Czech it out! Photographer: Paul Zimmer

Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek took care of business on Saturday, pairing up after their epic five setters the day before to beat  Marin Cilic/Lovro Zovko in the doubles: 6-1 6-3 6-4. The Czech team is now 3-0 over the Croatians, and is guaranteed a spot in the Davis Cup finals this December.

Czech mates! Photographer: Paul Zimmer

Though the Czechs were playing in Croatia, they still enjoyed significant support from the stands. Here’s the on-the-ground report via daviscup.com:

The Zatika Arena was reminiscent of a heavy metal rock concert. The cheering, chanting, and jumping up and down courtside would have been more at home at a Pearl Jam performance. An entire section of men with all body shapes removed their shirts and started to swing them in the air while singing. They were celebrating.

In Spain, the Defending Champions also pulled off the 3-0 lead against their semifinal rivals, with Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez taking out the slight favorites, Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram of Israel, in four sets: 7-6(6) 6-7(7) 6-4 6-2.

Team Spain. Photographer: Sergio Carmona

Both Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco were sidelined with injury, but were literally on the sidelines to support the team (they joined in the victory lap, above). The final against the Czech Republic will be played in Spain, and if Rafa and ‘Nando are both healthy, a couple members of the current team will likely be left out (no F-LO? Adios JCF?) Talk about a problem most teams would like to have.

WORLD GROUP PLAYOFFS

Roger is not amused. Photographer: Angelo Tonelli

There’s some drama in Italy, where the Italian team of Bolelli/Starace snagged the crucial doubles point from Wawrinka/Chiudinelli on Satuday, bringing things to 2-1, Switzerland. Roger Federer, who was taken out of the doubles rubber for a  rest, will try to wrap things up in the fourth rubber vs. Seppi on Sunday.

The (Nole-less) Serbs are the only playoff team already guranteed a spot in the World Group. They beat the Uzbeks 3-0.

The dreamy team. Photographer: Virginie Bouyer

Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra pulled France ahead, 2-1, vs. the Netherlands.

Click here for more World Group Playoff results.

In ZONAL TIE news, things are looking bad for team Britain, down 1-2 to Poland after Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg defeated Andy Murray and Ross Hutchins in the doubles on Saturday. It’s unlikely that Murray will play again on Sunday, due to wrist tendinitis that he says is not improving. Where’s Tiger Tim when you need him?

Photographer: Angelo Tonelli

A 6 hour five setter in Croatia, a Frenchman gets upset, Roger Federer wins – sometimes Davis Cup Drama is a little. . . predictable.

Here’s a quick summary of the action.

THE SEMIFINALS

Peek-a -boo, I see you! Photographer: Sergio Carmona

Spain vs. Israel: Spain is up 2-0 against Israel going into day 2, with David Ferrer beating Harel Levy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 and Juan Carlos Ferrero taking out Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-2, 6-0. But Erlich and Ram should score a point on Saturday vs. Robredo/Lopez.

Croatia vs. Czech Republic: The real drama was in Croatia, where Day 1 action lasted almost 10 hours. Much like Croatia’s quarterfinals against the U.S., the first two rubbers both went fives sets. Unfortunately for the Croatians, neither of the matches went their way this time.

Radek does have a fan club! Photographer: Paul Zimmer

Stepanek vs. Karlovic was the first match and the highlight of the day – Dr. Ivo hit 78 aces in the match. . .and still lost it. Even crazier, he broke TWO records: the previous Davis Cup ace record was 47 and the world record was 55. (per Daviscup.com)

And the Czech’s still won: 6-7(5)  7-6(5)  7-6(6)  6-7(2)  16-14.

Photographer: Paul Zimmer

Stepanek was gracious after the match:

“The crowd was amazing, we had a lot of fans and it was like playing at home. I was very surprised. The Croatian fans were great as well. They gave the players lots of support and huge atmosphere. It was just an honour; that’s why we play tennis, because of fans like this.”

Kudos to Mr. Vaidisova for a worm made warrior performance.

His countryman, Tomas Berdych, pulled out another five setter vs. Marin Cilic: 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 in three hours 48 minutes.

WORLD GROUP PLAY OFFS

Roger’s fans. Photographer: Angelo Tonelli

Switzerland vs. Italy: Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka were dominant against their respective opponents, Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi, taking both matches in straight sets. Though playing in Italy, the Swiss team enjoyed the support of about 400 fans, and after Federer’s surprisingly jet-lag-free performance “the whole crowd of the Centro Sportivo Valletta Cambiaso gave Federer a long “standing ovation” for his impressive display.” (via DavisCup.com)

Tsonga stays cool as ice. Photographer: Virginie Bouyer

France vs. Netherlands: Is it surprising that a French player ranked 13  in the world (Gael Monfils) was upset by a no-name ranked 122 (Thiemo de Bakker)? Je pense que non!

Good thing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was around to pick up Gael Monfils’s slack. He tied things up with a straight set win against Jesse Huta Galung.

The French captain, Guy Forget, may have the toughest job in tennis (now that Marat Safin’s old coach, Hernan Gumy, has reportedly signed on with Ernests Gulbis). I think a little of Forget’s world weariness shows in this quote about Monfils’ match:

“It’s difficult to prepare someone for a Davis Cup match. You can tell a guy to get in the plane, here’s your parachute, it’s no big deal, just jump, you have a parachute. But when the guy gets there, it’s different. He says ‘it’s too high, I’m not jumping’. Maybe that’s what happened to Gaël today.”

Better push him out on Sunday!

More World Group results:
Belgium vs. Ukraine: 2-0
Brazil vs. Ecuador (including Nicolas Lapentti, who used to date Anna Kournikova, who is rumored to be pregnant): 1-1
South Africa vs. India: 0-2
Serbia vs. Uzbekistan: 2-0
Sweden vs. Romania: 1-1

In ZONAL TIE news, Great Britain and Poland are tied 1-1 going into day 2. Andy Murray beat World No. 678 Michal Przysiezny in straight sets, but  Dan Evans was then beaten by Jerzy Janowicz. The big news, however, is Murray’s wrist injury, which flared up in Cincinnati and has not improved, possibly knocking Murray out of the rest of this weekend’s tie and even the rest of the season:  “If it takes four months to get better, I will take four months off. If it takes a week, I will take a week. I don’t know how long it will take. I will have to see how the treatment goes.” he said in his presser.

Murray also launched into a “tirade” about the pressure he faces as the top ranked British player:

“I thought about not playing but the last time I did that I spent three months answering questions. It was ‘why aren’t you playing?’ and ‘don’t you want to play for the team?’ and ‘do you feel like you have let your country down?’ It’s pathetic. I play hard for my country. I enjoy playing for my country. I came up on Sunday with the guys and practised hard. I like being around a team atmosphere but, if I am not feeling well or I am hurt, I can’t, whether it’s the Davis Cup or a small ATP tournament.” (via The Guardian)

Spain vs. Israel is showing live on Tennis Channel here in the States. Click here for the TV Schedule and live streaming options.

We have another “5th Slam” contender/pretender this week as the ATP and WTA tours combine at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open. Here’s a quick tournament preview to help you get acclimated.

THE MEN:

The top half includes a jaded Rafael Nadal and an overplayed Novak Djokovic. Andy Murray and Roger Federer are the top seeds in the other half.

Rafael Nadal’s quarter: It’s ROUGH, especially for someone who is feeling grouchy (click here) and in need of a break before Roland Garros. His quarterfinal could be a killer – his section is PACKED with clay-loving Spanish-speakers: David Ferrer, Guillermo Canas, Juan Monaco, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and local faves Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco are all possible opponents. Of course, no matter the draw, Rafa’s still the tournament favorite.

Novak Djokovic’s quarter: Novak just won the trophy at his family’s inaugural Serbia Open tournament (over Polish lucky loser Lukasz Kubot.) With his final appearance the week before in Rome, there’s no doubt the man’s been playing a lot of tennis. His draw isn’t a cake-walk – he could face anyone from Tsonga to Safin to Simon in the quarters. I’m interested to see how Sam Querrey fares – he’s Nole’s possible opponent in the Round of 16.

Andy Murray’s quarter: This is the week for Andy Murray, the new World No. 3 (as of May 11), to prove his competence on clay. His quarter is full of guys who excel on the red (not blue) stuff. He’ll take the winner of Bolelli vs. Chela in his first match, likely Tommy Robredo in the Rd. of 16, and could face guys like Juan Martin del Potro, Tomas Berdych (fresh off a tournament victory in Munich), Jose Acasuso or Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarterfinal.

Roger Federer’s quarter: I hate to jinx Roger, but come on, he’s sharing the quarter with Andy Roddick, who took most of the clay court season off to get married and Twitter (can you blame him?) That said, Federer has a dangerous second round against the winner of Andreev vs. Soderling. James Blake (who made it to the Estoril final last week, beating Nikolay Davydenko on the way) could be his Rd. of 16 opponent. Picking his quarterfinal opponent is tough – I’m venturing Davydenko over Roddick, Haas, Gulbis, et al.

ATP absences: Gael Monfils, David Nalbandian and Mario Ancic (who is still suffering from glandular fever!) are all out of the Madrid Open, as is Richard Gasquet.

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THE WOMEN:

All I really want is a battle between “the real No. 1s” in the final. But I’m willing to contemplate other possibilities. . .

Based on seedings, the quarterfinals will be as follows: Dinara Safina vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Jelena Jankovic vs. Nadia Petrova, Victoria Azarenka vs. Elena Dementieva and Venus vs. Serena. So we definitely won’t have an all-Williams final or yet another championship meeting between Kuznetsova and Safina.

Dinara Safina’s quarter: She has a tough first match against Li Na (who beat Carla Suarez Navarro in the first round.) I’m not assuming she gets past Li, but if she does, she could take on Lucie Safarova in the Rd. of 16 and then Sveta in the quarters.

Jelena Jankovic’s quarter: Jelena’s been looking sharp on the clay, and has already won her first match in Madrid, over Llagostera Vives in straights. Her second round could be a tough one against the winner of Dulko vs. Hantuchova. Petrova is the seed for the quarters, assuming the Russian can get past the likes of Wozniak or Schnyder.

Elena Dementieva’s quarter: Elena already won her first round match against Mattek-Sands. She could be challenged by Jie Zheng in the Rd. of 16 before meeting Azarenka or maybe Agnes Szavay in the quarters.

The Williams sisters’ quarter: Both of the Williams sisters are in the bottom quarter of the draw and both have tough first matches.  Serena faces Italian claycourt specialist Francesca Schiavone and Venus has rising Russian Alisa Kleybanova. Venus could face a tricky Rd. of 16 opponent in either Wozniacki or Peer. Serena’s draw is more open, stocked with qualifiers and wildcards (like Martinez Sanchez, who almost beat Dinara in Rome.)

WTA absences: Play started on Saturday for the women and some names are already out of the draw including Marion Bartoli, Agnieszka Radwanska, Flavia Pennetta, Maria Kirilenko and Alize Cornet. Ana Ivanovic, Vera Zvonareva and Maria Sharapova are out with injury.

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EXTRAS:

Click here to visit the Madrid Open website – here for the ATP draw and here for the WTA draw.

Click here for the Madrid Open t.v. schedule (U.S. and Britain)

Click here for an interesting New York Times piece on Madrid’s much-hyped tennis stadium, the Magic Box

Thumbnail photo of the Magic Box explained in the NYT article, taken by Javier Soriano/Agence France-Presse – Getty Images

I’ve found a few nice videos from Sunday’s Fede Lux exhibition in Rome, a benefit for a leukemia foundation established in the memory of former player Federico Luzzi, who died of the disease last year. Roger Federer played Potito Starache, Novak Djokovic played with an umbrella, and the Italian players spoke lovingly of their fallen friend. Nice to see the ATP stars coming together to help their own.

Here’s the run down from the ATP, including interviews with Federer, Djokovic and others.

Some amateur footage of Federer’s exhibition match against Potito Starache (the last point is pretty good!):

An Italian report of the event, including an interview with Federer. I can’t understand the Italian (the interview is dubbed) but it’s lovely that Federico’s mother spoke so kindly about Roger’s participation in the event.

Krist from rogerfederer.com answered our prayers, snapping shots of Roger Federer and Italian hottie Simone Bolelli at practice together in Miami yesterday. This is reportedly the third time these two have hit together this week, and you can see why – they’re having a blast!  Thanks, Krist!

“Simone, you can be honest with me, here. Who has the best hair on tour?”

“You, of course, Roger! You’re my hair idol.”

(After all that talkin’, it’s time for a shirt change!)

“Speaking of great hair, Roger, I think I see Verdasco walking by.”

“Oh, Simone! You are SOOOO funny!”

Roger’s still laughing his arse off thinking about Fernando’s faux hawk.

But then it’s back to business, Rafa style!

Roger Federer plays American Taylor Dent today. Simone Bolelli went out in the first round in both singles and doubles.