DAVIS CUP ... Continuous Blog ....

TEAM AMERICA, F YEAH!

Friday, February 10th, 2012 could well go down as one of the most surprising days in U.S.A. Davis Cup history. Sure, it isn't a Championship, but the wins today by Mardy Fish and John Isner may have been two of the more improbable in memory. Let's start with Fish vs. Wawrinka.

Fish ran out to a big first set 6-2 and then dropped successive sets, 6-4, 6-4. It looked like what most expected, a Swiss win by Wawrinka was in the cards. Fish though pulled himself together and blasted an inconsistent Wawrinka 6-1 to set up a classic 5th set. The tension was high and the memories clear for Fish with two five set losses in Davis Cup play in recent years. Fish looked like he was coasting to a win, up a break at 4-3. But he ran into trouble, going down Love-40 on his serve only to save four break points and hold to go up 5-3. Match over, right? Wrong. After Wawrinka held his serve, Fish blew match point and we were all even at 5-5. The drama was riveting and I for one thought Fish was set up for another let down. Boy was I wrong. Fish showed great guts as the two players danced back and forth to 7-7. Fish broke to go up 8-7 and was down 15-40 in the final game before he ralled back to Deuce. He ripped off an ace for another match point, but Wawrinka fought it off again with a glorious backhand winner. Fish would get back to match point again and this time with great agility, he tracked down Wawrinka's shot and sent a winning volley cross-court for the finish of a 95 minute final set. 

So hey, what a win and how nice it is to split with the Swiss 1-1 in the opening rubbers. A split? Sure. Federer against Isner was the second rubber, a sure fire win for the home standing Swiss. But wait ... there was more drama. Surely, Federer would right the Swiss ship and he started strong beating Isner 6-4 in the opening set. Everyone expecting this was the beginning of the end for the tall American. But Isner bounced back and took the second set, 6-3 to even things up. Big John's serve and ground strokes proving too much for Federer. Set three. Not unsurprisingly, we get a tie break in a match involving Isner. Isner stayed composed and won the tie break, 7-4. In the 4th, Isner was down Love-40 on his service game and rallied with his trademark thunder booming serves and a forehand winner to hold in what may well have been the cracking point for Federer. Federer frustrated with blown opportunities, lost out four straight games to end the match in the day's most shocking result. 

So where does this rank all-time in Davis Cup history for the U.S.? Isner called it the greatest win of his career and you won't get much argument there. But in the scheme of Davis Cup play, it's pretty high up there for a non-Championship type of tie. Sure, it's not a Championship, but when the day began there were few who gave the Americans a shot in hell to even split 1-1 in the opening rubbers. Low and behold at the end of the day, Team America shocked the tennis world to go up 2-0. Work is left to be done. A doubles tie tomorrow likely pits Federer-Wawrinka against Mike Bryan-Ryan Harrison.  Jim Courier has to keep his troops focused and even out their emotions after a highly emotional day. A loss in doubles and the window is open for the Swiss. Could you expect Roger Federer to lose twice? He would be up against Fish in the 4th rubber on Sunday and then if necessary, Wawrinka and Isner in a decisive 5th rubber. 

Today was great. Today was historic. Today was today. Tomorrow is another day and the one that Team America needs to concentrate on now.