Mardy Fish is down two sets to one to Stan in Switzerland. Mardy has lost his mojo and 2012 is looking like it’s going to be a frustrating year for the American who has the best year of his long career in 2011.
Jim Courier is still wearing his suit on the U.S. team bench. Suits on a tennis court just do not look right and I know players should be focused and all that but to come to the chair for each changover and to see a man wearing a suit and tie there has to be a wee bit disconcerting for Mardy. It is for me as a TV viewer. The great Jim Courier, one of the great champions of the sport, resembles more an insurance salesman than the Hall of Fame champ that he is. In defense of Courier, it’s probably a symbolic gesture of his great respect for the Davis Cup.
If there might be one major upset this weekend, I’m taking Canada over France in Vancouver. I like Vasek Pospisil and Milos Raonic in singles, Pospisil had a pair of huge Davis Cup singles wins in five sets last year.
Did anyone see Mikhail Youzhny’s full beard? The Russian sporting the lumberjack look.
Japan is back in the World Group and they’re in a dogfight with Croatia. Nishikori lost in straight sets to Dr. Ivo. But Soeda beat Dodig in Japan.
Did anyone catch that former U.S. Davis Cup team member Sam Querrey lost first round in the Dallas Challenger to Alex Kuznetsov? Ouch. Really hope Q-Ball can re-find that key that took him into the top 20.
Don’t know about you but I’m really looking forward to Federer vs. Isner. I think Johnny Iz can cause some trouble for the Swiss maestro.
Some of the most exciting matches I’ve ever seen have happened in Davis Cup – Youzhny-Mathieu, Courier-Henman, Courier-Rusedski, Roddick-Tursunov, Courier-Safin, Troicki-Llodra, etc. I think we’ll have at least one classic this weekend.
Sweden has one of the weakest teams but somehow, every year, they seem to stay in the World Group. This year’s team consists of Floran Prpic, Michael Ryderstedt, Robert Lindstedt and another guy named Carl I never heard of before. Thomas Enqvist is the captain. Serbia should roll over Sweden 5-0.
Your comments, questions, suggestions, or any kind of ramble on all things Davis Cup are welcomely invited…
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Scoop Malinowski · February 10, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Mardy turns up the emotional adrenaline and intensity going in set four and sure enough, he soon after takes charge of the set. Amazing point to which Gimelstob uses his signature line “that is FIL THEE!” I don’t like that line at all, wish TTC would ban it. Patrick McEnroe’s “HELLO!” and “ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?” are exponentially superior phrases than “That is filthy”
Scoop Malinowski · February 10, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Big win by Fish, he really turned it around and had to struggle and suffer to close it out. Huge win for Fish. He has let so many of these tough ones slip away in the last year, also the one in Australia to Falla was a match he had SO many chances to win but let slip away. THis one to Stan almost slipped away but this was a monster I mean monster win for Mardy and could turn around his whole season. Great finish, great battle, by both players. MArdy let out one of those huge primal screams at his chair after it was over, a la Djokovic. Such a relief and joy to win this one for Fish. Now Isner is up two sets to one and looks ready to spring the upset on Roger. I saw Roger struggle and barely get by Karlovic in Australia and Isner is a better player now than Dr. Ivo. Isner and USA could go up 2-0 here and put the stranglehold on the tie.
Scoop Malinowski · February 10, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Wow, Isner just closed out Federer in four sets, breaking Fed at 15 for the win 6-2 in the fourth set. When Isner plays like this he can take out anybody, absolutely anybody. The serve was of course lethal but the backhand returns were deadly also. Tremendous performance by Isner. Fed looked vulnerable against this big serving style (Karlovic) in Melbourne, Isner proved today that even the best players in the world can fall apart facing this game. Blake lost to Dr. Ivo in Delray two years ago and said “it wasn’t even like playing tennis” that’s how frustrating it is to play Ivo or Isner. Isner called it the “biggest win of his life” and credit Captain Courier for his coaching and support all week, constantly telling him what to do and what shots to hit.
Steve · February 10, 2012 at 8:44 pm
In other news, Gonzo is retiring.
Scoop Malinowski · February 10, 2012 at 10:53 pm
James Blake probably won’t be attending the Gonzalito farewell party )
Andrew Miller · February 11, 2012 at 1:45 am
Wow, Isner over Federer, in Switzerland? I’d say this Davis Cup turns the year around for both Isner and Fish.
I think the doubles could go either way, and Federer would then take out Fish – it’s a clay court and Mardy is good on clay, but edge goes to Federer – even if he dropped the match to Isner, wow.
(Way to go Isner!)
that leaves the tie in the hands of Wawrinka. Who Isner definitely can beat. Man, this might be the USA’s tie!
Andrew Miller · February 11, 2012 at 1:46 am
I hate the suit. But hey, Courier is up 2-0 in switzerland vs. Federer.
Scoop Malinowski · February 11, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Andrew, I think Swiss will load up in the dubs with Fed and Stan to try and take it, to stay alive for Sunday. But USA even if they lose doubles today, will be in very strong position, I like Fish’s chances vs. a vulnerable Roger right now, Fish is flying high right now after that awesome win vs. Stan. Isner can also take out Stan. USA I feel has the stranglehold on this tie, Switzerland looks like a fragile team and not comfortable in the role of being heavy favorite. USA 4-1 over Switzerer or Federerland.
Andrew Miller · February 11, 2012 at 6:21 pm
My goodness. USA 3-0. Who cares what I think, Courier can keep the suit. Sheesh. 3-0. 3-0 over Federer and Switzerland. 3-0.
Scoop Malinowski · February 11, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Incredible doubles match today! Mardy called Bryan “the best doubles player of all time” after in the interview with Christopher 44 Hours Bowers. (BTW CB once played tennis for 44 straight hours). They were too much for Fed and Stan, Bryan was as always on his A game and Mardy was too, Mardy was merciless and showed a fierce killer instinct, showing many fist pumps and a lot of aggressive body language between points. Awesome, never saw Fish so fired up like this. They lost the first set but amped up the emotional energy and adrenaline and Stan and Fed never matched it. They couldn’t match it. Who needs Andy Roddick? I think this US Team is the team to go with for the rest of ’12. Another irony is Fed really had kind of a big breakout performance vs. the US about ten years ago, he won both singles and his doubles match and was crying on the court after, it meant so much to him, think he beat Gambill and Martin. Now, at the homestretch of his career, vs. the US again, now Roger may have had the reverse breakthrough, perhaps this was a sign of his decline, not being able to get it done any more in the big moment. Fed was in both the doubles today and vs. Isner but he failed in the crunch to TCB. Just an observation. Congrats to the United States team and Captain Courier, this was an unforgettable weekend in the annals of US Davis Cup history.
Gans · February 11, 2012 at 8:53 pm
US did really well to win 3-0. This very well shows that in sports, you can’t just go out there thinking that you are supposed to win.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your backyard or that you have won 16 slams. Stan made too many mistakes and Fed who was trying his best to stay calm, focused and motivated made a few uncharacteristic errors himself in the last game to lose w/o much fight.
Congratulations to Mardy, John, Mike and Jim. Great job.
Gans · February 11, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Another thing I noticed was how well-behaved the crowd was. Contrary to the French or American crowd who tend to support their favorites, Swiz fans were so balanced.
Last year when Spain was beating the US, the Texas crowd was so much pro-American to the point that it looked ugly. Ferrer would hit some great shots and the crowd would just sit there and watch. Dead silence!
To me, that’s not how sports should be played. It’s fundamentally wrong to be soooooooo one-sided. I know it’s a sensitive issue and some people may ask, “what’s wrong in supporting my country”. Nothing wrong, but to not applaud or appreciate when the visiting country plays well is shameful. It’s worse than losing.
I think, it’s in the roots. Last week, my kid served as a ball boy for UoL vs. UoMinnesota college match. The local crowd was so biased. My wife and I were the only two from Louisville who applauded when Minnesota hit some great shots. That’s the spirit of the sports.
There is nothing wrong in losing. Today, Swiz team may have lost, but Tennis was played at its best spirits. Stan and Federer kept it all together. No arguments with the referee, no swearing. Just clean tennis. Thanks to Switzerland for hosting such a great match!
Scoop Malinowski · February 11, 2012 at 10:20 pm
You are an honorable sportsman Gans. That is nice to read. Fish also commented that the Swiss fans are the best away fans he’s every competed in front of, he said they didn’t try to distract him or any of that nonsense. The Swiss people went up in my book, as did my respect for Fed and Stan I really liked how they competed today, especially Federer, liked how he really tried to get Stan going at the end of the fourth set by making him laugh and then giving him a pat on the hip in the last game But it just wasn’t to be, Bryan and Fish were too good and too hungry today. Gans you should have seen the world title fight in Argentina yesterday for boxing. The Filipino KOed the hometown champion Argentine, nothing dirty or unfair, and the Argentine fans caused a riot, throwing things into the ring and going crazy. Then some of the champions cornermen started attacking the Filipino team and the Filipino boxer who won the fight. It’s one of the absolute worst most horrible things I’ve ever seen in sports. Argentina just went way down in my book. But it’s only boxing, something this ugly would never happen in tennis or Argentine Davis Cup.
Andrew Miller · February 11, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Seems the swiss fans were not partisan enough! Rough crowds come with the territory – away players in Serbia don’t get the kind of pass they get in Switzerland. The Swiss are forever neutral – don’t think for a second the U.S. didn’t benefit from this!
I agree with Scoop re: the irony of the Davis Cup loss for Federer – how he had singlehandedly destroyed team USA with Jan-Michael Gambill back in “the day” and now, some payback. All that said: I think Federer doesn’t get too lost in the irony – he will put his best foot forward no matter what at the Olympics. And for what it’s worth, he has a gold medal with Stan already.
It may be ironic that he will, most likely, end his career without a Davis Cup championship in tow. It’s not necessary for him, even though it does look like a gap when you match his numbers up against Nadal and Djokovic. Sure, he has more slams. But no Davis Cup rings.
Andrew Miller · February 11, 2012 at 10:29 pm
Then again, Scoop’s note on the Filipino win in Argentine boxing is indeed an ugly footnote! Sheesh I hope the Argentines learned that that is not right.
Dan Markowitz · February 11, 2012 at 11:16 pm
I don’t know, Gans. I honor and admire your sportsmanship–I’m still in Costa Rica so didn’t see how the Swiss fans reacted and behaved–but I also know how much more fun it is when attending a sporting match when you’re ardently rooting for one team or player.
Have you seen what’s happening in New York right now with Jeremy Lin, the Harvard-educated, first Chinese-American player ever in the NBA? The Madison Square Garden crowd is going nuts because Lin is ousting every guard he faces, putting up extraordinary performances four games running, and the Knicks are finally winning without their two high-priced stars.
I don’t see anything wrong in rooting hard for one team-player in a sporting contest and not rooting for the other team-player. I think it’s wrong to root ardently against another team-player, although I’ve done it myself numerous times. It’s just a game, it’s not how I’d behave in other aspects of life where I like to be fair-minded and handed. But sports are more fun when you root hard for one team-player. I’m not going to clap my hands for Ferrer if I’m rooting for Fish.
Scoop Malinowski · February 11, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Andrew, I think Fed not winning the Davis Cup is a void on his legacy, like Pete not winning the French Open. Switzerland had the horses to win it in Stan and Fed but they were unable to play their best tennis when it counted most in the Davis Cup arena. Though Fed and Stan winning the OLY doubles was a fantastic achievement too. Also, Sampras never won a medal at the OLY, pretty sure he entered at least one OLY Games. Remember Pete saying the OLY were not a high priority for him, the majors were.
Scoop Malinowski · February 11, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Andrew, the 1 minute video of the fight ending and riot is at fightnews.com if you care to see this disaster. BTW did anyone see the Australian Open womens QF match ending of Vesnina/Mirza vs. Huber/Raymond. VM were at 6-2 in the third set TB when Huber got a ball after it bounced twice. The chair ump wouldn’t give them the match and Huber/Raymond got it back to 6-6 then VM won the next two points – Mirza rifled a forehand that decked Huber at the net and they won the next point. But it was crazy, V and M were telling Ramos, WHY do you like to start fights with the players? Dramatic match, it’s on you tube.
Scoop Malinowski · February 11, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Didn’t Karolji Seles start that applauding the other player’s great shots? At least he’s the first one I remember doing that. It’s easy to root for your team or player and dislike the opponent but the most mature and advanced fan can appreciate fine play of both sides. Tennis is easy for this kind of person because most fans respect all the players and things rarely gets out of hand at pro tennis events.
Mitch · February 12, 2012 at 4:09 am
I don’t think this loss means anything for Fed going forward, but it could turn Fish’s season around after that atrocious start in Australia. I think Isner was already set for a big year, regardless.
Dan Markowitz · February 12, 2012 at 11:37 am
Scoop,
You saying I’m not mature and advanced? No, I think most of us are taught early in our athletic lives to be good sports, but that doesn’t mean clapping for your opponents’ good shots. I know I do it when I’m playing, but the stakes aren’t nearly as high as a pro or college match.
Also, Isner will never win a slam. Davis Cup is perfect for him, one or two matches where he can marshal his energies and unleash his serve, mostly on fast indoor courts. Can anyone see this guy winning Wimbledon or the US Open? I can’t.
Scoop Malinowski · February 12, 2012 at 1:15 pm
No Dan, I’m sure you comport yourself properly at Knick games and don’t behave like Spike Lee, and doubt you paint your face blue and orange and carry on like some of those NFL fans like Fireman Ed or Raiders Nation crazies who I heard hit Fireman Ed in the head in Oakland and this prompted Ed to no longer do road games! I used to play with a woman ITF world champ 45s who never would applaud amazing shots even in just practice sets, superserious, she would never give you an inch or any kind of credit, a real battler. And yes I can see Isner winning a major, but he will need some breaks with the draw obviously, maybe a walkover or two.
Scoop Malinowski · February 12, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Fed might be losing his magic, at least enough of the magic to win these kinds of important matches. After this weekend, it’s hard to see Fed ever winning another grand slam title. Blowing the two set lead to Tsonga at W, blowing the two MPs to Djokovic at USOpen, falling twice in Davis Cup to Isner and Fish and Bryan on clay in his home country are ominous signs that Fed can’t close out the very big ones anymore.
Scoop Malinowski · February 12, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Isner completes the sweep for USA 5-0, Isner looking like a threat to the top 5 this year, yeah I said it! Can you imagine if Isner can add serve and volley to be a much bigger part of his game. Reckon Dan would appreciate that! Interesting that Lacoste, Isner’s new sponsor for attire, seems to be making Isner wear his cap on normally instead of backwards Hewitt-like.
Scoop Malinowski · February 12, 2012 at 3:06 pm
One other point. Fish really seemed to be the team leader this weekend. Not having Roddick around was good for Fish, not having to defer and be in Roddick’s shadow. This is Fish’s team now, he really seemed to shine in a different way this weekend, showed more fire and positive emotion that I’ve ever seen from him in a big situation. Tough call for Captain Courier whether to stay with this exact lineup or bring back Roddick, I think he should stay with this combination and leave Roddick out, how about you?
Mitch · February 12, 2012 at 3:15 pm
I don’t think these matches were anywhere near as important as the Grand Slams to Fed. He’d have to like to have won, no doubt, but these losses don’t rank anywhere near the others you named and won’t haunt him going forward.
Scoop Malinowski · February 12, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Could be Mitch. But the Davis Cup is a puzzle piece that is still missing from the Fed legacy. I doubt Fed played this tie as an exhibition, I think they really wanted to make a push to try and make an impact on the World Group this year and maybe even win it all in December, with Djokovic and Nadal apparently cutting back their Davis Cup schedule, this was an opportunity for Fed to maybe win the CUp this year. But now it’s over. And this may have been Fed’s last shot to win the Davis Cup.
Andrew Miller · February 12, 2012 at 8:25 pm
I agree with Scoop: the lack of Davis Cup v is a notable “missing item” from Federer’s “trophy cabinet”. His record certainly stands the test of time, but his lack of a team championship stands out in a history of individual triumph. I can argue that it was Federer’s Olympic doubles title that turned Federer around in 2008, following sickness and notable losses, such as the Wimbledon meltdown, and which launched Federer’s assault on the 2008 US Open title. Every other major player, seemingly, has at least one Davis Cup – even Lendl has one. And many “second tier slam champs”, like Roddick, have a Davis Cup title in their legacy.
So Federer would have gained from some Davis Cup triumphs – maybe a tie in 2008 or 2009 when Federer needed something to distract him from the miserable seasons (for Federer) until his game reignited at the 2009 French Open.
It’s especially ironic, like Scoop said, given that Federer’s individual triumphs (the beginning of Federer’s “Mighty Federer” status) essentially began with a Davis Cup loss to Lleyton Hewitt in Australia in 2003 – the site of Federer’s last singles loss in Davis Cup before his loss to Isner on Friday. He hadnt lost a singles match in Davis Cup for 9 years!
Nowadays yeah, you can blame Wawrinka. Yep, Stan – you messed up again. But really, with one of the world’s best all time players, isn’t it really Federer’s responsibility to make his team better?
You’ll hear no such complaints with Djokovic, who survived the Isner onslaught to seal up his Davis Cup victory in 2010.
Or Nadal, who even inspired his team to win a Davis Cup WITHOUT NADAL in 2008’s “Miracle” in la Plata, Argentina. Nadal had told Verdasco, before his match against Jose Acasuso, that he had to “die on the court” to make sure he did everything for Spain to win. And that court death in turn rewarded Verdasco with the best results of his career across 2009 and 2010.
So yes, it’s some tarnish on Federer’s legacy. It looks a little bit – and call me on this if you don’t think so – but it looks like when there’s the most pressure, Federer doesn’t respond that well. Winning Davis Cup, for Federer, is like beating Nadal in the French Open final – or any grand slam for that matter. It’s really hard and based on the evidence, it’s probably not going to happen.
Andrew Miller · February 12, 2012 at 8:34 pm
As to the question from Scoop about this U.S. squad and Fish’s team, I say heck yeah, this is Fish’s team (and probably will be Isner’s team, post-Fish this year or even next year!) Roddick made his most lasting contributions in Davis Cup and I would not be surprised if Fish looks at Davis Cup the same way – as a place he would like to make a mark and make the history books.
I mean look at Fish. He’s made up for lost time (from 2004, when he lost the Olympics to Massu in a very “winnable” match, through 2009, when something began to click for him), become the U.S.’ best player since March 2010, when Roddick lost his mojo following a vacation after beating Nadal in Miami. Fish has filled in the void – he has chances in Davis Cup to support his efforts as the U.S.’ best player outside of Davis Cup.
Yeah I mean, it’s a good assessment. Fish may yet have a semifinal at a slam this year. Odds are he won’t – odds are it’s quarterfinal or less at any slam. But in Davis Cup, with Isner and Bryan, he certainly has a shot at doing something special.
Maybe even the Olympic games. Sport is a funny thing – like Scoop said, irony is big. What if Fish has another shot at Olympic gold? Even putting himself in the running would be an incredible result. And given his love for Davis Cup, whose to say Fish wouldn’t go for it?
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2012 at 12:23 am
It wasn’t all Stan’s fault yesterday. You win and lose as a team. The Bryan/Fish combo was simply fantastic. Stan played incredible to win the Olympics with Roger, I thought he played better than Roger in the final. Federer just doesn’t seem to be made for the Davis Cup format. Plus when he does play it, ALL the pressure and expectation is on him. It’s all on him to carry the team. Stan losing that first match to Fish was a tough blow and Switzerer never recovered. Luthi doesn’t strike me as being able to match wits with Jim Courier as a captain, I don’t know what Luthi’s background is in tennis but I don’t think he was a pro and it didn’t seem he has the credibility to be able to say anything to Stan of Fed once they fell behind. I mean, who can tell Roger anything? WHo would dare? It was just a nightmare weekend for the US, Courier probably had it all figured out perfectly and conducted his team like a maestro. Luthi vs. Courier may have been the key difference, no disprespect to Luthi but he seems more like a buddy of Fed than a respected and accomplished tennis figure. Interesting quote by Nadal to Verdasco thanks for posting that Andrew. It really fired up Verdasco and that match changed his career, he became an elite player after that incredible DC final performance. As for Fed winning a Davis Cup, I think it’s unlikely he’ll ever get to the SF. They may fall out of World Group for several years if Federer walks away from it this year. This was a devastating loss for Switzerland.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2012 at 12:28 am
That was the best I’ve ever seen Fish play and the most fired up and happy on the court. Fish really thrived this weekend and took his career to a new level. Unbelievable effort by Fish and this can jumpstart his year and give him new adrenaline and confidence to defend all the points and his top ten ranking, which was looking in dire straits after the bad loss to Falla. Can’t measure how big these two wins were for Fish this weekend. Davis Cup wins like this can jump start a career – look at Verdasco, Guga. Fish came up really big in an extremely important crucial situation and he did it after being two sets down and looking down and out.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2012 at 12:33 am
By the way, I’m gonna say this right now, I think Kerber can be #1 someday. Great mover, great fighter, smart, big hitter, lefty, love her intensity and poise, athleticism, mature classy personality. Really impresssed with her final win today vs. Bartoli. And what a fight Bartoli put up with Hingis, Seles, Mauresmo, Pierce and Capriati in the house. Great match and final win by Yonex racquet user Kerber.
Andrew Miller · February 13, 2012 at 1:31 am
Kerber is good! Call me crazy but the WTA top 20 is looking very strong. I like the strong righties and strong lefties – Kvitova plays a clever power game, Sharapova is back and strong, Sam Stosur has shown she can win. I have always liked Radwanska. Bartoli is like Seles but not as good (Seles was amazing – enough said!) Zvonareva is a very good player – a very emotional one at that. I like Li Na, I like Sabine Lisicki a lot – I like her game.
We talk a lot about the changing of the guard on the ATP side. But maybe it’s already in place on the WTA side but gets less play.
Azarenka, Victoria
Kvitova, Petra
Sharapova, Maria
Wozniacki, Caroline
Stosur, Samantha
Radwanska, Agnieszka
Bartoli, Marion
Zvonareva, Vera
Li, Na
Petkovic, Andrea
Schiavone, Francesca
Williams, Serena
Jankovic, Jelena
Lisicki, Sabine
Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia
Cibulkova, Dominika
Peng, Shuai
Ivanovic, Ana
Kuznetsova, Svetlana
Hantuchova, Daniela
Andrew Miller · February 14, 2012 at 4:54 am
Any thoughts on France? Big deal to beat Switzerland – but Switzerland had some holes with Wawrinka. What about France? Can Isner knock off a Tsonga?
Mitch · February 14, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Isner nearly knocked off Tsonga a few months ago in Paris, so certainly possible. I think you have to give the edge to France right now, based on home court advantage and how deep their talent pool is.
We should also give some credit to Dr. Ivo, who quietly won three matches in Japan.
Dan Markowitz · February 14, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Go Soeda, Mitch.
Scoop Malinowski · February 15, 2012 at 12:08 am
Isner can beat anyone on any court. This win over Federer could really launch his career to new heights (pun intended).
Scoop Malinowski · February 15, 2012 at 12:09 am
An Isner-Karlovic match in a slam this year would be good and fun to watch.