THE SCOOP: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Double Davis Cup minor miracle for US and Argentina

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

The United States and Argentina proved on Saturday that you don't get to the Davis Cup semifinals on a wish and a prayer.

U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe's decision to pair James Blake with veteran Todd Martin paid off when the duo upended Michael Llodra/Fabrice Santoro 2-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and drew the American to 1-2 in its tie against France on clay at Roland Garros.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, Argentines David Nalbandian/Lucas Arnold outlasted Russians Marat Safin/Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 19-17 in six hours, 20 minutes in the longest doubles match in Davis Cup history.

With the win, Argentina also drew to 1-2 and gave themselves a fair shot at winning the tie, as both Safin and Kafelnikov will play singles on Sunday.

The titanic struggle was just two minutes short of the longest Cup encounter in history – the monumental singles battle between John McEnroe and Mats Wilander in St. Louis in 1982.

McEnroe's decision to play Blake wasn't surprising, given that Blake and Martin won a Master Series title in Cincinnati six weeks ago and that Blake is a far more creative and athletic player than Mardy Fish, who was originally penciled in to play with Martin. Plus, due to Blake and Andy Roddick's singles losses on Friday, McEnroe had little choice but to trot out his best duo in hopes of avoiding a shutout.

"This is definitely the best feeling," said Blake, who lost a tough four-setter to Sebastian Grosjean on Friday. "That's the thing with Davis Cup: You can have such a high high and such a low low."

Blake's flashy play was largely credited with the victory, but it may have been the steady hand of Martin that pulled the team through. The Michigan native said that by the fifth set, they has adapted to the surface.

"Clay is the one surface you can get away with losing serve so much,"said Martin. "We struggled for two sets but we returned pretty well. That gave us a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel."

The U.S. has never come back from 0-2 down to win a Davis Cup tie since the World Group format was introduced a couple of decades ago.

Grosjean will play Roddick on Sunday, and Blake will face the biggest physical test of his career when he is forced to play a third straight day. He'll encounter Clement, the wildly talented but sometimes erratic former Australian Open finalist in the first match.

"I feel really good about tomorrow," said McEnroe. "It's going to be tough but if they put into practice what they have learnt here – to play patiently and play the big points smarter – I like our chances."

RUSSIANS MUST RECOVER FAST
Kafelnikov was dreading the doubles encounter on Friday, but was hoping that if both he and Safin laid it all on the line, they could sweep and rest on Sunday. But the final set alone lasted three hours and six minutes.

The Argentines saved two match points at 17-17 in the fifth set with Safin serving for the match and Arnold/Nalbandian won the match by breaking Kafelnikov's serve two games later.

Kafelnikov had to go four hours on Friday to take out Gaston Gaudio and there's no doubt that the veteran will walk on court on Saturday with tired legs when he has to face Juan Iganacio Chela.

"Right now I have more desire than actual physical strength to play on Sunday," said Kafelnikov, who has frequently said that he may retire if Russia wins the Davis Cup. "But you can count on me, I'll be ready."

It may be up to Safin to win the tie, who beat Chela on Friday.