Open crucial for Cup
France captain Guy Forget believes the success of his players in the French
Open in May will be crucial if they are to overcome Spain in their Davis Cup
semi-final. France will travel to Spain in September as underdogs despite a
dramatic 3-2 victory over Switzerland.
Forget, who had been criticised in sections of the French media for failing to
instill a team spirit in his players, said the victory in Lausanne proved they
were a tight-knit unit.
"The team spirit is good and it is very hard to win as a team without it. I
think the match against Switzerland showed how close we are as a group and how
much we want to win," said Forget.
With French Open champions Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya at the helm, the
Spaniards are expected to dominate the Davis Cup semi-final.
However, Forget said the French Open will indicate the confidence level of his
players.
"Hopefully we will do well at the French Open between now and then and I will
have all of my players fit to select from," said Forget, who was without number
one Sebastien Grosjean in Lausanne due to illness.
"It will be hard but we have a team that is full of good players."
Nicolas Escude overcame Michel Kratochvil in Sunday's decisive fifth rubber to
give France a 3-2 win and gain revenge for their defeat by Switzerland at the
same stage of the competition last year.
Escude has fallen down the world rankings in recent seasons but shone in
Grosjean's absence. He won two of his three matches over the weekend, including
the crucial final rubber.
FULL SUPPORT
Escude dedicated his final-day victory to Forget and insisted that the French
captain has the full support of his team.
"The role of Forget is key to our success. He will be a big influence for the
semi-finals," said Escude.
For Switzerland captain Mark Rosset, the search goes on for an able number two
to support world number one Roger Federer.
Rosset's surprise gamble on the inexperienced Ivo Heuberger backfired against
France when the 133rd ranked player slumped to a dismal opening day defeat to
Arnaud Clement.
Heuberger was replaced by Kratochvil for the reverse singles but to little
avail.
"I will not accept another performance like the one from Heuberger on Friday,"
said Rosset, a veteran of 58 Davis Cup matches. "But I thought Yves Allegro
played very well alongside Federer in the doubles. He is a bright hope.
"Michel (Kratochvil) showed a lot of passion in his defeat and there is more in
him. It cannot always be up to Federer."
Federer has won 14 of his last 15 singles rubbers for Switzerland but believes
it is time for another player to help share the burden of responsibility.
"This weekend was another chance for a player to take glory and, for the team,
that is perhaps a good thing," said Federer. "I am disappointed to lose but we
have many talents and I hope they will come through."
--
睽違20年的法網地主冠軍-果醬？！XD
還是繼Noah之後，發球上者Escude爆冷奪冠！？(爆`~~~)
Reuters - 12/04/2004
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 61.64.85.85