MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti sports commentator Alexander Gorbunov)
Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev did not err on the safe side when he said his team had a 30%-40% chance of success in the round-of-sixteen of the Davis Cup tournament, against the Chileans.
Tarpishchev, a seasoned coach, was realistic, but he nonetheless did all he could to lead his team to victory. The Russians scored a sensational 3-2 win over their Chilean hosts despite the frenzied support of the audience.
On the eve of the tournament, Tarpishchev was in a serious predicament: three of his leading players were not available for different reasons. He had to place his bets on Marat Safin and Igor Andreyev, whom he had never put in the lead before. Safin defeated Nicolas Massu, but lost to Fernando Gonzales; Andreyev overpowered both Chileans, but lost in the doubles together with Safin.
The 23-year-old Andreyev, who once practiced on the famous Shiryayevka courts in Sokolniki, attended a course at the Valencia Tennis Academy. Tarpishchev invited him to the team several years ago, but has always kept him in reserve. The captain gradually let him feel the difference between the team spirit of the Davis Cup and the atmosphere of individual tournaments, even Grand Slam events.
At the last Davis Cup finals in the Moscow Olympic Stadium, Andreyev was the unchallenged leader of the bench; he ardently supported his team and psyched up the spectators. After the victory over Argentina, he was as happy as if he had made it happen. In his younger years, he was sometimes called the "next Kafelnikov" or the "next Safin," but he has found his own identity as a player with a winning streak.
"I've always been sure that I'd play on the team. A team victory does not compare with anything else. It has made me the happiest man on earth," Andreyev said after his success in Chile.
The prominent Russian expert and renowned coach Viktor Yanchuk thinks that Igor is phenomenal: "It is very hard to play against him when he uses his muscle energy in the right way. In this sense, he reminds me of Bjorn Borg, a five-time Wimbledon champion. Of course, Andreyev cannot be compared with the great Swede, but his shots are so powerful that it is pointless for his opponents to rush to the net. It all depends on how he handles himself. If he's OK, he does not give his rivals a chance. Neither Fernando Gonzalez nor Nicolas Massu could resist his attacks in La Serena."
Credit for victory in the Chilean tournament also goes to Tarpishchev; the dean of the captains' corps made the best use of his players. First, he brought them to the Cup in a good mood, and both Safin and Andreyev were at their best. Second, Tarpishchev again displayed his excellent tactical skills; he taught Andreyev and others to neutralize their rivals' strong points and take advantage of their weak spots. Tarpishchev convinced Andreyev that he should not be intimidated by Gonzalez, telling him that the recent Australian Open finalist could fall to pieces in a set and a half, giving in to Igor's power pressure and variety of play.
Third, Tarpishchev was very smart about the first day's success (2-0). He did not conceal that he was ready for defeat in the doubles, and intensively prepared Safin and Andreyev for the last matches. A victory for Safin would have resulted in 3-1, but Gonzalez did the impossible and jumped ahead with a 3-0 lead. This victory put Andreyev in the spotlight. His nerves of steel, ability to fight to the end, and, most importantly, his patience were beyond doubt. Tarpishchev was only worried about Igor's lack of experience in such matches. Nobody could tell whether he would cope with the heavy burden of responsibility. But he did very well. Only in the third set did he give Massu a chance to even out the game, but the Chilean lost despite the enthusiastic support of the audience.
All tandems had a hard time in the round-of-sixteen. In any event, for the first time during the 27-year existence of the Davis Cup World Group, not a single team achieved victory in the first two days. We had to wait until Sunday to find out the winners on all eight courts around the world. Russia will play against France on April 6-8 in Moscow. The forthcoming quarterfinals are not going to be any easier.
