http://www.daviscup.org/news/matchreport.asp?id=12294
08 Feb 2003
Spain Wins Doubles Thriller To Reach Quarterfinals
Olivier Rochus and Kristof Vliegen fought tooth and nail for Belgium on
Saturday, but they could not prevent Alex Corretja and Albert Costa claiming
a thrilling 64 46 63 36 86 win that sent the host nation through to the
quarterfinals of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas with an unbeatable 3-0 lead.
The Belgian pair came back from two-sets-to-one down to lead 2-0 and 5-4 with
a service break in the decider, but ultimately they failed to take their
chances and Corretja and Costa left the court to the sounds of 5,000 fans
singing “I Will Survive” to celebrate a memorable win.
After the cold and rain of the first day, when victories for Juan Carlos
Ferrero and Carlos Moya gave Spain their 2-0 lead, it was a relief for all
concerned when the sun came out for day two of the tie. The Spanish supporters
crammed into the newly built Olympic tennis facility in the Andalucian capital
were certainly appreciative as they started to give their team the raucous
support they’ve been used to in recent years.
The tall, thin Vliegen and the diminutive Rochus together make up an odd
couple on court but they soon showed they could pose serious problems for the
Spaniards as they broke the Corretja serve in game one. Spain hit straight back
and after another exchange of breaks it was the home team who edged ahead,
Corretja becoming the first player to hold his serve in game five after coming
through six deuces.
Spain built on that narrow advantage in the next game as they broke the Vliegen
serve for the second time in the match for 4-2, Corretja providing an elegant
backhand winner on the third break point. Belgium hit back to break Costa in
the next and draw level in game eight when Rochus held his serve for the first
time.
Corretja was beginning to dominate the match, though, and he held serve
comfortably to put Spain 5-4 ahead. Rochus then missed an easy backhand to give
Spain two set points in the next, with one proving to be enough thanks to
another Rochus error.
Belgium responded well to that setback, breaking Corretja early in the second
set for a 2-1 lead and consolidating thanks to strong serving from Vliegen.
Spain recovered but Belgium clawed their way ahead once again in game nine,
Costa missing a volley to give the visitors a chance after four deuces and
Rochus pouncing. That gave the Belgians the edge at 5-4 and Rochus made no
mistake in serving out for 6-4 in 49 minutes.
Spain dominated the third set, racing into a 3-0 lead as Corretja and Costa
regained their poise to put their side two sets to one ahead in 44 minutes.
Belgium were on the brink of losing the tie but the pressure brought out the
best in Rochus and Vliegen, who stormed into a 5-0 lead in the fourth,
eventually taking the set 6-3 in 49 minutes after stemming a brief Spanish
revival.
Corretja and Costa came back from 2-0 down at the start of the fifth, but a
Belgium win was in sight as Vliegen produced a booming return of the Corretja
serve to set up break point and a 5-4 lead. Vliegen couldn’t take his chance
when serving for the match, however, and the Belgians paid the price for that
missed opportunity as Spain hit back.
Rochus did manage to hold in game 12 but Vliegen once again failed on his next
service game as the match entered its fifth hour. Costa hit a sublime winner
down the line to set up match point and a tired Rochus netted an easy volley to
hand the match to Spain.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 218.165.185.21