Davis Cup Captain, Gilles de Gouy, writes from Bahrain on last Thursday’s Final Round of Pool Play

Davis Cup Captain Gilles de Gouy writes from Bahrain on the final round of pool play last Thursday that” Another great day of tennis for the Pacific Oceania Dolphins, one more time tough, tough, tough singles, followed then by a steamrolling doubles. 

Let’s start with our experienced Cyril Jacobe, who came on the court with the right attitude from the start and playing aggressively, winning his serve game against Mousa Alkotop, a very promising Junior from Jordan.  Excellent win and a great start to the game!  1-0, it looked like Cyril was going to be in this match straight from the start.  In returning Mousa’s service game however Cyril dropped his aggressive play and started to rally once again.  Unfortunately this game set up his opponent perfectly who didn’t make any mistakes for the next four games. Cyril was playing well but didn’t raise any doubt in his opponents mind and Mousa achieved 4-1 quite comfortably.

Ok, a change is needed.  Strategy session with the coach and we decided to take every opportunity during the rally: if Cyril received a shorter ball he had to play an approach volley and storm the net.   This is where the rubber  underwent a major transformation, and the games were closer and closer.  Result wise however, Mousa still held his serve and closed the first set out at 6-3.  But while Cyril’s opponent won the first set we were very optimistic about the outcome of this match, and we didn’t have to wait a long time to see the results of the strategy and momentum Cyril had built up form the end of the first set.

Options: Plan A, alternating slice chip and charge right in the middle, or Plan B, building the point by alternating the length with the objective of getting to the net.  Result.  Within 10 minutes from the start of the second set Cyril was leading 4-0, an “on fire” match play.  It was at this score and stage in the game his opponent figured out what was happening, put a huge effort into his serve game, winning that game and putting himself on the scoreboard for the first time this set.

 4-1. Cyril stay’s focussed, and each player holds his own service for the next two games.  At 5-2, Cyril put more and more pressure on his opponents’ serve by his body position and being inside the court.  And it worked, Cyril broke his opponents serve and won confidently the second set. 

Continuing the same tactics at the start of the third set, Cyril flew over the two following games and quickly led 2-0 in the final set. Despite a break point in Cyril’s favour however, his opponent started his own comeback and won this game.  Cyril didn’t break his opponents serve game this time but it was just a matter of time before we would see the results of Cyril continuing his strategy of pressuring his opponent and coming to the net. 

Cyril won his serve game and maintained his two game lead in the final set. His opponent had to really battle to hold his serve game against Cyril’s charge, and we could see that Mousa, piece by piece, was losing his confidence and losing his tennis, and that he couldn’t take the constant pressure that Cyril was applying.  His opponent double faulted three times in the last game, a consequence of the pressure Cyril placed him under.   Cyril steamrolled over Mousa the last three games to take the set 6-3 and win the match. 

This match was a successful accumulation of the long labour of mental work that Cyril has undertaken in this match, and the last few days here at the Davis Cup.  Day by Day Cyril is putting himself back in the drivers’ seat and playing his game on the court.  Watch out, Cyril is at lift off and he’s reaching for the sky.  It’s very promising!

Next up, Men’s Singles 1, Heve Kelly steps in the court against Seif Adas in a great mental condition, and champing for a win.  What a match!  Two baseline players hitting consistently the ball with a lot of power, and averaging 6-8 rallies per point.  It was like a game of table of table tennis with its speed and power.  Fantastic viewing and excellent tennis.

Both players held their serves until the first set’s tiebreak, each game consistently containing a series of killer shots, as well as great defence and counterattack coming from both.  However during the first set tiebreak Heve unfortunately didn’t notice that the conditions had changed, and now the wind was in his back, and he made three mistakes with the balls being just a few centimetres long.  This was enough of an advantage for his opponent to jump on and utilise, and Heve lost the first set tiebreak 7-4

Disappointed in himself during the set and ends change, Heve managed to shake this displeasure off relatively quickly (this is a strength of his), and he came back even more strongly to begin the second set.  And what a set!  After such a tight first set, this second set was like watching a different game, and the set score of 6-0 tells it all. 

The 6-0 set score was not due to any change in his opponents approach or ability, but instead that Heve was finishing these long rallies from the base line with amazing killer shots.  His opponent reacted vigorously to this trouncing in the first game of the final set to try to stop this haemoraging of games.   Heve came back even more strongly to this and scored the three following games, and it was at this point, that for the first time in his match, we could see Heve’s opponent making unforced mistakes.  At this moment we could imagine that his opponent will continue on to make more and more mistakes, and that Heve would carry on to ultimate victory.

Then, two crucial points at 3-1, non converted by Heve in this fifth game of the third set, were ultimate deciders of the outcome of the game, and Heve’s opponent acted like he had been resurrected.  From somewhere he found a new energy, and a lightness and fleet footedness which fully changed the physiognomy of the match.  Seif quickly capitalised on his re-found energies and suddenly the score was 3-3, then 4-3 against us.  Heve had to battle to hold his serve game, followed by another extra long game, won by Seif, which depleted the last of Heve’s energies. 

At 5-4, the two first points in what became this final game, were decisive because it is the first time throughout the week, that we see Heve physically affected after long rallies.  Despite this, Heve climbed back to 30 all before his opponent found another extra burst of energy to finish by two winner points, both times after two very long rallies. 

What a match!  People who were watching were all agreed that this game had been the best singles match of the week so far in this Davis Cup event.  Heve Kelley may not have won his match but he did win the respect from all the players and captains of the other nations (he already has that of his own teams).  Without a doubt this is the best match that Heve has played in his young career so far, and he keeps going from strength to strength this week.  We will ensure that he takes maximum benefit of a day off tomorrow to recover and be in prime form for his match this coming Saturday. 

Up next, our dynamic Dolphin Duo.  It’s a strange feeling – occasionally as a coach you are quite relaxed, even If the next match on court is going to be a decisive match to know who is going to win the tie.   When I see the pair Daniel Llarenas and Brett Baudinet getting on the court , I note to myself that they have already many strengths that we can capitalise on.  On top of this, they are so focussed on what to do, their strategy, with a real determination to both play well and enjoy their game.  It’s a lethal combination.

For a few moments in the first game their opponents Mousa Alkotop and Tareq Talal Shkakwa had some belief about their possibility to win the rubber.   From that point on however, it was game over.  Our doubles pairing simply hammered their opponents into total submission.  Brett and Daniel won the first set 6-1 in just a few minutes time and took the second set 6-2 easily, there was no moment that we could even consider it remotely possible for the Jordanian doubles pair to have the opportunity of successfully taking over the game.  With no disrespect to these players, they never stood a chance. 

After talking with coaches of the different nations playing at this 2015 Davis Cup event, they all recognise that they have to win both singles against the Pacific-Oceania Dolphins if they want to have any chance of winning the tie.  This commonly held belief derives from the fact that our doubles pairing has been (and continues to do so), playing the best level of doubles within this Davis Cup Worlds Division.  Go you good things Brett and Danny!

In summary, today was yet another day of great play and effort  from the Pacific-Oceania Dolphins with another very successful conclusion.   Now we need to confirm this by winning the playoff final this coming Saturday against UEA (United Arab Emirates).  The action starts at 10am this Saturday Bahrain time, you will be able to keep posted with live scores via the Davis Cup website  Join us!”