Canada and Brazil set for Play-off Clash
http://www.daviscup.org/news/matchreport.asp?id=12492
Canada and Brazil will vie for a spot in the World Group of the
2004 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas when they meet this weekend in a
Play-off tie in the western Canadian city of Calgary.
Brazil was forced to play in the Play-off round following a 3-2
opening-round World Group loss in Sweden in February. Canada,
after a bye, advanced in American Zone Group I by beating Peru
5-0 in April in the same Corral arena where this weekend's tie
will be played.
Led by No. 17-ranked Gustavo Kuerten, the 1997-2000-2001 French
Open champion, and No. 44-ranked Flavio Saretta, Brazil should be
a strong favourite against a Canadian squad that has no players
ranked in the top 200 in singles. But a fast-paced Taraflex indoor
carpet surface, laid directly on top of the concrete floor in the
hockey arena on the grounds of the famous Calgary Stampede, should
give the serve-and-volleying Canadians a reasonable chance to cause
an upset.
At Thursday's draw ceremony, it was determined that Saretta will
play Friday's first match against No. 215-ranked Frederic Niemeyer
to be followed by Kuerten versus Daniel Nestor, ranked No. 488. Nestor
is mainly a doubles player these days (No. 5 in the individual doubles
ranking) and Niemeyer is a capable serve-and volleyer who qualified
for, and reached the second round at, Wimbledon this year.
Subject to change one hour before Saturday's match, Brazilian captain
Ricardo Acioly named Kuerten and Andre Sa as his doubles pairing while
Canadian captain Grant Connell selected Nestor and Niemeyer.
Kuerten, the renowned easy-going surfer dude arrived in Calgary last
Sunday only to be greeted on Tuesday by an unusually early snow fall.
He made the best of it, joking that maybe he would try snow-boarding
because it has strong similarities to his beloved surfing.
The snow disappeared quickly but there has still been a nip in the
air, which is something much more familiar to the Canadians, who are
playing their third tie in a row in Calgary. On a surface substantially
the same as the Taraflex being used this week, Canada upset Chile in
April, 2002, as Nestor edged Marcelo Rios in five sets and Niemeyer
outgunned Fernando Gonzalez, also in five sets.
Asked if he would play serve and volley tennis in the fast conditions
"besides the Taraflex surface, Calgary is at an altitude of 1,080 metres "
Kuerten said, "Maybe ten times in every match. Even on grass, I just play
my game. But I do have to be more aggressive than normal."
Exactly a year ago, Brazil downed Canada 4-0 on red clay in Rio de
Janeiro in a Play-off round tie as Kuerten and the now retired
Fernando Meligeni led the way. The last time Canada was in the
World Group was 1992. They had reached the elite 16 nations in
1991 largely due to current captain Connell who scored victories
over Paul Haarhuis and Mark Koevermanns of the Netherlands and
combined with Glenn Michibata for a win in the doubles in the
1990 qualifying round.
The referee for the Canada-Brazil tie is US Open referee Brian
Earley. Friday's singles matches begin at 22 hours GMT.
--
嗜香草可樂，想泡在香草可樂池子裡的變溫動物。
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 61.230.114.219
※ 編輯: esnique 來自: 61.230.114.219 (09/19 09:46)