07 Feb 2004 - Les Arenes, Metz, FRA - Neven Berticevic - FRA v CRO
France Edges Ahead in Metz
France has taken a commanding 2-1 lead against Croatia in the first round of
the World Group Davis Cup by BNP Paribas in Metz with victory in the pivotal
doubles rubber.
The French team of Nicolas Escude and Michael Llodra got of to a flying start
and never looked back against the improbable Croatian combination of Mario
Ancic and Ivo Karlovic. Even though they were pushed to a tie-break in the
second set the French pair won 61 76(5) 63 in just under two hours to put
the hosts up 2-1 and within one rubber of reaching World Group quarterfinals.
On the eve of this tie many people questioned French captain Guy Forget’s
decision not to invite doubles expert Fabrice Santoro to join the team in
Metz, breaking a winning combination after Santoro and Llodra had just
defended their Australian Open title. Forget admitted he had his doubts
as to which of his selected players would make the best doubles combination,
at one time Clement being tipped as a certain bet, and in the he end opted for
Escude and Llodra.
Croatia, too, had a new-look doubles combination. Not since Croatia became
independent in 1993 had the team been without Goran Ivanisevic or Ivan
Ljubicic in the doubles. All in all, 23 ties have gone with either Ivanisevic
and Ljubicic, or both, on the team. As fate would have it in Metz, Karlovic
was called in at the last minute to partner Ancic after Ljubicic opted to
rest his sore shoulder in preparation for Sunday’s reverse singles.
"My shoulder is 80 per cent, I want it to be 100 per cent on Sunday, not 65
per cent, and that could have happened if I played doubles," Ljubicic said.
Escude and Llodra came out of the gates as old warriors, racing through the
first set in 25 minutes. The French combination returned brilliantly,
breaking Karlovic to take a 3-1 lead and breaking again in the sixth game
before Escude served out the set.
Things threatened to get a little out of hand in the second set. The
Croatians picked up their game and for the most of the set looked likely
to level the match. But having fought back from 15-40 in Ancic’s first
service game the Croatian pair wasted three break chances, all against
Escude. The Frenchmen held on to reach the tie-break and, helped by some
great serving by Llodra and a spectacular return on Ancic's serve, they
came back from a 1-3 deficit to seal the second set.
Escude and Llodra broke early in third and then cruised to victory, never
losing their serve and facing only three break points.
"It was not as easy as the score suggested. We served well, we covered the
net well, but what made the difference was our returning," Escude said
afterwards.
Escude went on to praise his partner. "I understand Ivan's decision not to
play, he had shoulder problem at the Australian Open but we played a very
good match. Llodra has made big, huge strides in doubles, and it's not a
surprise that he has won two Grand Slam titles".
France now needs just one more point to progress to the quarterfinals in April.
In the first of Sunday’s reverse singles Clement will take on Ljubicic, with
Thierry Ascione and Mario Ancic to follow.
http://www.daviscup.com/news/matchreport.asp?id=12762
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啊，吾的焦躁表現得那麼明顯嗎？
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