Davis Cup Musings for a Monday

.....Davis Cup is a Big Deal. Except in the US of A.

.....for those of us who are hardcore tennis fans, the Davis Cup Final is an opportunity to view the top players in an unusual setting. Playing for their Country. As veterans of high school and college teams know only too well, playing for a Team is so very unlike playing for one's self. Others, teammates and entire countries, are counting on your performance. Unnerving!

.....and as such, a great opportunity to watch the best players in the world do what we have all done....CHOKE!

.....but NOT David Ferrer. An inspiring match yesterday against the accomplished(World #6) Tomas Berdych. Recap here:  http://www.tennis.com/news/2012/11/davis-cup-final-ferrer-d-berdych/40160/#.UKo7B64lPAk

.....Ferrer evens the Tie at 2-2, setting up the dramatic 5th rubber of Nicolas Almagro(#11) of Spain against Radek Stepanek (#31). Yes, the fate of nation's rested on the racquet skills of the second singles players from both Espana and the Czech Republic. Recap:  http://www.tennis.com/news/2012/11/davis-cup-final-stepanek-d-almagro/40162/#.UKo8Mq4lPAk

....What else is great about Davis Cup?
         a) Doubles is huge!!!! The middle day consists of one match. Doubles. In the Final we were presented with the newly-minted ATP Tour 2012 Champions, Marc Lopez and Marcel Granollers against Radek Stepanek, world #4 ranked doubles player, and Tomas Berdych, who sported an 11-1 Davis Cup doubles record. Good match! Recap here:  http://www.changeovertennis.com/how-the-match-was-won-czech-republic-d-spain-davis-cup-doubles/

        b) Best Three of Five Sets. Best format. Ever. Truest test of mental and physical stamina. And skill!

         c) Home Court.....the Home squad gets to select the surface....Which, when you play Spain, you Don't select red clay.....unless you have a death wish! The O2 arena in Prague was outfitted with a nice indoor surface which gave off so much glare on TV, I wondered why the spectators were not wearing sunglasses. Fast!

.....now the sad news....no more meaningful tennis in 2012. Here's to 2013 and the new year on the pro circuits!

.....55 days until Men's practice begins. Good.

......been very nice here in Cedar Rapids. Will finish today with a snapshot of the Cedar River and Mays Island from downtown.

And, as always, get outside more!