The quarterfinalists decided in Davis's Cup

For some reason, Russia was considered a favorite in this match of the 1/8 finals, although the problems of the wards of Shamil Tarpishchev, thanks to his numerous interviews of recent times, were well known. True, the captain of the Russian national team made emphasis mainly on the financial side of the issue: they say, it is impossible to grow new talents in the absence of money.

At the same time, Tarpyshev did not explain why, with the same poor financing, a star-star in Russia breed with enviable regularity, but the young men somehow do not succeed. Moreover, in those days when the country first appeared Evgeny Kafelnikov, and then Marat Safin, neither the Tennis Federation, nor the state had nothing to do with it. In the same way as the appearance of Mikhail South and Nikolai Davydenko in the world elite. Relatives, friends, and sponsors helped their advance to the number of the strongest - but anyone other than bureaucratic structures.

However, we will not blame officials in all. This is not their business to find and grow from boys the stars of world tennis from the boys. But it is worth saying that this is the case of other officials - from the Russian Tennis Federation: to find young talents, find sponsors for them and direct these smallest "stars" to the leading tennis academies of Europe and the USA. All Russian champions and champions of the oldest years passed along this path. True, in their career, the Russian Tennis Federation did not play any role.

However, we will return to the match with the Austrians, to which the Russians gathered almost all their strongest to date. Mikhail Yuzhny and Nikolai Davydenko, and the newly -minted member of the national team (recent American) Alex Bogomolov, as well as Igor Kunitsyn, who joined them arrived at the disposal of Tarpishchev. In fairness, we will say that both South and Davydenko were not in the best condition: Nikolai grabbed either a cold or SARS, and South bothered his shoulder, because of which he was practically useless in single meetings. So the honor of Russia in fights with Meltser and a very modest rating of Hyder-Maurer defended Bogomolov and Kunitsyn.

Both did not succeed in this lesson. Very grieved by Bogomolov, who lost both his meetings. It is especially unpleasant to defeat the 33rd racket of the world from this very Haider Maurer, and the unconditional-the Austrian won 6: 1, 6: 4, 6: 7, 6: 2. Igor Kunitsyn fought as he could, but in a meeting with the leader of the Austria national team Jurgen Meltser, nevertheless turned out to be weaker: - 6: 2, 6: 7, 6: 4, 3: 6, 6: 1.

Hope for something best was presented by a paired meeting, in which two veterans-Mikhail Yuzhny and Nikolai Davydenko-looked so played that, despite health problems, in five sets (!) Wailed their opponents.

On the last day of the match, a lot depended on how Meltser and Bogomolov played. If the Russian American could win, it was assumed that the injured Mikhail Yuzhny would be thrown into the decisive battle, but ... it was not required to perform a feat: Meltser and Bogomolov decided everything himself.

So, now the Russian team will have to solve the issue not about how to win a silver salad bowl, but how to survive in the elite of the Davis Cup - the world group. To do this, you will have to compete with those who made their way into the transitional matches from the lower league. It can be very serious rivals: for example, Brazil, Australia, Israel and others.

In the matches of other teams in 1/8 surprises did not occur. The surprises include only the crushing defeat of Switzerland from the United States - 0: 5. But only for one reason: Roger Federer himself played for Europeans. In his first match, he lost to John Praner in four sets. The second number of Switzerland was Vavrinka, and, nevertheless, the Americans defeated the dry.

As for those who went to the quarterfinals in the Davis Cup, couples have already decided here: Spain - Austria, France - USA, Czech Republic - Serbia, Argentina - Croatia.