A whitewash victory! About how Russia won against Sweden at Davis Cup

Captain – record-breaker!

We will start with an event that could not escape the readers' attention. A long-standing captain of the national team of Russia Shamil Tarpischev became a record-breaker at Davis Cup after the ahead-of-time victory over the national team of Sweden. It has been his 55^th victory in this tournament. So, he beat Australian Nil Frayser's record.

'Thanks to the ten-odd generation of players I was at Davis Cup with. As for the record… I don't think it is my personal achievement. It belongs to whole Russia,' the captain of the national team stated at the press conference after the victory in doubles, which guaranteed a victory for our team.

There is confidence that this record will be beaten by very Tarpischev, and several times. The team will probably win over the Holland national team. And there, in the World Group, many things might be won. Russia was the champion twice for a reason.

Less experienced but stronger

This record was beaten in the third match in the circuit with the Swedish thanks to Yevgeny Donskoy and Konstantin Kravchuk's efforts. Yes, the Russian looked like favourites, but the Swedish Robert Lindstedt and Johan Brunstrom had more experience in doubles. A 38-year-old Robert won Australian Open in doubles last year, just in case. He has three Wimbledon finals under his belt. His mate has five titles in tennis doubles tournaments.

Despite the fact that the meeting was on the same level, as time went by the Russian players took the lead. Experienced Lindstedt's grave errors decided the outcome of the first set. So, the first set ended 6-3 in favour of Russia.

The record for Tarpischev was beaten in the third match with the Swedish thanks to Yevgeny Donskoy and Konstantin Kravchuk's efforts

To tell the truth, it was not a piece of cake, at least in the second set. The rivals fought tooth and nail. The Swedish gradually started to play better. It was especially seen in the tiebreak. The Swedish national team hold the lead 1-5, but then something happened to this or that team – Russia won 6 games and took the lead in the second set. The outcome of the match was predestined in many respects.

As it was expected, the national team of Russia began to play its tennis again having a psychological advantage after the victory in the tiebreak. Our national team confidently led in the game and won the third set as well – 6-3 once again. It marked the victory of the Russian squad over the Swedish team and Shamil Tarpischev's record.

Victories without importance for tournament

The next day after the advanced win over the Swedish, the Russian team had two matches more with the Scandinavians. Teymuraz Gabashvili met with Isak Arvidsson first, then Konstantin Kravchuk and Daniel Windahl came on court.

In his first set, Teymuraz started to make mistakes again as well as in the game of the first day giving his rival chances for common success. But experience won: Gabashvili had problems in the first set but won a victory against Arvidsson.

Before the second match, the fans expected a game on the same level. But against all expectations, Gabashvili took the initiative, calmly whitewashed and increased the score of the national team of Russia.

'It was difficult to get tuned because the match was not decisive. But anyway it was a game for the national team. I feel the responsibility. But it will be stated in the statistics whether it was a victory or defeat. This is why it was important for me to achieve a victory,' told Gabashvili after the game.

Now the national team of Russia will meet with the team of the Netherlands

Kravchuk and Windahl were the next players. Konstantin played easier than Gabashvili. The Russian player won the first set without any problems – 6-2. Problems arise at the beginning of the next set. Having lost two first sets, Kravchuk started to make many mistakes. Many people even dreamt of an intrigue, but no such luck! The Russian manned up and won the set he lost in the fans' mind. As a result – common victory 5-0 and passport to the next round.

Waiting for Dutch in Kazan?

Now the national team of Russia will meet with the team of the Netherlands. The place of the competition is not defined. However, there is a variant of the organizing the match in Kazan again.

Despite the fact that the Dutch's ranking is better, many bookmakers support the Russian team. It is time Russia came back to the World Group.