 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 | Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 06 Dec 2009 |
|
| 06 Dec 2009 - Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona - Chris Bowers, Craig Gabriel & Eli Weinstein | |
| Spain is crowned champion...final thoughts |
The voices of Davis Cup Radio, Chris Bowers, Craig Gabriel and Eli Weinstein, have been commentating on the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final all weekend – they’ve seen every ball that has been struck.
As the curtain comes down on this year’s competition, they share their closing views on Spain winning its fourth title and Czech Republic’s achievement of reaching the Final.
Chris Bowers
You could be forgiven for wondering whether the growing number of Davis Cup wins for Spain would somehow diminish the level of satisfaction. But the overriding impression that will stay with me from this weekend is the unbridled joy the Spaniards felt when they won the Cup on Saturday and when they got their hands on Dwight Davis’s trophy on Sunday.
I was here when Spain won it for the first time, and the joy was almost as great this time, which is remarkable.
As with Roger Federer’s mounting tally of Grand Slams, the more you win, the more some of the details fade from the memory, and it could be that a decade from now not a lot will stand out from this Final. But this was the happy Final, with both teams and sets of supporters very respectful to each other.
It’s perhaps not as great an achievement for Spain as last year’s Final, which was won away from home without Rafael Nadal. But it was a much greater team effort. The winning points last year were won by just two of Spain’s players – this year they were won by all four, and six Spaniards have played live rubbers this year.
It’s been great to see the Czechs enjoying their Final. They knew they were up against not just a team but a ruling dynasty, and their achievement in reaching the Final will perhaps get greater recognition over time than Spain’s in winning a fourth Davis Cup by BNP Paribas title.
Craig Gabriel
Davis Cup is a rivalry between nations but at the same time it is a bringing together of people and that was all so evident in Barcelona as Spain swept to victory over Czech Republic.
The intensity was there between the players but not a cross word was exchanged; this was a tie that was played with the highest degree of sportsmanship from both sides.
The scores of supporters that poured into Palau Sant Jordi were respectful of one another and the Czech fans, nicknamed the Czech Mates, made their fair share of noise as they tried to lift the spirits of their players.
The respective nation’s fans showed respect for one another and mingled almost as one. All that was the underlying factor of this weekend and it epitomised the essence of this great competition.
Rafael Nadal showed what a great leader and example he is for the tennis community. He gave the home side the first point of the tie and then played the dead reverse singles, something most other players of his stature renege on. He showed that no one player is bigger than the event or the game.
David Ferrer joined Nadal by also playing the reverse singles and quite possibly his match turnaround on the first day will be a stepping stone for him. He agreed it was the most important match of his career.
And credit must be given to Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych who worked so hard but just could not thwart the Spanish Armada. The Czech team, captained by Jaroslav Navratil, will nevertheless have a sense of pride in what they achieved.
Both these nations played the weekend the way it should be and that’s what I will remember about the 2009 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final.
Eli Weinstein
Well, Spain has done it again. The word that comes to mind is Wow! To win back-to-back titles and to finish in such a solid manner is very impressive.
Reflecting back on this Final, I'd like to start by saying that the Czechs deserve a lot of respect. They played three solid matches – even if I think that they probably should have nominated Lukas Dlouhy to play in the doubles rubber along side Tomas Berdych, considering the shape Stepanek was in after his five set marathon loss to David Ferrer on Friday.
But the truth of the matter is that the Czechs were always underdogs, and to make it so far into the campaign is already a huge performance on its own.
What to say about Spain? I've said this on air and I'll repeat myself, for those of you who dared not to listen to me, by saying that I think Spain is capable of winning another one or two Davis Cups in the next two years.
When Russia was considered to be the Davis Cup dream team back in 2006, I was impressed. But for me this is better, stronger, higher and more competitive. The Spaniards have all the ingredients for a perfect recipe.
Obviously they have pure talent with their two top 10 players, Nadal and Verdasco. Then they have an extremely solid doubles team with Fernando and Feliciano – both lefties which doesn't make their opponents life any easier.
The Spanish depth is a strength and luxury that teams like Czech Republic can only dream of. In most of the nations when a major player is injured it ruins all hopes of winning ties. In this case, the Spaniards can afford to have two injured players and still be one of the most lethal teams out there.
And last, but most definitely not least, one must mention the camaraderie that exists within this Spanish team. The players are all very close which is key in the good times but especially in the bad ones. When truths need to be stated, it is not a problem between friends. And that helps to keep the group dynamics healthy.
So, congratulations to Czech Republic, viva Espana and Bon Nadal to all!
Related Audio
 Interview with captain Albert Costa (ESP) - Sunday
Interview with David Ferrer (ESP) - Sunday
Interview with captain Jaroslav Navratil (CZE) - Sunday
Interview with Rafael Nadal (ESP) - Sunday
 
If you cannot hear the audio, then please update your media player by following one of the links above.
|
Español
