The Times (England)
The victory in the Davis Cup finally returned Safin to the number of the best tennis players in the world
Just a month ago, Marat Safin said that he would like to forget this year, because he was the most unfortunate in his career. Now, having won a decisive point for Russia in the Davis Cup final, he will certainly regret what he said. Safin's victory is doubly valuable also in that it was not easy. Akasuso very well opposed his more eminent and experienced rival, leaving up to a certain moment no chance to him on his serve and skillfully spreading shots across the entire width of the court. But Safin’s nerves were stronger that day. He withstood the pressure of the Argentinean, waited until he began to make mistakes, and then he went on the attack himself, forcing the whole hall to his feet with his game.
The triumph in the Davis Cup final proved once again that tennis is going through a golden era in Russia. And largely thanks to Shamil Tarpishchev, who became the first captain in the Davis Cup history who managed to lead his team to victory twice.
El Mundo (Spain)
Safin won the second Silver Salad Bowl for Russia
Marat Safin did not flinch in the decisive fifth match of the Davis Cup final before the Argentinean Jose Acasuso and put the winning point. Now Russia can rightfully celebrate its second triumph in this tournament, following the success in 2002 in France. But the Russians won the new victory no less hard than the first.
Three hours before they lifted the Silver Salad Bowl over their heads, the Argentines had no less reason to believe in ultimate success, as David Nalbandyan beat the best in the home team - Nikolai Davydenko - in three sets, equalizing. And he did it very confidently and quickly, despite the noisy support of Russian fans, who still drowned out the Argentine support group led by Maradona. Perhaps it was precisely such unanimity in the stands that later helped to defeat Safina, who was first shaken by the whole team, and then hugged for a long time by the ex-president of Russia Boris Yeltsin, who is considered the godfather of Russian tennis.
La Nacion (Argentina)
We need to learn the lesson taught us well
It was a great confrontation between the two great tennis powers. The outcome of each match was unpredictable. During the award ceremony, there was nothing on the faces of our tennis players, they gave all their strength and emotions to the game. Everyone except Acasuso. He was the only one crying, because he had not yet had time to move away from defeat, he was still living a game, certain moments of which, probably, will now come back to him more than once in dreams.
Our captain Mancini has already announced that he is not going to resign and will go on a new campaign for the Davis Cup, retaining the backbone of this team. Indeed, to arrange a revolution in a team that was a step away from victory is a big mistake. Even more than the entire Red Square. We were taught a good tennis lesson, which must be well learned in order to win the next time.
But now Argentina says goodbye to the Davis Cup final. He says goodbye to Moscow, where it is constantly dark and cold, although the temperature of plus five degrees is considered too high for this time of year. Let's hope that our defeat is just some kind of misunderstanding, which we will eliminate in exactly one year.