Sweden exit Davis Cup despite Buenos Aires heroics
Sweden have been knocked out of the Davis Cup at the quarter final stage despite a gripping display by Robin Söderling on the clay in Buenos Aires.
Argentina's David Nalbandian won the fourth and decisive rubber against Söderling,
a specialist of fast surfaces 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-4, 9-7 but not before having to
struggle back from two sets to one down.
Söderling, who was given little chance of producing an upset in the pre-match build-up, received strong praise from team captain Mats Wilander.
"I've never seen anything like it. This is definitely the best match I've ever seen. It's a match people will refer to when discussing how difficult it is to play away from home in the Davis Cup," Wilander told news agency TT. .
"He showed incredible strength, both mental and physical," he said of Söderling.
The quarter final started well for Sweden, with Söderling overpowering Jose Acasuso in straight sets on Friday.
But Argentina soon established a 2-1 lead going into the final day. David Nalbandian disposed of Thomas Johansson in four sets before Guillermo Canas and David Nalbandian secured a straight sets victory over Jonas Björkman and Robert Lindstedt on Saturday.
Argentina, the only major nation never to have won the silver salad bowl trophy, will meet Russia in Buenos Aires on September 19th to 21st in a rematch of the 2006 final won by the Russians.
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Argentina's David Nalbandian won the fourth and decisive rubber against Söderling,
a specialist of fast surfaces 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-4, 9-7 but not before having to
struggle back from two sets to one down.
Söderling, who was given little chance of producing an upset in the pre-match build-up, received strong praise from team captain Mats Wilander.
"I've never seen anything like it. This is definitely the best match I've ever seen. It's a match people will refer to when discussing how difficult it is to play away from home in the Davis Cup," Wilander told news agency TT. .
"He showed incredible strength, both mental and physical," he said of Söderling.
The quarter final started well for Sweden, with Söderling overpowering Jose Acasuso in straight sets on Friday.
But Argentina soon established a 2-1 lead going into the final day. David Nalbandian disposed of Thomas Johansson in four sets before Guillermo Canas and David Nalbandian secured a straight sets victory over Jonas Björkman and Robert Lindstedt on Saturday.
Argentina, the only major nation never to have won the silver salad bowl trophy, will meet Russia in Buenos Aires on September 19th to 21st in a rematch of the 2006 final won by the Russians.
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