Talking about whose match - Safina with Gonzalez or Andreeva with Massu - will be decisive in determining the winner of the meeting, it was difficult to ignore the idea that it was Marat who was always the master of key games. And the proof is not only the December Davis Cup final. Safin traditionally knows how to get together for extra-class rivals, for matches of the highest importance.
But, perhaps, the handicap of the Russians in one point determined the unsuccessful outcome of the game of Marat on Sunday. The start of the first set was successful: Safin looked fresher than the Chilean, made a quick break and led 3: 1.
However, among the many advantages of Marat, there is also a big drawback: taking possession of the initiative, he sometimes starts playing giveaways, as if offering his opponent: "Now you show what you can." Gonzalez seemed to be waiting for this. After several mistakes, the Russian Fernando equalized at first, and then, catching courage, took three games in a row, and with them the game - 6: 3.
It is not worthwhile to talk in detail about the next two sets lost by Safin. It was all the same rivalry of perseverance with unpredictable psychology. Throughout the match, the impression that Marat looked better than the Chilean did not disappear. But for reasons that were understandable to him, Safin did not realize the advantage. In key episodes, the final blows failed him. The result - 6: 3, 7: 5, 6: 4 in favor of Gonzalez. The hosts equalized the total score - 2: 2.
The odds in the match between Andreev and Massu were considered approximately equal. But Chileans added an emotional boost to the benefits of their native walls. Pulling out their opponents, they accomplished a feat comparable to the success of our tennis players on the first day, but its effect was more recent.
However, Igor, despite the small experience of speaking for the national team, is not used to the role of her savior. In 2005, it was Andreev who brought Russia a victory point in the quarterfinals against the French, defeating Paul-Henri Mathieu. It remained and this time hoping that Andreev would have the strength to show his character.
It will not be a revelation that even the overwhelming advantage in a single game is rarely significant for the overall result. But in the Andreev-Massa match, the outcome was largely determined by the starting 14 minutes. This is the time of the game on the first serve of the Chilean, when Igor strove to make a break at any cost. Happened! And the South American’s enthusiasm noticeably decreased: in the first two sets he won only three games - 6: 2, 6: 1!
True, in the third installment, Nicholas came to his senses and took a set on a tie-break due to the mistakes of the opponent - 7: 6 (7: 1). However, confidence in a successful outcome did not leave us: even in the unsuccessful stretches for him, Andreev kept his concentration, fought for every ball. With a score of 1: 1 in the fourth set, he succeeded in a break, which allowed him to squeeze Mass, who had visibly passed physically, without hassle - 6: 4.
So the owners of the Davis Cup overcame the high barrier of the first round. And now from April 6 to 8 they will hold a quarter-final match with the French in Moscow.
Andrey IVANTSOV