Davis Cup day 1: Rusedski v Stakhovsky

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

RE: Davis Cup day 1: Rusedski v Stakhovsky

Sheddie · administrator

R serving:

15-15

15-30: R nets backhand approach

15-40: R forehand long

30-40: Ace down T

Deuce: Big serve out wide, big forehand behind S, R puts smash away

Ad R: Drop volley winner

Game: R serve out wide, volley winner into open court

6-1, 0-1

S serving:

15-0: Drop shot then lob. R gets it and gets it right back to baseline but S smashes away forehand winner from behind baseline

30-0: R bh pass long

40-0: R bh return into net

Game: R drop shot, S gets it and R nets tough volley

6-1, 1-1

R serving:

15-0: Big serve

30-0: S bh pass just wide

30-15: S smashes fh return, R can't get racket on it at net

40-15

40-30: R drop volley, S gets it, lobs R, R hits backhand smash, S is at net and volleys into open court

Game: Volley winner from R

6-1, 1-2

Sheddie · administrator

S holds to 15 for 2-2. Missed that game apart from final ace out wide from S

R serving:

15-0: S nets fh pass 30-0: R big forehand down the line on 2nd shot, great shot as R was on baseline, took the ball really early

40-0: R half-volley into corner, S mi****s lob, lands just over net, R puts it away

Game: S return long

6-1, 2-3

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Greg holds serve to go ahead 3-2. He is holding much more easily this set but there hasn't been much change to his game. It's partly he's hitting the lines instead of going out but its also S isn't able to keep up the level of set 1, he made some sloppy mistakes that last game and Greg is looking less uncomfortable on the clay which is a good sign.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

yay Greg breaks to 15!!

Suddenly he was a changed player, perhaps Lloyd said something useful to him in the change of ends? whatever, long may it continue!

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

And greg goes on to win the second set 6-3. Excellent turn around. I'd still say that Greg is looking like the lower ranked player but the gap between the two has reduced dramatically. If nothing changes (ie Greg keeps his level up and S doesn't raise his) then Greg should win this, but as I said before, anything can happen still.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

r serves and holds, 1-0 in the third set. In that game he executed a lovely serve-volley combination.

Greg is standing much closer to the baseline than he was in the first set which is probably helping him a lot.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Greg holds to 15. 1-1.

one of those points was a lovely exchange between the two with Greg at the net and S at the baseline.

G isn't serve-volleying as much as he has in the past but this is working to his advantage as S is kept guessing. S has produced some excellent passing shots off the serve so it's good not to have him sitting there waiting for the target practise.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

where did UBF go anyway? Sorry I can't give as detailed commentary but the tv and internet are in different rooms so I'm running in between games!

a love service game to the ukrainian there. 2-1

some great serves and shots from him and some ues from Greg.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Greg holds to 15. 2-2

the point s won was a great drop-shot, lob combination that Murray would have been proud of!

Greg is serving really well at the moment.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

S holds but needs two deuces to do so. 3-2

he went to a 40-15 lead curtesy of a ue from Greg and an unreturnably second serve (it was right on the line of the service box, nothing G could do). But then G clawed it up to deuce with a couple of great winners down the line.

S got ad, with an ace, but greg got it back to deuce, and again, and again. three deuces in all but Greg never had a bp in the game. He is the first to put pressure on teh serve this set though, so that's hopeful so long as he holds now!

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

And greg holds to 30. he got a little bit rushed on the point at 30-15 and went into the net as a result. I hope this isn't a sign that he's tiring.

3-3 third set.

Sheddie · administrator

Sorry about disapearing

S got to 30-30 on the R serve but R held on for 3-3

S has just come from 15-30 to hold for 4-3

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

s holds to 4-3, from deuce.

greg was leading 15-30 and looked in control of the game, coming into the net off every second serve, but then S pulled out a couple of first serves to lead 40-30. Greg followed up by hitting return winner off the second serve, deuce but then two more good first serves saw S safely to the game.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

quick hold to 15 from Greg. 4-4. he needs to break here.