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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jul 13, 2005 3:37:55 GMT -5
DISCLAIMER : Don't post anywhere else, unless you ask me to do so.
Well I decided to travel to Sydney to watch this tie, though I wasn't sure of going due to an ongoing ankle problem and whether I was able to fly or not, but that was sorted.
Yesterday, was a bit of a blur. Coria and Nalbandian were playing singles, and Nalbandian had the slight better of it, there were this schoolkids everywhere just making some noise.
It was funny as there was a tournament going on at the complex, then Nalbandian just goes onto one of the Rebound Ace courts and starts hitting serves, then the kids were all around waiting for him to finish, but they ended up moving to another court.
The Argentines seemed in a fairly relaxed mood, Coria once he finished, was a ballboy for when Nalle, Puerta, Etlis and Rodriguez were playing doubles. The junior Mayer was just there for the experience.
The court looks very ordinary and there is a muddy patch at the end of one of the baselines, this one because of the weather and two, the sun doesn't get on that side of the court. They should just use some peat or hay and cover that side of the court.
After they finished they posed for a few photos with fans. I didn't stick around too long for the Aussies, but I was happy to see Lucszak play, both he and Hewitt were slipping around, but that was very common.
Today, was a much better day weather wise, though that created some problem as the shadows are quite big and one end is baked in sun and the other it's hard to see the ball. They had the big fans at the end, where the court was crap and they were still going on as the Argentines trained, in an attempt to dry the court at that end.
It's funny to see Puerta hit those heavy forehands on grass, and Coria was doing his little tricks with the racquet. Nalbandian was joking around a lot of the time. It was a laugh seeing the manager hit a few volleys, while the guys were waiting to come onto play.
The court isn't the best and Coria said as much when being interviewed after training, they have a large support crew and for those who care Carla Coria is here, and so is Mrs Puerta.
One thing after the training, they decided to see if they could the W in the Wilson sign in the upper section from the court and I think Coria and Nalbandian managed it, and they were very pleased with themselves.
I just hope Nalbandian plays the first match.
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Post by Choupi on Jul 13, 2005 5:33:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the report. I'm sure Adeegee will appreciate the info about Mrs Coria being there! Nice to see that the Argentines are relax. Hope you can keep on having a good time, as you seem to have so far...Say "hi" to Mariano for me! if you can...
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Post by molala on Jul 13, 2005 5:45:53 GMT -5
thanks for the report! enjoy the DC semi! i've seen a photo of the court at smh.com.au and it does look patchy and already quite bare at the baseline.
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 13, 2005 8:39:00 GMT -5
Woohoo! This should be the best tie and we get reports. Woohoo.
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jul 13, 2005 10:17:38 GMT -5
One thing that I forgot to mention, but Kristen aka Björkman Girl did on MTF. Luczak, the Gooch and Arthurs used the main enterance, but Hewitt was special and didn't want to mix with the lower classes and used another enterance.
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 13, 2005 10:29:03 GMT -5
Oh, Lleyki is very, very special. Are you getting a sense of who will be on the squad? What I would do is use Fat Dave/Etlis, and put Puerta on the squad since he could be used in singles in a pinch.
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 13, 2005 10:30:03 GMT -5
Oh, Lleyki is very, very special. Are you getting a sense of who will be on the squad? What I would do is use Fat Dave/Etlis, and put Puerta on the squad since he could be used in singles in a pinch. I meant for doubles -- Dave-Mago in singles is a given.
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jul 13, 2005 10:43:03 GMT -5
Oh, Lleyki is very, very special. Are you getting a sense of who will be on the squad? What I would do is use Fat Dave/Etlis, and put Puerta on the squad since he could be used in singles in a pinch. I see Nalbandian playing all three days and probably with Etlis, and Puerta will be cheering. Fat Dave is far from fat these days.
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Post by adeegee on Jul 13, 2005 11:40:34 GMT -5
The court isn't the best and Coria said as much when being interviewed after training, they have a large support crew and for those who care Carla Coria is here, and so is Mrs Puerta. Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! Please! Please! Please!
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jul 13, 2005 11:43:54 GMT -5
Well as for pics I don't exactly have a state of the art camera, so I'll see if I can get any pics.
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Post by adeegee on Jul 13, 2005 11:45:32 GMT -5
Cheers mate :lust:
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jul 13, 2005 11:50:34 GMT -5
One thing about Carla she always moved into the sun, when the section of the court she was sitting was covered in shade.
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Post by adeegee on Jul 13, 2005 11:52:29 GMT -5
One thing about Carla she always moved into the sun, when the section of the court she was sitting was covered in shade. Maybe she wanted a tan? Was she wearing next to nothing by any chance?
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jul 13, 2005 11:55:49 GMT -5
Maybe she wanted a tan? Was she wearing next to nothing by any chance? Sadly no.
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Post by Lee on Jul 13, 2005 11:58:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the report, GWH. I thought the ankle problem is behind you but looks like not the case. Sorry about that. And I can see Adam drooling.
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Post by TennisHack on Jul 13, 2005 12:31:23 GMT -5
Thanks for the reports, GWH! I'm looking forward to the actual matches now
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jul 13, 2005 12:40:17 GMT -5
Knowing the luck it will probably be the Order
Hewitt vs Coria Arthurs vs Nalbandian
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 13, 2005 17:57:12 GMT -5
Nalbandian could spell doubles trouble By LEO SCHLINK July 14, 2005 ARGENTINE captain Alberto Mancini is considering unleashing ironhorse David Nalbandian on a depleted Australian team in all three days of a compelling Davis Cup quarter-final. Plotting to upset the 28-time champions without retired Todd Woodbridge and injured Mark Philippoussis, Mancini is wrestling with the notion of using Nalbandian with Gaston Etlis in doubles instead of Martin Rodriguez. If Wimbledon singles finalist Nalbandian is spirited into doubles duty, he will be assigned a similar workload to world No. 2 Lleyton Hewitt and Wayne Arthurs who are also confronted with the possibility of playing three matches in as many days. Rodriguez regularly partners Etlis and reached the Australian Open semi-finals last season. Currently out of the four-man team, Rodriguez could still be drafted into the Argentine unit before the draw. But practice form strongly suggests Nalbandian is a leading candidate to retain the doubles role he shared with Guillermo Canas in a 5-0 thumping of the Czech Republic in Buenos Aires in March. Canas is unavailable as he counters an ATP anti-doping investigation after an irregularity was found in a sample taken in Acapulco in April. Nalbandian has been named with Guillermo Coria, French Open runner-up Mariano Puerta and Etlis, but the rugged baseliner is clearly the pivot of an awesome outfit. Shattered by the loss of good friend and world No. 8 Canas, who feared playing in Sydney would lead to an Australian protest, Nalbandian covets a famous victory. "Australia have two important losses with the retirement of Todd Woodbridge and injury of Mark Philippoussis," he said. "It will be up to us to take advantage of it and taking our chances there." Asked by Argentine reporters what he expected from the traditionally sporting Australian Davis Cup crowds in the wake of his light collision with Hewitt at the Australian Open, Nalbandian said he hoped there would be no hostility. "I do not wait for anything bad," he said as he prepares to face Arthurs tomorrow in the opening day singles. "I hope that no [there is no hostility]." Nalbandian stretched Hewitt in a magnificent Australian Open quarter-final in January, but is yet to down the world No. 2 in three meetings, including the 2002 Wimbledon final. French Open runner-up Coria will face Hewitt tomorrow, having lost the pair's only clash. But both the Argentine singles guns hold head-to-head edges over Arthurs – albeit marginal.
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 13, 2005 18:27:47 GMT -5
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jul 14, 2005 1:03:24 GMT -5
Today was just a short session from both teams, the Argentines were on first and it was Coria and Nalbandian again, when I came in I saw Etlis and Rodriguez hitting on one of the Rebound Ace courts, but it wasn't very serious, more a hit and giggle.
Just like I thought, the Hewitt match will be the first one and both teams weren't giving away much in the press conference. Some journo asked Coria a question and he said "I don't speak English", then Nalle was asked a question and then smiled and said the same thing as Coria.
They were a bit more serious today, and at least the fan and the heater wasn't needed today, into drying that fodder patch at the end of the court. I saw that Puerta was named in the doubles, though I doubt whether he'll play and if he did, it would be scary. He is moving quite well, but he needs to flatten his shots out a bit, he hits it well, but not just not for the grass.
Leo Mayer got on the court and had a hit when they were playing doubles, and he seems to be enjoying his trip to Australia and I think he can do some good things in the future. One thing I noticed that there wasn't much communication between the Aussies and the Argentines when they passed each other, then again I don't expect warm embraces, but it was different from some other DC ties I have seen.
The Hewitt clan were spying on the Argentines and when Nalle looked up, they were staring at each other, and no there was nobody behind them. As for Hewitt, the groundsmen weren't too keen on him, as he and Arthurs had these shoes with little spikes, that were ripping up the court, which means more work for them, whereas the Argentines have been wearing flat sole shoes.
The Argentines aren't that impressed from the court, then again it has got better than before, and the shade, sun, shadow should be fun, it's the same for both teams. Carla and the ladies were out in the sun. Mancini was helping Puerta with his backhand, and Coria and Puerta didn't seem to talk to each other, something I noticed, but it's not like when one player went in one direction and the other went elsewhere.
They mowed the court today and will mow it again in the morning, cover it tonight and then put this fertiliser on it to green it up among other things. There was a scene where the players were coming out, this one guy had these great pics of Coria and Hewitt and wanted signatures and had been waiting a while, he was just about to leave and then Coria turned around and signed it and was impressed by the pic.
The journalists covering it, where getting ready to leave and were in the courtesy cars, then they all piled out and ran over to interview Nalle. One thing they didn't have huge amounts of fans, but all of the Argentines have been fine in that regard so far.
Hewitt decided to drive the car himself, when he left and he left from the normal enterance and not the special one. The irony Luczak was the hitting partner for the Argentine 2002 DC tie against Australia, now he is in the team against the Argentines. I hope if it's a dead rubber, he plays instead of Chris "Ronald McDonald" Guccione.
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Post by adeegee on Jul 14, 2005 2:28:00 GMT -5
She's so cute :love: By the way I believe it is Coria v Hewitt followed by Arthurs v Bandy. Should be a good pair of matches actually.
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 14, 2005 12:16:28 GMT -5
1999 Wimby jr doubles champs ===>
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Post by molala on Jul 14, 2005 15:31:47 GMT -5
wow! is that photo overexposed or was not-so-fat-yet dave really blonde? probably both? thanks for the reports, looking forward to the matches! it's really too bad that the aussie side is kinda depleted.
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Post by Lee on Jul 14, 2005 15:43:34 GMT -5
wow! is that photo overexposed or was not-so-fat-yet dave really blonde? probably both? I think he overdid the peroxide a little, like JCF before. ;D
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Post by TennisHack on Jul 14, 2005 18:04:27 GMT -5
adeegee, it appears Carla is also listed as "Carla Francouigh" at Getty Images. Unless there's a different Carla laying hands all over Coria in Australia this week
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 14, 2005 18:35:06 GMT -5
wow! is that photo overexposed or was not-so-fat-yet dave really blonde? probably both? I think he overdid the peroxide a little, like JCF before. ;D And Magnus Larsson before him. ;D
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Post by adeegee on Jul 15, 2005 2:04:40 GMT -5
adeegee, it appears Carla is also listed as "Carla Francouigh" at Getty Images. Unless there's a different Carla laying hands all over Coria in Australia this week There is, the real Carla is with me
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Post by molala on Jul 15, 2005 11:43:40 GMT -5
I think he overdid the peroxide a little, like JCF before. ;D And Magnus Larsson before him. ;D ahhh, Lazy Lars. i thought he was a natural! well, he looked a natural blonde. JCF did overdo it. and Tompa looks good in any haircolour!
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 16:16:12 GMT -5
Lurch was a natural blond, but for a few years he gave it the bleach and he was white heaired!
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Post by adeegee on Jul 15, 2005 17:42:58 GMT -5
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