Davis Cup - Aussies v. Sweden

Donny · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 11:13 am

The schedule

Today: Mark Philippoussis (singles ranking No9) v Thomas Enqvist (No78), followed by Lleyton Hewitt (13) v Robin Soderling (54).

Tomorrow: Todd Woodbridge (doubles ranking No5) and Wayne Arthurs (12) v Jonas Bjorkman (6) and Joachim Johansson (336).

Sunday: Philippoussis v Soderling, followed by Hewitt v Enqvist.

Donny · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:38 pm

Scud drops first set

Fox

SWEDEN's Thomas Enqvist won the first set 6-3 against Mark Philippoussis in the Davis Cup opener in Adelaide today.

The Scud struggled to find his form in hot weather at Memorial Drive.

Llleyton Hewitt meets 19-year-old Robin Soderling in today's other singles match, with the doubles tomorrow and reverse singles on Sunday.

JLC · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:43 pm

Scuds doing it to help out the royal childrens hospital appeal.

jlc

Donny · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:09 pm

This'll bring the Scud bashers out - again. Very Happy

Enqvist won in straight sets. He is ranked #78. Philipoussis is #9.

JLC · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:45 pm

Enqvist at his prime was a very good player however now he is on the downward slope.

Scuds best performance for the year will be Wimbledon.

jlc

Donny · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:54 pm

Hewitt recovers in Davis Cup

ADELAIDE, Australia (CNN) --

Sweden and Australia are tied at one rubber apiece in the first round of the Davis Cup Friday.

Former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia pulled his country back on level terms after Mark Philippoussis lost the first match.

Hewitt beat Sweden's Robin Soderling 6-4 6-3 6-1 and equaled the Australia record for wins in the Davis Cup at 24 victories.

Hewitt said "this is what I train for", as he came off the court to rapturous applause from his home crowd in Adelaide.

Australia is the defending Davis Cup champion.

Earlier, Thomas Enqvist upset Philippoussis 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the opening singles to give Sweden a surprise 1-0 lead.

Associated Press reports that Wimbledon finalist Philippoussis was the hero of Australia's win over Spain in the 2003 final, overcoming shoulder pain to beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in five sets and give the hosts an unbeatable 3-1 lead in Melbourne on December 1.

But on Friday he was never on top against Enqvist, who reached a career-high No. 4 in 1999 after making the Australian Open final but is coming off his worst season in a decade.

"I think I played really well -- the best in a long time," said Enqvist.

Hewitt is attempting to equal Adrian Quist's Australian record of 24 Davis Cup singles career wins. He's 23-5 since his Cup debut five years ago.

Enqvist's win broke Sweden's losing streak against Australia, which had a 5-0 whitewash in Sweden in the second round last season.

"It was very important that we get the first match, especially after losing 5-0 in Malmo. It feels good that we're up 1-0 now," he said, AP reports.

Enqvist was ranked No. 78 coming into this Davis Cup match at Memorial Drive after a third-round loss to then defending champion Andre Agassi at the Australian Open last month.

He was a surprise choice as Sweden's No. 2 singles player, as he was the lowest-ranked of the four players in the team.

"This is the kind of day you live for," said Enqvist, who broke No. 9-ranked Philippoussis once in each of the first two sets and twice in the third Friday.

The 29-year-old Swede didn't lose a point on his own serve in the second set and didn't face a break point as he overpowered Australia's No. 1.

Enqvist's win gives him a 14-9 record in Davis Cup singles matches and 3-3 against Philippoussis.

"Even off my first serves, he was hitting really deep at my feet. He kept the pressure up the whole time -- I was running behind the whole time," said Philippoussis.

"I was trying. I went out there and gave it everything."

The next rubber will be in the doubles Saturday when Australia's Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs takes on Jonas Bjorkman and Joachim Johansson.

If the best-of-five match is still live in the fifth, Enqvist will face Hewitt in the decider on Sunday.

Donny · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 1:19 pm

Australia in trouble in the doubles. Sweden has won the first two sets.

JLC · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:00 pm

Aussies 2-1 down but i think they will come back an win in 5

Woody and Arthurs love drama........lol

jlc

JLC · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:11 pm

This is hysterical.........the swedes are complaining over the crowd in particular the fanatics....lmao

"he called me a wank...a wanker"........lmao

Its very entertaining. I have always found it strange how in tennis and golf silence is required. However in basketball, baseball and most other sports you can make as much noise as you like.

jlc

Donny · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:37 pm

The Aussies got a break in the 4th. but Sweden has broken back to level at 4-4.
----------------------------

Arthurs holds serve. 5-4. It's 30 all in this vital 10th. game.

The Swedes level at 5-5. Woody to serve. Double fault. 0-15. 15 all. 30-15. 30 all. 40-30. Deuce. Adv, Australia. Double fault. Deuce. Adv. Australia. Game. 6-5.
---------------------------------------------

Bjorkman's serve. 15-30. now 15-40 and two set points. 30-40. Deuce. Adv. Sweden. Deuce. Adv. Sweden. Game. 6-6. Tiebreaker.

First point to Aus. Second also. 2-0. 2-1 with mini break. Break back point. 2-2. Ace. 3-2. Great shot Arthurs. 4-2. Must win this set.

4-3. 4-4 danger. 5-4 Aus. Crunch time. 6-4 and set point ! Game Australia !! 7-6. 2 sets all.

Donny · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:34 pm

Sweden won a thriller in the 5th. set and they lead 2-1.

Big effort needed now from Philipoussis in the 4th. game against Soderling.

Donny · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 3:05 pm

Australia out of Cup

Fox

REIGNING champion Australia has been eliminated from the Davis Cup, defeated by Sweden in a first round tie today.

Sweden took an unassailable three rubbers to one advantage after evergreen Jonas Bjorkman trounced Australian Mark Philippoussis in straight sets at Memorial Drive today.

Bjorkman triumphed 7-5 6-2 6-2 just a day after performing a heroic role in Sweden's epic doubles victory yesterday.

Bjorkman yesterday spent four-and-a-half hours in on-court temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius to help Sweden claim the crucial doubles match.

Such was Bjorkman's form yesterday, Swedish coach Mats Wilander summoned him for today's reverse singles encounter realising victory against Philippoussis would seal the tie.

The world No.28 duly delivered in impressive fashion, frustrating the Australian with consistent serving and brilliant ground strokes.

Philippoussis also lost his singles match to Thomas Enqvist in straight sets on Friday to cap a fall from grace for the man hailed a hero after Australia's Cup final win last November.

The Victorian today cut an agitated figure and threatened to implode during the third set when he argued several line calls and was engaged in animated discussion with the chair umpire during a change of ends.

Donny · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 6:32 pm

Results

Today: Jonas Bjorkman d Mark Philippoussis 7-5 6-2 6-2
Thomas Enqvist d Wayne Arthurs 7-6 (10/ Cool

3-6 6-4

Yesterday
Jonas Bjorkman and Joachim Johansson d Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 2-6 6-7 (4/7) 7-5.

Friday: Thomas Enqvist d Mark Philippoussis 6-3 6-4 6-2
Lleyton Hewitt d Robin Soderling 6-4 6-3 6-1.

Sweden win tie 4-1.

Ian · Joined: 14 Jun 2001 Location: Nicks BB #104 Adelaide

Does that mean Australia go back to qualifying rounds for the last 16 again?

London Dave · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 10:50 pm

I think so...