Davis Cup starts this week. Here is a link to the website. http://www.daviscup.com/

Davis Cup starts today, shown on ESPN at 4 today. Whereas I'm glad Agassi is playing, why do I feel Davis Cup is just not a big deal here in the US, no matter who's playing? I generally do not tune in. It doesn't hold the relevance that say a Grand Slam holds.

All that said, I also think the US needs to play smart because Croatia with Ljubicic can be tricky--I think he could actually beat up on Agassi and if Roddick is underpar, trouble could be waiting.

It's a pretty tough first tie, agreed, but I think the U.S. should come through.

In terms of popularity, I think tennis fans follow Davis Cup, but it's problem for mass appeal is that there's always something else going on in terms of the big team sports here - football, baseball, basketball - and those sports are team-oriented all season. To really get into a team sport, you have to be invested in a particular team. There isn't time for that with an assembled group of players who are usually on their own. Also, ardent tennis fans have attachments to their favorite players. Just because it's all of a sudden Davis Cup doesn't mean I'm gonna root for Andy Roddick over somelike like Marat Safin. I think all those factors make it less of a deal in the States.

Ljubicic is serving for the first set. Andre is looking slow and labored, really labored. I think his footwork is just not what it used to be. And he takes it 6-3.

Spain is down 2-0. And Andre is now 2 sets down to Ljubicic. Not that surprising really; Ljubicic is on fire this year. He's 20-6 on the year and he's lost 3 finals to Roger Federer.

Wow, the American men lost to Croatia! Granted, Lubijic (sp?) played fantastic tennis throughout his three matches but Andy really had some big opportunities today. Reminded me of his big point problems against Hewitt at the US Open. Patrick Mac chose the surface and yet it screwed up both Andy and Andre. Kudos to Croatia for playing tough in the US...

What did I miss? I saw no tennis this weekend, much too busy, but now I'm going to have to go online and read all the accounts. I can't believe Roddick lost to Ljubicic, or did the Bryan bros lose the doubles?

The Bryan Brothers did lose the doubles, but Ljubicic won both his matches. The man is on fire.

I watched the doubles match ... it was great tennis. A lot of exciting exchanges. Congrats to Croatia and to Ljubicic, who played some amazing tennis the entire weekend.

Yet another disappointing loss for the US. Ho hum. Was Andy playing badly, or the Croatian, just playing unbelieveable tennis?

Doesn't bode too well for the USA's future in Davis Cup either. None of the young guns have lived up to their potential (or hype?). Guys like Blake, Ginepri, Fish, Dent and, to a lesser extent, Gambill have all seriously underachieved for a variety of reasons. Who can play with Roddick next year? Or I should ask who can play with Roddick and win a tie?

The interview during the first set where the Croatian player was talking about how he can outplay Andy at any time was very prophetic and one of the commentators blew off his comment as bravado. Turns out, the Croatian was right. Stunning to say the least.

The Bryan twins AND Andy all lost!!!!

I saw all the singles matches. Andre just didn't play well enough, seemingly distracted by the balls and the slower hard court (not a good idea, Coach), and the Croatian's strong tennis. Andy played well enough against a nervous Ancic, but Roddick's play in the sunday match echoed all the mistakes he's made over the past year: too emotional, too much strutting, too much dependence upon firepower at the wrong moments...granted, I love how much Andy's defense has improved and that at least he's trying to get to the net more (albeit with mixed results) but his problem continues to be mental; he appears to just be immature mentally still - too much temper and ego...He needs to think more, strut less when it gets tight..He had several big opportunities in Sunday's match and just blew them.

Ok, I am watching live Davis Cup action on the Tennis Channel. This is a pretty intense and personal match between Guillermo Coria and Lleyton Hewitt.

I am pretty sure that I heard this and someone correct me if I am wrong - Lleyton was just arguing a reversed call with the chair umpire, and was so angry that the call didn't go his way that he called the ump a POOFTER!

After seeing this match, I look forward to seeing more battles between these two players. They really went at it!

The account of the match on the Davis Cup site was just wild

Hewitt and Coria are probably the two most disliked, surly guys on the tour ... that couldn't have been pretty!

JC, I went out to Olympic Park yesterday and it was a nasty spiteful match.I think some of the angst from Hewitt against Argentina carried on from the Open when Chela spat at him.Coria carried on like a idiot too.The after match interviews were also bitter.

Coria does have a point about the court, it did look a bit rough. Strange choice for a court surface, I believe,at this time of the year, to grow a grass court coming into winter.

Gaga, I have never been able to work out Hewitt.Off court he is quiet,, well mannered and around most players, according to Fedderer, is poplular. Put a tennis racquet in his hand and he becomes this brat who annoys everyone around him. Just dunno.

Will we win this tie?? I think whoever wins todays doubles will take the tie.

Well, the Argentines took the doubles, so it's in their favor, and it certainly looks like they'll win.

Hewitt is obnoxious. That "come on" of his has got to be the most irritating thing in professional tennis, if not in all sports. Once or twice in a long match, I could almost understand...but to the point where it's almost every point you win...even when it's the other player's mistake? I'm surprised someone hasn't punched him at the net after a match.

The fans are going to see the court play, not the off-court "manners" you speak of. And on court, like you say, he's an absolutely unlikeable jerk.

I'm not sure I can agree with the off-court Hewitt you're talking about, however. I mean, it's off-court that he's tried to take the ATP to court for a fine he should have just shut his mouth and paid...one he wouldn't have incurred if he had just done the interview that everyone has no problem doing, except for him. How long did that drag on?

I'll never understand Clijsters putting up with him for as long as she did. I couldn't care less about the gossip behind why their engagement broke off, but I am happy with the result, for Kim's sake. What a nice young lady. I know nothing about his new girlfriend (or is she his wife, now?) But if ever there were the perfect soulmate for him, as far as a vile, reprehensible, and arrogant qualities...hey, Hingis is still single.

So Australia loses the tie to Argentina. Not played in the best spirit at all by both teams.

Did not realize Hingis aroused such emotions. Is that a fair comparison to Hewitt? My recollection, apart from that French final against Graff, was that she mostly tripped up by both her youth and her inability to express herself succinctly in English.

I think the womens game, at the moment, misses her tennis brain.

The article mentions both players doing the "vicht" hand sign. I'm not familiar with that expression - what does it mean?

Another reason to dislike Hewitt. He has to be the most disliked sportsman down-under

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/st...5E11088,00.html

Munson, I wondered also.
"The Vicht" is a poor pronunciation of the Swedish word "for sure", popularised by Mats Wilander but started by the Swedish player Nicholas Kroon.

My source is Google and there is more information there.

Seems a bit odd that Hewitt would copy it.

[ July 18, 2005, 01:01 AM: Message edited by: xanthos ]

I'm truly shocked that the Argentines beat Australia on grass. But yay Argentina! :cool:

Has Argentina ever won Davis Cup before? They would seem to be the favorites now.

Nope they have not.

Hewitt's being called out by Gay and Lesbian groups in Australia for his "poof" comments.

Poof! You're A Toad!

I've been checking in with the Tennis Channel to see some of the rubber, but last night and today it's been the France vs Russia rubber. I'll stay tuned.

later: just read in the thread that Musicalidad actually heard Hewitt say 'poof' or 'poofster'. Poor Lleyton.

[ July 18, 2005, 10:34 AM: Message edited by: shore ]

Well not so much "poor Lleyton" Shore, at 24 he just has to wake up and respect the game that made him a multi-millionaire.

This is a bad week.

Australia thrashed in the Davis Cup tie to Argentina, on grass at home, for God's sake with Arthurs fading at 35, Woodbridge retired and Philippoussis broken down again. Reid and Guccione going nowhere.Lleyton swears again, on court, and starts another media backlash.

I have tried to buy a box of Prozac on the internet but they won't ship outside USA.

I should have continued with "Poor Lleyton, when will he ever learn?" I have been his apologist for a while, and still like his game, but at some point I have to expect that he would know better or he simply doesn't care. If it's the latter, then, yep, poor Lleyton.

If it comes down to Russia vs Argentina, who will have the home court advantage?