Let's Hear It For The Ladies

by Savannah

While the men were all over the globe playing Davis Cup the women were playing in China and Canada. More on Davis Cup later.

Tamira Paszek won her last tournament four years ago at Portoroz. That tournament is believed to be cursed since it seemed that once you win there you won't win anyplace else again. Well I guess Tamira, who overcame American Bethanie Mattek-Sands has broken the curse.

Sofia Arvidsson and Johanna Larsson won the doubles at Quebec City. It was the first win for them.

Jarmila Groth of Australia won the championship in Guangzhou. Runner up Alla Kudrayetseva is seen in the background with the flowers.

Sania Mirza paired up with Edina Gallovits to win the doubles crown in Guangzhou.
Davis Cup

France will travel to Belgrade, Serbia for the Davis Cup Final. On it's way to the final France defeated Spain. It was thought that Argentina, led by David Nalbandian, would give the French a run for their money. It was not to be.

Serbia defeated a Czech team led by Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek to gain their first ever trip to a Davis Cup Final.
Congratulations to both teams.
Patrick McEnroe

The United States Davis Cup team was staring relegation in the face as it took the court to face off against the team from Colombia. The tie was being held in the captial, Bogota, situated over 8,000 feet above sea level. This was Patrick McEnroe's farewell to the Captaincy and it was hoped that he would hand over a team still in the World Group. It was a struggle but a blood spattered Mardy Fish won the first reverse singles match 8-6 in the fifth set to give the United States a victory that at times looked in doubt. As I write this no announcement has been made as to who will take over from McEnroe. Whoever it is will have large shoes to fill. No matter what the younger McEnroe brother is to be commended on his stewardship of the US Team. He managed to instill the concept of team in his players and when they took the court no one thought of them as pushovers, even on the red clay of Europe. Goodbye and good luck Patrick.

Complete results are listed below.

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS

FRANCE defeated ARGENTINA 5-0

Venue: Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, France (hard - indoors)

Michael Llodra (FRA) d. Juan Monaco (ARG) 75 46 75 63

Gael Monfils (FRA) d. David Nalbandian (ARG) 64 26 64 63

Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra (FRA) d. Eduardo Schwank/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 64 75 63

Gilles Simon (FRA) d. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 76(5) 67(6) 63

Arnaud Clement (FRA) d. Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 75 61

SERBIA defeated CZECH REPUBLIC 3-2

Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia (hard - indoors)

Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 46 62 64 64

Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 75 62 26 76(5)

Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Novak Djokovic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) 36 61 64 61

Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 46 63 62 64

Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d Radek Stepanek (CZE) 60 76(6) 64

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

USA defeated COLOMBIA 3-1

Venue: Plaza de Toros La Santamaria, Bogota, Colombia (clay – outdoors)

Mardy Fish (USA) d. Alejandro Falla (COL) 46 61 64 36 64

Santiago Giraldo (COL) d. Sam Querrey (USA) 62 64 75

Mardy Fish/John Isner (USA) d. Robert Farah/Carlos Salamanca (COL) 64 64 67(5) 63

Mardy Fish (USA) d. Santiago Giraldo (COL) 36 63 75 46 86

Alejandro Falla (COL) v Sam Querrey (USA)

AUSTRIA defeated ISRAEL 3-2

Venue: Nokia Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel (hard – indoors)

Dudi Sela (ISR) d. Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) 64 61 63

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Harel Levy (ISR) 64 63 63

Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram (ISR) d. Jurgen Melzer/Alexander Peya (AUT) 76(2) 64 64

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Dudi Sela (ISR) 64 60 63

Martin Fischer (AUT) d. Harel Levy (ISR) 26 63 60 63

GERMANY defeated SOUTH AFRICA 5-0

Venue: TC Weissenhof Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany (clay – outdoors)

Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) d. Rik de Voest (RSA) 64 64 64

Florian Mayer (GER) d. Izak van der Merwe (RSA) 63 36 61 76(6)

Andreas Beck/Christopher Kas (GER) d. Rik de Voest/Wesley Moodie (RSA) 64 36 63 64

Andreas Beck (GER) d. Izak van der Merwe (RSA) 75 62

Florian Mayer (GER) d. Rik de Voest (RSA) 63 67(8) 62

SWEDEN defeated ITALY 3-2

Venue: Sparbanken Lidkoping Arena, Lidkoping, Sweden (hard – indoors)

Potito Starace (ITA) d. Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) 62 62 62

Robin Soderling (SWE) d. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 61 63 62

Simon Aspelin/Robert Lindstedt (SWE) d. Simone Bolelli/Potito Starace (ITA) 57 67(0) 76(4) 63 75

Robin Soderling (SWE) d. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 63 63 63

Fabio Fognini (ITA) d. Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) 61 63

INDIA defeated BRAZIL 3-2

Venue: SDAT Tennis Stadium, Chennai, India (hard – outdoors)

Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) d. Rohan Bopanna (IND) 67(2) 76(7) 75 46 108

Ricardo Mello (BRA) d. Somdev Devvarman (IND) 46 62 67(3) 62 64

Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND) d. Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares (BRA) 64 76(5) 61

Somdev Devvarman (IND) d. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 76(4) 40 ret. (heat)

Rohan Bopanna (IND) d. Ricardo Mello (BRA) 63 76(2) 63

BELGIUM defeated AUSTRALIA 3-2

Venue: Cairns Regional Tennis Centre, Cairns, Australia (hard – outdoors)

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d. Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) 76(4) 75 26 64

Olivier Rochus (BEL) d. Carsten Ball (AUS) 64 64 76(5)

Paul Hanley/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d. Ruben Bemelmans/Olivier Rochus (BEL) 61 62 64

Olivier Rochus (BEL) d. Peter Luczak (AUS) 76(8) 64 67(0) 76(2)

Steve Darcis (BEL) d. Carsten Ball (AUS) 76(4) 63 64

KAZAKHSTAN defeated SWITZERLAND 5-0

Venue: The National Tennis Centre, Astana, Kazakhstan (hard – indoors)

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 64 64 64

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) d. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 36 61 64 16 63

Andrey Golubev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) d. Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 64 63 63

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Michael Lammer (SUI) 63 62

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 62 64

ROMANIA defeated ECUADOR 5-0

Venue: Centrul National de Tenis, Bucharest, Romania (clay – outdoors)

Victor Hanescu (ROU) d. Ivan Endara (ECU) 62 62 62

Adrian Ungur (ROU) d. Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 67(2) 46 63 64 61

Victor Hanescu/Horia Tecau (ROU) d. Ivan Endara/Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 62 62 62

Victor Crivoi (ROU) d. Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 62 64

Adrian Ungur (ROU) d. Emilio Gomez (ECU) 63 64

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND PLAY-OFFS

SLOVAK REPUBLIC defeated BELARUS 4-1

Venue: Republic Olympic Training Center for Tennis, Minsk, Belarus (hard – outdoors)

Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) d. Martin Klizan (SVK) 76(9) 62 62

Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Siarhei Betau (BLR) 60 64 64

Michael Mertinak/Filip Polasek (SVK) d. Uladzimir Ignatik/Max Mirnyi (BLR) 76(5) 76(6) 36 46 64

Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) 61 36 61 67(7) 64

Martin Klizan (SVK) d. Siarhei Betau (BLR) 76(2) 62

POLAND defeated LATVIA 3-2

Venue: Olympic Sports Centre, Riga, Latvia (carpet – indoors)

Michal Przysiezny (POL) d. Andis Juska (LAT) 63 64 64

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 64 64 36 62

Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) d. Andis Juska/Deniss Pavlovs (LAT) 63 64 76(4)

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Michael Przysiezny (POL) 67(5) 61 62 75

Jerzy Janowicz (POL) d. Karlis Lejnieks (LAT) 75 64 76(3)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND PLAY-OFF

CANADA defeated DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 4-0

Venue: Rexall Centre - Grandstand Court, Toronto, Canada (hard – outdoors)

Peter Polansky (CAN) d. Jhonson Garcia (DOM) 76(4) 46 63 63

Milos Raonic (CAN) d. Victor Estrella (DOM) 57 62 36 76(3) 97

Frank Dancevic/Daniel Nestor (CAN) d. Victor Estrella/Jhonson Garcia (DOM) 63 64 63

Peter Polansky (CAN) d. Victor Estrella (DOM) 61 62

Milos Raonic (CAN) v Jhonson Garcia (DOM)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND PLAY-OFF

PHILIPPINES defeated KOREA, REP. 3-2

Venue: Chanwon Municipal Tennis Courts, Changwon, Korea, Rep. (hard – outdoors)

Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR) d. Treat Huey (PHI) 67(8) 62 76(7) 76(4)

Suk-Young Jeong (KOR) d. Cecil Mamiit (PHI) 06 16 63 60 62

Cecil Mamiit / Treat Huey (PHI) d. Hyun-Joon Kim/Jae-Min Seol (KOR) 63 64 64

Cecil Mamiit (PHI) d. Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR) 36 46 64 11 ret.

Treat Huey (PHI) d. Suk-Young Jeong (KOR) 75 75 63

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II THIRD ROUND

SLOVENIA defeated LITHUANIA 3-2

Venue: SEB Arena, Vilnius, Lithuania (hard - indoors)

Richard Berankis (LTU) d. Blaz Kavcic (SLO) 36 62 76(9) 64

Grega Zemlja (SLO) d. Laurynas Grigelis (LTU) 63 76(4) 63

Richard Berankis/Laurynas Grigelis (LTU) d. Grega Zemla/Luka Gregorc (SLO) 57 46 61 63 63

Grega Zemlja (SLO) d. Richard Berankis (LTU) 76(2) 64 63

Blaz Kavcic (SLO) d. Laurynas Grigelis (LTU) 64 76(4) 76(5)

PORTUGAL defeated BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 3-1

Venue: Centro de Tenis Do Jamor, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal (clay – outdoors)

Frederico Gil (POR) d. Amer Delic (BIH) 63 64 67(14) 36 97

Aldin Setkic (BIH) d. Rui Machado (POR) 64 63 16 61

Frederico Gil/Leonardo Tavares (POR) d. Amer Delic/Aldin Setkic (BIH) 61 64 46 64

Frederico Gil (POR) d. Aldin Setkic (BIH) 64 63 63

Rui Machado (POR) v Amer Delic (BIH)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP II FINAL

MEXICO defeated VENEZUELA 4-0

Venue: Rafael El Pelon Osuna, Delg. Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico (clay – outdoors)

Daniel Garza (MEX) d. Roman Recarte (VEN) 62 62 62

Cesar Ramirez (MEX) d. Jose De Armas (VEN) 61 63 63

Bruno Rodriguez/Miguel Angel Reyes Varela (MEX) d. Jose De Armas/Piero Luisi (VEN) 76(2) 63 62

Daniel Garza (MEX) d. Luis David Martinez (VEN) 64 61

Cesar Ramirez (MEX) v Piero Luisi (VEN)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II FINAL

NEW ZEALAND defeated THAILAND 3-2

Venue: National Tennis Development Centre (LTAT), Nontheburi, Thailand (hard – outdoors)

Michael Venus (NZL) d. Weerapat Doakmaiklee (THA) 63 62 76(1)

Jose Statham (NZL) d. Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) 46 76(5) 61 76(2)

Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA) d. Daniel King-Turner/Michael Venus (NZL) 06 67(6) 60 63 64

Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) d. Michael Venus (NZL) 75 76(6) 62

Jose Statham (NZL) d. Sanchai Ratiwatana (THA) 61 64 63

Fed Cup News
The six top ranked women players in Spain have announced that they will be boycotting the 2011 Federation Cup. The reason given by Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Arantxa Parra Santonja, Carla Suarez Navarro, Nuria Llagostera Vives and Lourdes Dominguez Lino is lack of support from Spain's national tennis organization, the RFET. As you would expect the RFET replied listing thirtenn points showing how well they support their women players. At this time the women are sticking to their guns about the boycott. More on this as the situation develops.