08 Feb 2003, DC 官網
Brazilians Forge 2-1 Lead with Comeback Doubles Win
Gustavo Kuerten and Andre Sa gave Brazil a strong option for a place in the
quarterfinals of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group after they won a
convincing five setter in the doubles against the Swedish pair of Jonas
Bjorkman and Magnus Larsson.
In the end, it was stronger nerves and a better ability to stick to their
offensive tactics that made the difference for the Brazilians over a
disoriented Swedish pair.
Surprisingly, when the match started, Bjorkman, on paper the strongest of the
four players in the doubles, looked strangely nervous. "Bjosse" dropped his
first two service games to allow the visiting nation to get a 5-1 lead. It was
only then that Bjorkman got his game back together, and the Swedes began really
playing as a team. This didn't prevent them from dropping the set 64. But more
and more they were looking comfortable on the court, sharper on their returns
of serve, and more subtle at the net.
From the second set on, the Swedes seemed to have the answer to everything as
Kuerten and Sa were looking a little frustrated. Sweden captured the set 62 on
a double fault from Kuerten. Even though the first nine games went on serve in
the third set, Bjorkman and Larsson looked slightly superior. Twice they held a
break point and missed it, in the sixth and eighth game, and when they found
themselves in a strong position again in the tenth game on Sa's serve they made
the most of it. Bjorkman hit a magnificent passing shot down the line to take a
two sets to one lead.
The momentum was definitely on the Swedish side. Yet, instead of capitalising
on it, Bjorkman and Larsson slowed the pace, suddenly allowing their opponents
to take an early lead in the fourth set by breaking Larsson for the first time
in the match. The Swedish pair’s only chance of breaking back came in the
fourth game when they lead 0-40 on Sa's serve. But the Brazilians proved strong
at this crucial moment. And from then on, Bjorkman and Larsson's game started
fading away and they dropped the set
62.
From the end of the fourth set until the middle of the fifth, everything the
Brazilians touched turned to gold while the Swedes, and especially Larsson,
seemed lost on the court, accumulating the unforced errors. The Brazilians won
16 points in a row to 3-0 30-0 and in spite of an enormous effort to reverse
the situation, and the support of the public, the host team couldn't turn the
tide. After 3hours and 2 minutes of play, the third match point turned out to
be the one as Bjorkman's forehand return landed long.
Kuerten and Sa fell in each other’s arms as the Brazilian supporters exploded
into song.
"We were playing well even in the third set, and we thought that it may be
tough for them to keep their level as high. So we kept the pressure on, and we
took our chances. It feels great to have turned things around and won this
match," Kuerten admitted.
Now the Swedes have no choice but to win both singles on Sunday to qualify for
the quarterfinals against Australia. History shows that more than any nation,
Sweden has been able to come back from tough situations and finally prevail in
Davis Cup. Ten times they have come back from 2-1 down, and five times they
have fought back victoriously from 0-2. "We have been in tougher situations
before, and were able to came back and win, so hopefully we can do it again"
said Bjorkman, who will face Gustavo Kuerten in tomorrow’s opening match.
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