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Davis Cup tennis quarterfinal action was completed today and what a day it was!! All three of the “big” matchups went to the fifth rubber match to decide the fate of the teams involved. Let’s begin in Naples, Italy where Great Britain fell to the Italian team, losing the fifth rubber match after taking a 2-1 lead after the first singles matches and the doubles. Andy Murray was a bit of a letdown for the Brits, as he was upset by Fognini and James Ward, the #2 Brit could not get it done in the 5th and deciding match. Really interesting format, you learn something new everyday if you try! Apparently, it is customary for the #1 player from each team to play the first singles match on the final day, and then the #2 players to face off (when necessary). This is important info when we get to the Swiss match! Anyhow, the Italians advance into semifinal action and will face…that’s right Roger Federer and the Swiss!
In Geneva, Switzerland, the Swiss team headed into today’s action down 1-2 to Kazakhstan after Roger and Stan Wawrinka suffered a disappointing loss in doubles yesterday and Wawrinka fell in the opening singles match to Golubev on Friday. For the first time in well over a decade, Roger is not currently the #1 singles player in Switzerland as he is ranked #4 in the world and Stan is ranked #3. So, that meant Wawrinka up first, then Roger. Today, Stan took the court first and pulled out a tough three set match for the home Swiss team to give “Mr. Federer to serve” a chance to have significant meaning! And, Mr. Federer came through. He won the first set in a tie break (7-0) and then breezed through the next two sets over Golubev (what a competitor he was during this three day match) and sealed the deal for the Swiss. Another first for Roger. He has never played a live fifth rubber match in Davis Cup action. It was really great to see the enthusiasm displayed after he won the match and helped his team advance. Equally cool to see wife Mirka with iPhone in hand taking pictures for the family photo album of never ending accomplishments!
Finally in Nancy, Germany, the French team (which is loaded, Monfils and Tsonga playing, Gasquet and Simone not even in action due to injury) took the fifth rubber match in style to advance into the semifinals where they will host the Czech team. The ever flamboyant Monfils was playing his first Davis Cup match in three years and he did not disappoint. Great win for the French as Tsonga had been upset in the first singles match earlier in the day.
So, semifinal action will feature France hosting the Czech team and the team from Switzerland hosting the Italians (Seppi was the star for them today!) Going to be great action when Davis Cup continues…it has been projected that the Swiss and the French teams were the favorites to play for the Davis Cup (Roger Federer has never won a Davis Cup for Switzerland and it is high on his bucket list to do before he calls it a day)! (P.S. Do not expect that to happen anytime soon the way Mr. Federer is playing right now!) I would think beating Nadal on clay would be up there somewhere as well. Anyhow…Davis Cup action is special and has a unique feel to the atmosphere and the competition so anything can happen. After all…all three of these Davis Cup encounters went the distance, right down to the deciding fifth rubber match on the same day. Hope the semifinals are just as great!
Tonight on Showtime, the season finale of the great show House of Lies airs with Don Cheadle and Kristin Bell. What will happen with Marty and Jeannie finally getting together? Watch and see at 10:00 pm EST. Love this show!
Next Sunday (4/13), Californication will return to Showtime for it’s final season. Cannot wait as I have watched all seven seasons of this show. Will Hank and Karen really make it work? What about the “munchkin”, their adorable daughter Becca who is off on a trip of self discovery and wants to become a writer like Dad. Hate to see this show end but I hope they do a bang up job of wrapping it up for us in this, it’s swan song!
Tomorrow…we will focus on the game that matters…the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship from Dallas. U Conn vs. Kentucky. Who had that in their bracket? Not I for sure, but if it is anything like the Wisconsin – Kentucky game last night, it should be a great one. Can you say Harrison for three and the win?? That would mean Kentucky cuts down the nets. I don’t know…not ready to call it yet. Stay tuned!
