ARTICLE Seppi puts Italy ahead 1-0
Italy took a surprise 1-0 lead over Spain in their Davis Cup World Group play-off on Friday after Andreas Seppi produced a tremendous fightback from two sets down to beat Juan Carlos Ferrero 57 36 60 63 62 in a four-hour long battle.
The Spaniard looked below his best, despite taking the opening two sets 7-5 and 6-3, largely thanks to unforced errors from Seppi, but he was crushed 6-0 in the third set as the Italian kept the match alive.
Seppi, over 58 places below 20th-placed Ferrero in the rankings, brought the match level with an impressive 6-3 win in the fourth set and the Spaniard looked tired in the final set as an inspired Seppi cruised to a 6-2 victory to take the rubber.
For a passionate home crowd packed into the new stadium at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, Seppi provided a perfect start to Italy's attempt to return to the Davis Cup top flight.
"I'm delighted. I played well in the third and fourth sets but I was really tired in the final set but managed to keep it together. This is a dream result," said Seppi who had to receive treatment for cramp on several occassions.
"I felt cramp at the end of the second set and had a few attacks every now and then to the end of the match. I was getting cramp all over, in my thighs and calves," said the Italian.
Seppi said the key to his turnaround had been a change in approach, with more aggressive and positive play bringing results.
"I changed my tactics, pushing more and more and was more aggressive in all senses and it paid off. I had some doubts at the start but then I decided to go for it whenever I had a chance and I did that," he said.
The Italian said the vocal home support had also had an impact on his game.
"That was the greatest support I've ever experienced on a tennis court, it was fantastic," he said, "The Davis Cup really is the most enjoyable tournament to play in when you have fans behind you like that."
Ferrero agreed that it was Seppi's switch to a more direct and risk-taking approach that had turned around an absorbing rubber.
"I had things under control in the first two sets but from the third set he changed tactics and went on to the attack much more but I don't think I played badly," said the Spaniard.
"Even after the third set I was convinced I could win the rubber because I knew he had some physical problems. At 2-0 up you don't expect your opponent to come back and win but you can never be over-confident in this competition because people fight right till the end. I think today he just played better than me," added Ferrero.
"But we haven't given up yet. It was only one match and not the entire tie," he said.
Spain, Davis Cup winners last year, were forced into the Play-offs after defeat to the Slovak Republic and must now hope that current world No. 2 Rafael Nadal can get them back on level terms in the tie with a victory over Daniele Bracciali in Friday's other singles match.
Bracciali was drafted in for Italy earlier on Friday after Potito Starace was forced out with flu.
Italy took a surprise 1-0 lead over Spain in their Davis Cup World Group play-off on Friday after Andreas Seppi produced a tremendous fightback from two sets down to beat Juan Carlos Ferrero 57 36 60 63 62 in a four-hour long battle.The Spaniard looked below his best, despite taking the opening two sets 7-5 and 6-3, largely thanks to unforced errors from Seppi, but he was crushed 6-0 in the third set as the Italian kept the match alive.
Seppi, over 58 places below 20th-placed Ferrero in the rankings, brought the match level with an impressive 6-3 win in the fourth set and the Spaniard looked tired in the final set as an inspired Seppi cruised to a 6-2 victory to take the rubber.
For a passionate home crowd packed into the new stadium at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, Seppi provided a perfect start to Italy's attempt to return to the Davis Cup top flight.
"I'm delighted. I played well in the third and fourth sets but I was really tired in the final set but managed to keep it together. This is a dream result," said Seppi who had to receive treatment for cramp on several occassions.
"I felt cramp at the end of the second set and had a few attacks every now and then to the end of the match. I was getting cramp all over, in my thighs and calves," said the Italian.
Seppi said the key to his turnaround had been a change in approach, with more aggressive and positive play bringing results.
"I changed my tactics, pushing more and more and was more aggressive in all senses and it paid off. I had some doubts at the start but then I decided to go for it whenever I had a chance and I did that," he said.
The Italian said the vocal home support had also had an impact on his game.
"That was the greatest support I've ever experienced on a tennis court, it was fantastic," he said, "The Davis Cup really is the most enjoyable tournament to play in when you have fans behind you like that."
Ferrero agreed that it was Seppi's switch to a more direct and risk-taking approach that had turned around an absorbing rubber.
"I had things under control in the first two sets but from the third set he changed tactics and went on to the attack much more but I don't think I played badly," said the Spaniard.
"Even after the third set I was convinced I could win the rubber because I knew he had some physical problems. At 2-0 up you don't expect your opponent to come back and win but you can never be over-confident in this competition because people fight right till the end. I think today he just played better than me," added Ferrero.
"But we haven't given up yet. It was only one match and not the entire tie," he said.
Spain, Davis Cup winners last year, were forced into the Play-offs after defeat to the Slovak Republic and must now hope that current world No. 2 Rafael Nadal can get them back on level terms in the tie with a victory over Daniele Bracciali in Friday's other singles match.
Bracciali was drafted in for Italy earlier on Friday after Potito Starace was forced out with flu.
