry Tursunov are the preliminary choices to go up against Germans Alexander Waske and Philip Petzschner in pairs. Everyone expected Yuzhny to keep Davydenko company in the singles. Tarpishchev explained that Andreev was better prepared to play on the clay courts. He added that the surface was chosen “collegially” with the players.
Andreev showed his leadership ability already this season in the 1st round match against the Chileans. He also has a good record in personal matches against the Germans. Andreev has never won against Haas, although he has beaten Kohlschreiber four times. Davydenko played Kohlschreiber twice and won once, in three sets, two weeks ago at the U.S. Open quarterfinal.
Reports that Davydenko's chronic wrist problems had returned proved to be untrue. Marat Safin has an injured wrist, however. He has bowed out of play with that condition and left to climb Mt. Cho-Oyu in the Himalayas, the sixth highest mountain in the world at 8201 meters (26,906 feet). He did not set off into the mountain, however, saying that he was not physically prepared. He said he would play again this year at the Masters series in Madrid.
Bookmaker William Hill's odds makers at giving 1.72:1 on the Americans and 1:3.50 on the Russians. No one expects the U.S. team, with Andy Roddick and the world's strongest pairs players Bob and Mike Bryan, will fall to the Swedes. Tarpishchev could begin applying for his U.S. visa now, since he has never gotten one without some hangup. When he went to that country for the Fed Cup in July of this year, he was unable to arrive until the day before the match.
Alexander Petrov
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 21, 2007
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