Monte Carlo : Crazy first round

Is loss the new black?! Seemed trendy in the first matches at Monte Carlo. Favourites' loss, to be exact. Can you imagine what might happen in the next rounds? Pff, where is Nole when you need him?

Haase def. Davydenko, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. I miss the old Kolya... I really do.

Stepanek def. Baghdatis, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6.

Mayer def. Youzhny, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. Wait WHAT??!!

Gulbis def. Dolgopolov, 61, 6-4. I support you ONCE and you?!

Tsonga def. Monaco, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Well, my pick was Pico. But it's Jo! You know, JO! Although I have to say: bring the fro back!

Raonic def. Llodra, 6-3, 0-6, 6-0. Nice match, girls! Again, my pick was Llodra. I mean, who knew the guy would be that amazing on clay too? Believe me, if you need one more confirmation after all the others, he is the next big thing! Vamos, come on, allez Miiiilooooos!!!

Romania down, Ungur up

Luptam, luptam, luptam si castigam! Well, not Romania but Adrian Ungur. With the chance of repeating myself, he was ranked 183 as of 28th of February, we must not forget that. After he took a set to Nalbandian on Friday, yesterday, in a dead rubber, he brought Romania's first and only point by beating Monaco!

Argentina's captain Tito Vasquez had declared before the tie that they "can beat Romania with 5-0," while Nalbandian said that he "doesn't know anything about Ungur." Very modest, people! At 4-0 for Argentina, the newest member of the Romanian team was entering the court, hoping to save the honour. Opponent : Monaco. Shoot! I wasn't expecting too much as the crowd was adding a huge pressure. I don't think that after a first serve of Ungur which would not be in the booing and hissing would be necessary.

Anyway, the pretty guys played three pretty sets. You know, for the prettiness of the match. First set Ungur, second one Monaco. The decisive was, of course, the most tensed and interesting. Adi was just amazing and prooved he is way better than someone ranked 180 ATP. The huge one-handed backhand impressed many people, probably even the crowd, as no one was applauding the Romanians' winners or good shots. And this backhand was certainly not very applauded. He managed to save break points, thanks to a strong serve with a perfect placement. We can't say Pico did not play at a high level, despite the fact that he seemed to have some problems with his shoulder at the end of the first set. In the third, Adi's great shots made him throw his racquet and almost break it. Finally, Ungur stole Argentina's last point, 6-3 2-6 6-3, and stopped them from reaching their boastful goal.

"I'm happy with the win. 4-1 is better than 5-0," he said after the match. That's right! I have seen many smiles and good disposition in the Romanian team on Sunday. Life goes on, so does Davis Cup. We will see them reunited in September for the competition's play-offs, when they could do again a great job. I can not wait until the draw ceremony. Hopefully they will have luck and maybe they will play at home, in front of their own crowd.

Argentina leads 2-0 after Day 1

Not the best start for our team. They, just like us, were probably hoping for a 1-1, as Hanescu faced Monaco. Now, the doubles victory is vital but first, a really short summary of yesterday.

Nalbandian - Ungur : 6-3 6-2 5-7 6-4

He took a set. To Nalbandian. It means something! No one can say Ungur didn't play good or felt the pressure of the crowd. He was calm and focused and was able to keep the Argentinian on the court for three hours and four minutes, at a high level. The third set was the magical one for Adi. After wasting break points in all sets, at 5-all he managed to win on Nalbandian's serve and take the set. Especially now he prooved that his best shot is a strong one-handed backhand which can make even a former world No. 3 scream and get angry.

In the fourth, David overcame the killing pain to play for his country and did it so well that I can't not mention all my respects for him. 6-3 and he raises his head to the sky. He shakes Ungur's and Pavel's hand and bursts intro tears. Adrian goes back to the bench and receives a hand shake and a warm hug from Andrei. Could you ask for more from him, a guy ranked 164 places below his opponent, who played from equal to equal?

"I can't walk a single step," Nalbandian said after the match. "I thought I would be in better shape but I have felt really bad since the first set. If it was a tournament in the tour, I would have retired in the second set. But here, I play for my country."
"I had luck in the third set," Adi admitted. "In the fourth, Nalbandian's experience and greatness were decisive."

Monaco - Hanescu : 7-6 1-6 6-1 6-1

Here is the match which could have brought a point for us. Two players of close values, despite the fact that in the last time Monaco did a lot better. The first set was decided only in a tie-break and Victor managed to save three set points. Finally, after more than an hour, the Argentinian was taking it with 7 points to 5. The second set was a fabulous one for Victor, no one can deny it! Two breaks, 6-1 and Pico having an argument with his racquet = PERFECT. However, the last two... Well, do I have to say anything about them? The score says it all. Hanescu's problem was not physical though.

At the beginning of third set, everything was working for Monaco. Every ball was in and he was able to hit a winner from any corner of the court. This destabilized the Romanian, as he himself admitted later.
"It was a pity I lost a close first set," Victor said. "Then I won easy the second. He was lucky in the beginning of the third set and then I lost the rythm, the focus on the game."

Argentina - Romania : Thoughts

As we know, Romania faces Argentina in the Davis Cup first round tie this weekend, in Buenos Aires. The hosts have the first chance, but everything can happen in Davis Cup. Here are some of the players' and close people's thoughts.

Nalbandian - Ungur

Adrian Ungur (183 ATP) will play the opening rubber against world No. 19 and Argentinian leader Nalbandian. David is still recovering from an hernia and admitted he is not in the best shape, but he is able and willing to play. "I feel good. I'm not at a 100 percent, but good enough. Davis Cup is completely different from the tour... the pressure, the people, the team. I enjoy very much playing in front of my own crowd," he said.
I agree with that. In Davis Cup, the crowd is very important. I don't mean that if the guests lose, they lose because of this, but it is a competition between countries, so the countrymen's support means a lot for every player. "Argentina is the favourite, for sure," Andrei Pavel said. "As we know, the crowd can get behind really bad, especially in such an event as Davis Cup, but I believe in my team, I believe in my players. They've worked hard the last couple of weeks."
Pavel had to choose the second singles player between Crivoi and Ungur, who are very close in the rankings. 'Cneazul', as he is nicknamed in Romania (meaning 'The Duke') finally decided in Adi's favour, probably because he played last week in Acapulco against Ferrer, who is a Top 10 player. "The match against David Nalbandian is not the most important of Adrian's career. If you ask Tiriac or Nastase, they will also say Argentina is the favourite. But as a proverb says, 'if you're afraid of water, don't go fishing'," said Ungur's mother-in-law.

Monaco - Hanescu

Victor is set once again to play on all three days. He has no negative records against the players in the Argentinian team (4-0 against Chela, 1-0 against Nalbandian and 1-1 against Schwank and Monaco). "I would have preferred to play the first match, but in the end it is almost the same," he said. "I want to give Romania the point. I feel good right now, after a couple of weeks playing in South America to adapt to the conditions and the surface."

With Hanescu in a good day, it could be 1-1 after the first two rubbers. The problem is that in the last time he didn't play at his best level in singles and he faces Monaco, who is a tough opponent. However, maybe one of the many Davis Cup miracles will happen today.

Chela/Schwank - Hanescu/Tecau

Here is the match whence I believe Romania will take the point (one of the points, guys!). Horia and Victor keep growing as a team and Lindstedt's injury gave them a chance to play together apart Davis Cup, in Acapulco, where they took the trophy. This certainly means a lot for them, they should be confident and relaxed. "We have our chance, especially now that Horia and Victor Hanescu are in a great form. In doubles we are over Argentina," said former captain Florin Segarceanu.

I tried to stay objective, but I have to say that. You may have Pico, but... Our guys are prettier!