ARGENTINA: TENNIS - Argentina, Russia begin practicing for Davis Cup semi-final in Buenos Aires

Record ID: 446592

  • Title: ARGENTINA: TENNIS - Argentina, Russia begin practicing for Davis Cup semi-final in Buenos Aires
  • Date: 18th September 2008
  • Summary: (S1) BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 16, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIANS NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO AND IGOR ANDREEV PRACTISING VARIOUS OF RUSSIANS DMITRY TURSUNOV AND IGOR KUNITSYN PRACTIS ING RUSSIA CAPTAIN SHAMIL TARPISCHEV OBSERVING ARGENTINE TEAM POSING FOR PHOTO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINE DAVID NALBANDIAN SAYING: "I think Argentina has an advantage on clay with all countries but it won't so different with Russia because they also play well on clay. It's going to be difficult." ARGENTINE TEAM AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINE GUILLERMO CAÑAS SAYING: "We know that every day is different and it's no different going into Saturday up 2-0 or down 2-0. We are going to try to go out and win whatever we have to play." ARGENTINES JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO AND DAVID NALBANDIAN TALKING VARIOUS OF NALBANDIAN AND DEL POTRO PRACTISING VARIOUS OF GUILLERMO CAÑAS AND AGUSTIN CALLERI PRACTICING DOUBLES
  • Embargoed: 3rd October 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABW2SBCJS4GYS5OLAZ2JHT4MJL
  • Story Text: Tennis stars from Argentina and Russia began practicing on Tuesday (September 16) in Buenos Aires for an upcoming face-off in the Davis Cup semi-finals.
    Russia's squad was without former world number one Marat Safin, who pulled out of the cup semi-final citing personal commitments as he attempts to climb from his ranking of 39.
    Russia's hopes hang on world number six Nikolay Davydenko and 20th-ranked Igor Andreev, who volleyed on a cool, cloudy spring morning in Buenos Aires.
    Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev named Davis Cup newcomer Igor Kunitsyn, ranked number 76 in the world, to replace Mikhail Youzhny, who has not regained top form after missing the U.S. Open with a neck injury.
    Ranked number 26 in the world, Dmitry Tursunov rounds out the Russia squad for the Sept. 19-21 tie on clay.
    Argentine is led by world number six David Nalbandian and the surging Juan Martin del Potro, who has risen to 13th.

    "I think Argentina has an advantage on clay with all countries but it won't so different with Russia because they also play well on clay. It's going to be difficult," Nalbandian said at a Tuesday press conference.
    Doubles player Guillermo Cañas said Argentina will not panic if they fall behind early in singles play.

    "We know that every day is different and it's no different going into Saturday up 2-0 or down 2-0. We are going to try to go out and win whatever we have to play," said Cañas, ranked 55th.
    A relaxed Nalbandian chatted with the 6'5" del Potro before the two ran through a light practice.
    Cañas and his doubles partner Agustin Calleri, ranked 51st, slammed serves over the net at Tuesday's practice.
    The Argentine captain is Alberto Mancini, who hopes his four can win the South American nation their first Davis Cup title.
    Russia, who reached the final last year, are bidding for their third Davis Cup title after winning in 2002 and 2006.
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