ESPN.com - TENNIS - Kafelnikov comeback gives Russia 3-2 Davis Cup win

Davis Cup Logo
 
Monday, February 12
Kafelnikov comeback gives Russia 3-2 Davis Cup win



BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- Russia's pair of former world No. 1s dug themselves into a hole on Sunday before Yevgeny Kafelnikov clawed his way back in a five-set thriller against Karol Kucera to give Russia a 3-2 Davis Cup victory against Slovakia.

After teammate Marat Safin was thrashed in straight sets by Dominik Hrbaty to level the world group first round tie at 2-2, Kafelnikov faced a must-win situation to put the favorites through.

But veteran Kucera, who had an injury-plagued 2000, came out strongly after a day's rest following his last-minute scratching from Saturday's doubles -- Kafelnikov played -- to take the first two sets by a 6-4 margin.

With the boisterous home crowd cheering him on, Kucera was on the verge of his second upset of the weekend after beating Safin in the opening singles on Friday.

But Kafelnikov appeared to get stronger as the match wore on, pounding the Slovak from the baseline.

He scored a crucial break in the eighth game of the third set and never looked back as Kucera faded to a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 defeat.

"You just hope your opponent will give you one chance to get back into the match. And until the middle of the third set I didn't have a chance. Karol was playing very well, he was dictating the game," Kafelnikov said.

A dose of confidence
"Towards the end of the third set ... the confidence came back and at that point I started to believe I could win."

For Safin it was a weekend he would rather forget. After jumping out to a two-set lead against Kucera on Friday he lost his concentration, and eventually the match.

Earlier in the day, the reigning U.S. Open champ won the coin toss against Hrbaty, but that was about it.

With Russia leading the tie 2-1 at that point and Hrbaty's service looking dreadful all weekend, it seemed like a smart move for Safin to receive instead of going on the attack with his trademark powerful serve.

But Hrbaty, a 1999 French Open semifinalist, was the one to come out firing, giving up only seven points on his serve in the first two sets on his way to a 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 victory.

"I was more relaxed on my serve because when I played the two previous days, I was having problems with my second serve," Hrbaty said.

Safin sprayed unforced errors all over the court in contrast to Hrbaty's steady play. After just 53 minutes, the Slovak underdog was up two sets and poised to upset the Russian for the second time in a month.

Safin finally showed flashes of the play that made him the world No. 2 at the end of last year, capitalising on his first break point of the match in the third game of the final set.

But Hrbaty, who knocked the Russian out of the Australian Open last month, withstood the storm, breaking back and then again in the final game to seal victory in just 85 minutes.

"It was tough out there because he was so full of confidence and I was making mistakes all over the court," Safin said. "I definitely was not tired but I am just not in the best shape right now after such a long year last year."

For Slovakia, the tie was a reminder of past setbacks. In 1999, with the score 2-2, Kafelnikov beat Hrbaty in Moscow to put Russia through.

Russia faces Sweden in the quarterfinals after the Swedes beat the Czech Republic. "They are a strong team, but if Marat and I play to our full potential, we can get through that match," Kafelnikov said.

Send this story to a friend
 




ALSO SEE
Olympic champion Kafelnikov hints at the possibility of retiring

Dutch complete 4-1 victory against sorry Spain

Australia beats Ecuador in first round of Davis Cup

Sweden edges out Czech Republic 3-2

France routs Belgium 5-0

Germany takes both singles matches to advance

Switzerland swamps United States out of Davis Cup

Brazil wins tie 4-1 to set up repeat of last year's semi

Davis Cup results

Russia leads Slovakia 2-1 after doubles victory