Davis Cup, Cyprus vs Ireland, July 10-12

[getta]

DAVIS CUP
Group II, Europe/Africa 2009
2nd Round

National Tennis Center, Nicosia
Stadium Capacity: 2000
10 July - 12 July 2009
Day 1: 1600 hrs (1300 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1800 hrs (1500 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1600 hrs (1300 hrs GMT)
Surface: Hard (Plexipave) - Outdoors
Ball Type: Babolat VS


Cyprus
Marcos BAGHDATIS
Photos KALLIAS
Rares CUZDRIOREAN
Demetrios LEONTIS
Team Captain
Yiannos HADJIGEORGIOU

Ireland
Conor NILAND
James MCGEE
Louk SORENSEN
Colin O'BRIEN
Team Captain
Sean SORENSEN

[getta]

Friday
R1 - M.BAGHDATIS (CYP) v. L.SORENSEN (IRL)
R2 - P.KALLIAS (CYP) v. C.NILAND (IRL)

Saturday
R3 - M.BAGHDATIS / P.KALLIAS (CYP) v. J.MCGEE / C.O'BRIEN (IRL)

Sunday
R4 - M.BAGHDATIS (CYP) v. C.NILAND (IRL)
R5 - P.KALLIAS (CYP) v. L.SORENSEN (IRL)

[getta]

Head to head: Ireland leads Cyprus 3-1.
Last meeting: Cyprus d. Ireland 2-1 in Ireland, Europe/Africa Zone B 1st to 4th Play-Off, Round Robin, 2005

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Winner plays winner of Finland vs Monaco in promotion match (September 18-20)
Cyprus plays next match at home if facing Monaco, plays away vs Finland.
Ireland plays next match at home if wins.

[getta]

www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/tennis-sorensen-expecting-no-favours-from-baghdatis-1813494.html

Tennis: Sorensen expecting no favours from Baghdatis

By Paddy Hickey
Thursday July 09 2009

IRELAND head into their Davis Cup second-round showdown with Cyprus as rank outsiders to clinch a promotion play-off place.

Cyprus hold all the aces for the Europe-Africa Zone Group Two contest, which begins tomorrow.

Apart from enjoying home advantage, they expect their No 1 player, Marcos Baghdatis, to be fit after being forced to miss Wimbledon because of a knee injury.

The top Cypriot player, who underlined his current rich vein of form by shocking current world No 15 Tommy Robredo of Spain in an ATP Tour event last month, has won 32 of his 35 singles matches in the Davis Cup and he will be expecting to make that 34 out of 37.

fortune

Ireland's Conor Niland, James McGee, Louk Sorensen and Colin O'Brien are unlikely to be favoured by the same good fortune they experienced in their first-round clash against Algeria in March.

On that occasion, the home country's top player, Lamine Ouahab, refused to play because of a row over appearance money and that undoubtedly was a major factor in helping the Irish chalk up a 4-1 victory.

Unsurprisingly, Ireland boss Sean Sorensen feels that the doubles match will hold the key to the outcome of the tie, which will be played outdoors on a hardcourt surface at the 2,000-capacity National Tennis Center in Nicosia.

"If Baghdatis plays, it's going to be very difficult for us to win the two singles matches in which he will be involved," said Sorensen.

"I think it's about six years since he lost a singles match in the Davis Cup, and he'll be very determined to keep up that terrific run.

"Hopefully, we will win the two singles matches not involving Baghdatis. That would leave the result hinging on the doubles match."

McGee and O'Brien did very well to clinch victory in the doubles match against Algeria, with the tie being staged on an unfamiliar clay surface for the Irish pair.

The two Dubliners -- McGee was making his Davis Cup debut -- showed tremendous composure and mental toughness by prevailing in a titanic rollercoaster battle which went to five sets.

"It was a great doubles win by James and Colin against Algeria, and that will give them a lot of heart and confidence for the doubles match on Saturday," said Sorensen.

Certainly, the Irish won't fail for lack of preparation. They will have had four full days of practice and training for the crucial tie, having overnighted in London on Sunday night, and then flown on to Larnaca on Monday en route to Nicosia.

"The lads are under no illusions about how difficult it's going to be for us, but the practice has gone very well and the spirit among the players is great," added Sorensen. "Hopefully we can spring a surprise."

[choupi]

Good luck Cyprus team. I just hope Marcos isn't coming back on court too soon after his knee injury.

Won't be around for a few days, so I won't be able to follow what's happening. But I'm sure Getta will keep us updated

[getta]

Jul 10, 2009 1:47:19 GMT -5 choupi said:

I just hope Marcos isn't coming back on court too soon after his knee injury.

I found Yiannos Hatjigeorgiou guilty of committing an appalling crime.

Won't be around for a few days, so I won't be able to follow what's happening.

Enjoy the tournament in Stuttgart, Choupi. ;D

But I'm sure Getta will keep us updated

I promise you I will update regularly without trying to keep myself open... you know, Getta and mess-free don't normally go hand-in-hand... since mess is all part of the fun...

[getta]

R1 - M.BAGHDATIS (CYP) def. L.SORENSEN (IRL) 67(5) 64 36 75 64
R2 - C.NILAND (IRL) def. P.KALLIAS (CYP) 57 63 50 ret. (a stomach complaint... :


CYPRUS v IRELAND 1-1

[getta]

R3 - Marcos BAGHDATIS/Photos KALLIAS def. James MCGEE/Colin O'BRIEN (IRL) 6-2 5-7 6-2 6-2

CYPRUS v IRELAND 2-1

[getta]

www.cyprustennis.com/Main/default.aspx?ItemID=1&mid=29&tabid=1

DAVIS CUP 2009 (CYPRUS VS IRELAND)

A very big day for Cyprus Tennis as our team wins the doubles against Ireland in a tough match, played tonight at the National Tennis Centre.

After an excellent four-set match that lasted nearly three hours, our team made the critical step towards gaining the tie, winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, taking the lead in the tie with 2 wins to 1. Our team started very well in the beginning with 2 breaks in the first set, as well as, came very close in winning the second set. In the third and fourth sets, our team raised their level of play with Kallias playing some very solid tennis and Baghdatis improving greatly his first serve percentage, as well as playing at a faster momentum from the baseline.

"...we played one of our best doubles so far in our Davis Cup history...we are very happy and this is the reason you saw us smiling on court...we play well together since we grew up playing with each other...the pain on my left knee dissappeared and I was more confident today...I stepped and moved much better on court and this gave me the necessary confidence to hit the ball faster in the third and fourth set...tomorrow, we need to focus on our singles matches and we hope that we can celebrate all together at the end..." our Champion Marcos Baghdatis stated after the match.

".....on behalf of the Cyprus Tennis Federation, I would like to thank all the fans that attended the match tonight...they exhibited a very high level of sportsmanship and at the same time helped boost the morale of our team...very big congatulations go to our two players Baghdatis and Kallias, who showed us once more how well they can play for their country....they deserve our biggest thanks...we look forward to having the fans again with us tomorrow in order to help us obtain the victory..." stated the press officer of the Cyprus Tennis Federation at the press conference.

In tomorrow's first match of the day, our Champion Marcos Baghdatis will face the No. 1 player from Ireland, Conor Niland and our Champion Photos Kallias will face the No. 2 player from Ireland, Louk Sorensen.

[getta]

R4 - M.BAGHDATIS (CYP) def. C.NILAND (IRL) 46 63 61 63
R5 - C.O'BRIEN (IRL) def. D.LEONTIS (CYP) 76(2) 63


CYPRUS v IRELAND 3-2

[getta]

www.cyprustennis.com/Main/default.aspx?ItemID=2&mid=29&tabid=1

Our Champion although being down in the first set by 4-6 with signs of fatigue and being troubled by stomach problems, gave no chances to the Irish player, winning the next three sets fairly easily, setting the start for victory celebrations inside the arena. At the end of the match the whole team entered the court and our National Anthem was heard.

".....I am really proud playing in front of such a crowd....they were great and I express my thanks to all the people who came out here to support me....I think once more I did not play very well today, however, I found the solutions needed to make me win and secure the victory for our team....it is one of the best moments playing Davis Cup for my country....I express also my gratitude to all the other members of the team...we made a huge step towards the dream, our entrance in the first category of the Davis Cup in September..." Marcos stated during the press conference.