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.

Davis Cup is the most emotional event in tennis. The pressures of playing for team and country either lift players up to the heights of glory or push them deep into dank pits of shame and despair. Which from a fan perspective, makes Davis Cup damn entertaining, even if you’re watching a fuzzy broadcast of Mardy Fish vs. Marin Cilic in the fifth set on clay.

Here are the highs and lows of this weekend’s Davis Cup Quarterfinals:

CZECH REPUBLIC DEFEATS ARGENTINA 3-2 in Czech Republic

You know it’s a good tie when there’s a live 5th rubber. Radek “The Worm” Stepanek steamrolled Juan Monaco in the penultimate match, inventing yet another diabolical victory dance:

“Stepanek collapsed in a heap and then, while seated, grabbed hold of an imaginary steering wheel: there had never been much doubt who was in the driving seat, although apparently there had been the night before when Stepanek’s knee condition was giving serious cause for concern.” (via daviscup.com)

Poor Juan, no wonder he was driven to tears:

CZECH REPUBLIC vs. ARGENTINA scores:

R1 – T.BERDYCH (CZE) def. J.MONACO (ARG): 6-4  2-6  2-6  6-3  6-2
R2 – J.DEL POTRO (ARG) def. I.MINAR (CZE): 6-1  6-3  6-3
R3 – R.STEPANEK / T.BERDYCH (CZE) def. L.MAYER / J.ACASUSO (ARG): 6-1  6-4  6-3
R4 – J.DEL POTRO (ARG) def. T.BERDYCH (CZE): 6-4  6-4  6-4
R5 – R.STEPANEK (CZE) def. J.MONACO (ARG): 7-6(5)  6-3  6-2

CROATIA DEFEATS USA 3-2 in Croatia

James Blake took the No. 1 spot when an injured Andy Roddick pulled from DC this weekend, and unfortunately, he couldn’t make good. Both he and Mardy Fish lost excruciating five setters on Friday, which – at over 8 hours of play – became one of the longest days in Davis Cup history. The Bryan Brothers’ victory on Saturday only served to give Blake another crushing memory as he lost the fourth rubber to a scary-good Marin Cilic.

James Blake indicated that he couldn’t handle the pressure when he complained about the “hostile” behavior of the Croatian crowd on Friday:

“To boo our fans is something I find unacceptable. . . To clap when I miss a first serve and things like that on a pretty consistent basis seems pretty hostile to me.” (via daviscup.com)

Uh, James, you did realize you were playing Davis Cup, right?

Bob Bryan scored the second point for Team USA in the dead fifth rubber.

CROATIA vs USA scores:

R1 – I.KARLOVIC (CRO) def. J.BLAKE (USA): 6-7(5)  4-6  6-3  7-6(3)  7-5
R2 – M.CILIC (CRO) def. M.FISH (USA): 4-6  6-3  6-7(3)  6-1  8-6
R3 – B.BRYAN / M.BRYAN (USA) def. R.KARANUSIC / L.ZOVKO (CRO): 6-3  6-1  6-3
R4 – M.CILIC (CRO) def. J.BLAKE (USA): 6-3  6-3  4-6  6-2
R5 – B.BRYAN (USA) def. R.KARANUSIC (CRO): 5-7  6-3  7-6(4)

ISRAEL DEFEATS RUSSIA 4-1 in Israel

Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich secured the third crucial point in their doubles match against Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn on Saturday, taking Israel into the Davis Cup semis for the first time in history.

From Israel’s team captain Eyal Ran:

“I actually can’t describe how I feel. I am so proud to be an Israeli today, to be a part of this team, so proud to be part of this sport and Davis Cup tennis.” (via JTA)

This is yet another disappointing pre-retirement result for Marat Safin, who helped usher Team Russia to Davis Cup glory in 2002 and 2006. Not that losing makes him any less photogenic:

ISRAEL vs. RUSSIA scores:

R1 – H.LEVY (ISR) def. I.ANDREEV (RUS): 6-4  6-2  4-6  6-2
R2 – D.SELA (ISR) def. M.YOUZHNY (RUS): 3-6  6-1  6-0  7-5
R3 – J.ERLICH / A.RAM (ISR) def. I.KUNITSYN / M.SAFIN (RUS): 6-3  6-4  6-7(3)  4-6  6-4
R4 – I.ANDREEV (RUS) def. D.SELA (ISR): 4-3 – Retired
R5 – H.LEVY (ISR) def. I.KUNITSYN (RUS): 6-4  4-6  7-6(2)

SPAIN DEFEATS GERMANY 3-2 in Spain

We learned a few things from this tie in Marbella, Spain. First of all, Spain knows how to fill a tennis stadium:

Second, Philipp Kohlschreiber is having a great year. After beating Novak Djokovic in the French and taking Roger to four sets at Wimbledon, the German won both his rubbers on clay in Spain. His second match was a must-win five set victory over Fernando Verdasco on Sunday to even the tie 2-all.

But 29-year-old Juan Carlos Ferrero is having an even better 2009. He last played Davis Cup in 2005 and was subbed in for Tommy Robredo at the last minute on Sunday, but he proved that he’s still player enough to win live fifth rubbers: “It’s amazing what I felt on court today,” he said after taking out Andreas Beck in straights.

Also amazing, how well the Spanish do group celebrations. Even without Rafael Nadal, they pull off sexy-crows’ feet and tussled, sweaty hair better than any other team:

Speaking of sexy Spaniards, Antonio Banderas is a fan:

SPAIN vs. GERMANY scores:

R1 – F.VERDASCO (ESP) def. A.BECK (GER): 6-0  3-6  6-7(4)  6-2  6-1
R2 – P.KOHLSCHREIBER (GER) def. T.ROBREDO (ESP): 6-3  6-4  6-4
R3 – F.LOPEZ / F.VERDASCO (ESP) def. N.KIEFER / M.ZVEREV (GER): 6-3  7-6(1)  6-7(6)  6-3
R4 – P.KOHLSCHREIBER (GER) def. F.VERDASCO (ESP): 6-4  6-2  1-6  2-6  8-6
R5 – J.FERRERO (ESP) def. A.BECK (GER): 6-4  6-4  6-4

The Davis Cup excitement continues in September’s semifinals. Spain will host Israel and Croatia will host the Czech Republic.

All photos via Daylife

Stepanek in the driver’s seat: SAMUEL KUBANI/AFP/Getty Images

Juan Monaco cries: AP Photo/Petr David Josek

Blake talks to the towel: AP Photo/Darko Bandic

Marin Cilic celebration: HRVOJE POLAN/AFP/Getty Images

Hostile Mohawk: HRVOJE POLAN/AFP/Getty Images

Ehrlich and Ram make history: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Woe is Safin: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Kissy face Safin: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Passionate Safin: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Rockin’ stadium: REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Kohlscreiber’s glory: DIEGO TUSON/AFP/Getty Images

Verdasco blames his brain: REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

Crows feet confidential: REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

Antonio Banderas fan and fans: AP Photo/Sergio Torres

Roger & Mirka and Steffi & Andre may have formed the ultimate tennis love-matches, but there are many more tumultuous examples: Kim Clijsters & Lleyton Hewitt, Jimmy Connors & Chris Evert and Radek Stepanek & Martina Hingis broke off their engagements, for example, while Verdasco & Ivanovic, Pennetta & Moya and Stepanek & Vaidisova experienced well-documented courtships and break-ups (yes, ladies, “The Worm”  is back on the market, per Tennis.com!)

With the increase in co-ed tournaments and prize money (get thee back, gold digging groupies!), The Wall Street Journal claims that love is in the air – and on the courts – more than ever. I’d argue that Marat Safin’s imminent retirement has dashed the hopes of lusty WTA players, making Radek et. al. more appealing, but what do I know?

Here are some excerpts from Hannah Karp’s WSJ article called Tennis Gets Hot and Heavy: Increase in Co-Ed Events Sparks More Love Matches; Federer as “Eye Candy.” (Click here for the full article and thanks to Forty Deuce for posting on this.)

The allure of The Worm, explained:

Defending the title of ATP playboy, though, is Czech Radek Stepanek. He was engaged to Martina Hingis, is (not) dating Nicole Vaidisova (anymore) and is known for charming ladies with his sense of humor and a victory dance he calls “the worm,” which he debuted at a player party in the Austrian Alps several years ago after a big win and a little too much Schnapps.

“Everyone was very impressed,” recalls Mr. Stepanek, adding that he hopes his popularity with beautiful women, a subject of much speculation on tennis forums, is “because of who I am as a person.”

Federer “as eye candy.” (No surprise, Marion Bartoli’s quoted on this one!)

Much to the dismay of many female players, Mr. Federer married one of their own in April, former pro Mirka Vavrinec, and is officially off the market. “He was great eye candy,” says France’s Marion Bartoli, who took his picture off her wall after she heard the news.

Tennis players are just like bloggers:

Thirty years ago, just catching a glimpse of players of the opposite sex at the four Grand Slams each year was a thrill. Leslie Allen, a former WTA player who joined the tour in 1977, recalls an early WTA ritual: ranking the male tennis players based on their looks. “We’d choose a captain and a co-captain—we had a whole ranking system,” says Ms. Allen, now a coach at Riverdale Country School in New York.

Forget “Mars vs. Venus”, it’s “Neanderthal vs. Jonas Brother fans”:

“It’s kind of an incestuous world,” says Dr. Mayer (a sports psychologist). When it comes to romance, he says, even the most accomplished male players tend to behave like “neanderthals” and female players like “giggly Jonas Brothers fans.” This often results in “very adolescent” relationships, he says, that last an average of three to four months and tend to have noticeable effects on a player’s performance at various stages.

In the seduction or “wooing” period, Dr. Mayer says, performance generally peaks. Canada’s top player, Frank Dancevic, for example, says he achieved the best result of his life the first time he brought his girlfriend to a tournament in Indianapolis two years ago. “I think I was just trying to show off—I didn’t want to look like a wuss,” says Mr. Dancevic.

As relationships progress, however, things can get complicated. Dr. Mayer says he watched one tour relationship hit the skids after the male player repackaged a watch given to him by a major tour sponsor and sent it to his girlfriend, another pro player, fibbing that he’d bought the watch in Paris—not knowing that his girlfriend had received the same watch from the same sponsor.

Any guesses on who the re-gifter was? URGH! I’m dying to know! The article does mention one cad by name, when Dominika Cibulkova’s coach describes her ex-beau, Gael Monfils, as charming but not “a relationship guy.” We know what that means!

Here’s an audio-visual guide to famous tennis couples (player-on-player and otherwise) – the Roddick photo at the end is priceless!

This calls for a poll!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Spaniards Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco and Tommy Robredo all won their third round match ups Thursday at the Barcelona Open. Take a look at the highlights, above.

All four of the top seeds will advance, with Friday’s quarterfinals as follows:

Nikolay Davydenko (3) vs. Radek Stepanek (Czech leads head-to-head 4-3), David Ferrer (4) vs. Tommy Robredo (Ferrer leads 3-2), and Fernando Verdasco (2) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (tied 2-2 with last meeting 3 years ago). Rafa advances automatically to the semis, since David Nalbandian withdrew from the tournament due to a hip injury after beating Nicolas Almagro in the third round. So sad we won’t be getting that Nalby/Nadal match.

It is fun seeing the Spanish guys succeed on thier home turf. Vamos!

Click here to visit the Barcelona Open website.

Matt Cronin of tennisreporters.net found the on-court angle to the ever-complicating story of Fernando Verdasco’s love life:

TUESDAY, MARCH 31 – Is Fernando Verdasco entering a black widower phase? In Miami, the Spaniard crushed Czech Radek “Black Widower I” Stepanek 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarters, while at the same time on another court, his new friend, Caroline Wozniacki, was taken out by Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1. Since he became the poster boy for team adidas, Verdasco has dated another adidas player, Ana Ivanovic, whose best result, the Indian Wells final, came after their breakup. While in Las Vegas training prior to Indian Wells, he became close to Wozniacki, who in the California desert and Miami, has underachieved. Two other players whom he trained next to in Vegas, Sania Mirza and Sorana Cirstea, have underperformed, too.

While none of their spotty play can be firmly placed on top of the Spaniard’s shoulders, it’s not totally unreasonable to mention a little hint of guilt by association. BTW: a TR friend mentioned that had Nicole Vaidisova beaten Kuznetsova in the previous round, it would have been one of the few times where one GF (Vaidisova) was playing an alleged GF (Wozniacki), and a BF (Stepanek) was playing an alleged BF (Verdasco).

Click here for more.

Just for the record, it’s been semi-established that the flirtatious Fernando was dumped by Ivanovic, is just friends with adidas cohort, Caroline Wozniacki, and is getting cozy with “what’s she been in, again?” actress Camilla Belle, who may or may not still be BFFs with Maria Sharapova and girlfriend to Jonas brother Joe Jonas. (If you really want to waste some time, click here for a funny report on Camilla Belle’s Verdasco-related “Tweets” with accompanying video.)

To make things more complicated, Martina Hingis, former fiancee to Radek Stepanek, was the most famous black widow of all, mythically causing injury to tennis boyfriends Radek Stepanek, Magnus Norman, and Justin Gimelstob and even to doubles partner Anna Kournikova (click here for the rundown.)

So let’s just blame everything on Martina Hingis and call it a day, shall we? She’s like the Stefano character on Days of Our Lives. . .on the Tennis Tour.

Photo courtesy of Great Tennis Photos.

Fernando Gonzalez went Gonzo against Radek “Worm” Stepanek last night in third round play at the Sony Ericsson Open. Stepanek wasn’t playing to Fernando’s pace and Gonzo decided to light a fire under his ass. (If by “fire” you mean a 120 mph overhead.)

But Stepanek got the best revenge – a two set victory. Better to be a sore winner than a sore loser!

With news of Roger Federer’s impending fatherhood dominating the headlines, we couldn’t resist making some babies of our own. Check out the sweet combos we made with Roger + Mirka, Nadal + Serena (bionic baby!), Verdasco + Ana (reunite, Fernana!), Vaidisova + Stepanek, Venus + Murray (surprisingly cute!), and some of our own fantasy tennis couples. Yes, this is ridiculously silly, but what the hell?  Enjoy!

BABY ROKA! (or MIRGER?)

I know I should have done Nadal and Xisca, but I was hoping that Serena and Nadal would yield a baby bicep. Instead, we get this cutie:

I heard Djokovic and Jankovic used to date – here’s what could have been:

FERNANA!

Vaidisova and Stepanek could have a bun in the oven sometime soon. . .

Venus Williams and Andy Murray could both win Wimbledon this year, and fall in love at the Champions Dinner:

Roddipova would be the first person ever to get an in-utero modeling contract.

Tsonga and Dementieva offspring sound good in theory, but where did that forehead come from???

Quel bébé ! Amelie and Richard would have the Frenchiest Frenchy baby ever. Mauresmo would be breast feeding Bourdeaux!

So who did we forget? Who do you think would make the dream tennis offspring?

Yeah, taking photos hunky players at an ATP tournament is not a challenge. Talk about point and shoot! Make sure to check out the gallery to find your favorites. (And our apologies for not getting everyone!)

Hot Potito! Yeah, I was surprised, too. Potito Starache was until recently a UHO – Unidentified Hunky Object – until these photos pulled him out of obscurity. A GTT exclusive!

David Ferrer – modestly hot.

Gonzo – he looks sweet and hot! Like a freshly fried doughnut. Yum.

A hottie Hall of Famer.

 

Fellow bloggers: Thanks to everyone who asked to use our photos! Please feel free to use them – we would appreciate a link back to our post, if you do.

Davis Cup is all about the thrill of VICTORY and the agony of DEFEAT, as this photo essay demonstrates. (I think you’ll agree that Gilles Simon suffered more than any one tennis player should have to bear.)

Spain over Serbia: 4 – 1

This video basically sums it up.

VICTORY! I bet Rafa wakes up every morning in this pose.

DEFEAT! (Or is Novak just relieved to be put out of his misery?)

Then Rafa holds his signature post-match therapy session. . .

and his teammates give him a good rub for good luck!

Photos: Getty/Sergio Carmona

United States over Switzerland: 4 – 1

VICTORY was a team effort for Team U.S.A. in Birmingham.

While Stan Wawrinka faced the pain of DEFEAT without Roger.

U.S.A. photos: Getty/Stan photo: AP

Russia over Romania: 4 – 1

Any excuse for a Safin photo or two.

Marat, doing a Greek God VICTORY pose with a racquet for a thunderbolt.

DEFEAT? Here’s what I love about Marat – even when he wins in straights, it still looks like he’s losing.

Czech Republic over France: 3 – 2

HEARTBREAK ALERT!

Radek Stepanek’s VICTORY worm dance. . .

. . .should be against the Geneva conventions. DEFEAT never hurt  so bad for poor Gilly!

There’s just no consoling him after that.

Worm photo: Antoine Couvercelle/Simon photos: Getty

Israel over Sweden: 3-2

I wonder if Malmo officials regret their decision to keep fans out of the Davis Cup stadium? The Swedish could have used some home advantage when Swede Vinciguerra took on Israel’s Levy in the live fifth rubber, which Levy won 8-6 in the fifth.

But the lack of a cheering section didn’t dampen the thrill of VICTORY for Israel.

There were about 6,000 demonstrators outside – mostly peaceful but with about 200 bad apples making things ugly. Was this a VICTORY for democracy, a DEFEAT of common decency, or both?

Click here for video from the protests.

Team Israel photo: Arne Forsell

Argentina over the Netherlands: 5 – 0

VICTORY for cutie-pie Juan Monaco! His fans feel warm and fuzzy. . .

. . .until Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands rouses their dormant Mommy-reflexes. Don’t cry, Thiemo!

Photographer: Sergio Llamera

Germany over Austria: 3 – 2

“Bloody knees? What bloody knees?” Kiefer says VICTORY hurts so good.

DEFEAT. I know I’ve made this same “D’oh!” face Jurgen Melzer’s wearing quite often – like today after I forgot to TIVO Mad Men.

Photographer: GEPA

Croatia over Chile: 5 – 0

Cilic and Ancic celebrate Croatia’s VICTORY, big time.

While a DEFEATED Paul Capdeville of Chile questions his career choices.

Photographer: Paul Zimmer

NEXT UP AND WHERE (DC Quarterfinals from 10 – 12 of July):

Argentina at Czech Republic
U.S.A. at Croatia
Russia at Israel
Germany at Spain