导出博客文章BUENOS AIRES -- Argentine tennis will face its biggest challenge this weekend as
it tries to end a curse that has lasted almost a century. Being the sports
dominant force, one that has churned out several top-10 players and Grand Slam
winners, hasnt been enough. Argentinas most coveted win has yet to come; its one
that requires a collective effort, the Davis Cup in Croatia.Only 14 countries
have lifted the trophy since it was first played in 1900. In 93 years of
competition, Argentine tennis has the dubious distinction as being the country
with the most appearances in a final (four) with no titles.It is the biggest
thorn in the side of Argentine sports, especially with its failure to deliver
made worse by its lack of team spirit.The story of the first lost final can
actually be traced back to 1980, when Argentina let a semifinal rubber slip away
in Buenos Aires against eventual champion Czechoslovakia, which was led by
emerging Ivan Lendl. Argentina had two of the best players on clay at the time,
Guillermo Vilas and Jose Luis Clerc. But they were on really bad terms with each
other and also with the Argentine Tennis Association. The team lost focus, and a
golden chance was missed.Despite their differences, Vilas and Clerc (who were
not speaking to each other) teamed up again in 1981 and made it all the way to
the final on a fast carpet in Cincinnati against the United States. John McEnroe
was world No. 1 in singles and doubles (with Peter Fleming), while Roscoe
Tanner, who at the time was one of the most powerful servers, played second
singles for what looked like an almost unbeatable combination.On the middle
Saturday, with the series evened at 1-1, Vilas and Clerc barely communicated
during the crucial doubles encounter, to the dismay of captain Carlos Junquet.
Yet they almost pulled off a miracle, leading 7-6 in the decisive fifth set and
Vilas serving. But McEnroe and Fleming broke and finally took the match 11-9.
The next day, McEnroe battled past Clerc in five sets to clinch the victory,
3-1.Twenty-five years later, in 2006, Argentina made another final, this time
away against Russia. After a decade out of the World Group, the Argentine legion
was at its best. David Nalbandian scored impressive victories against Marat
Safin and Nikolay Davydenko, but it was not enough to prevent a 3-2 victory by
the Russian team.Two years later, Argentina could have ended the jinx in what
was its best chance -- a final at home against Spain, which was without Rafael
Nadal. Fear of what Rafa and his teammates were capable of on clay -- and with
internal quarrels between players and officials -- Argentina decided to forgo
the traditional Buenos Aires slow surfaces for faster hard courts. The decision
proved to be disastrous.The tie got off to a promising start, with Nalbandian
thrashing David Ferrer for a 1-0 lead. But Juan Martin del Potro, suffered from
a leg injury, fell to Feliciano Lopez. If Nalbandian and Delpo were already did
not seeing eye to eye, things deteriorated even more when the former accused del
Potro, fresh off an appearance in his first Masters Cup, of overplaying, thus
resulting in his health ailments and jeopardizing Argentinas chances for
individual glory and money.The next day, Nalbandian joined Calleri in trying to
secure the doubles, but instead lost to Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. Nalbandian
then stormed out of the stadium without going to his news conference. To make
matters worse, Captain Alberto Mancini then confirmed del Potro would not be fit
for Sunday.Nalbandian knew he would never have the chance to play a starring
role and end the curse. He was frustrated, just like the thousands who had
packed the stadium during the three days believing they would witnesses a
whitewash -- but instead left in tears. There would be another opportunity in
2011, with Nalbandian and del Potro again leaving aside their differences on
their way to a final against Spain in Seville. Nalbandian, this time teaming
with Eduardo Schwank, would gain revenge in the doubles against Lopez and
Verdasco, but Delpo, despite putting up a great performance, lost against two of
the best clay players in the world, Ferrer and Nadal, who led Spain to the easy
victory.Still, with so many chances squandered, there is reason for Argentina to
be confident ahead of the clash in Zagreb this weekend. The team was never a
favorite (even when del Potro came back healthy) but still managed to make its
way to the final playing all its previous rounds on the road. Argentina has
never lost a tie against Croatia.But in order to make the dream finally come
true, Argentina will require more than its best tennis. If the squad has learned
anything, some of the spirit it lacked at key moments in the past is there this
season. That could make the difference.
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.com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of
the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at
the United Center.
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. It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points
and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth
straight win.
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.J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive
catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back.
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. Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with
swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine
months.
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. -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead
the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. LOS ANGELES -- The
Arizona Diamondbacks biggest offseason acquisition is set to make his first
appearance against the team he represented for three seasons and helped win
three successive division championships.Right-hander Zack Greinke, who spurned
the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent to sign a six-year contract worth $206.5
million, will pitch against his former teammates Monday evening when the
Diamondbacks begin a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.From 2013 through 2015
with the Dodgers, Greinke won 51 games and compiled a 2.30 ERA. He also finished
among the top 10 for the National Leagues Cy Young Award all three seasons,
including second last year to the Chicago Cubs Jake Arrieta, while winning two
Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger award.Last year, Greinke led the major leagues
with a 1.66 ERA, collected a career-high 19 wins and started for the NL in the
All-Star Game. In 222 2/3 innings, the 12-year veteran conceded just 40 walks
and 148 hits while amassing 200 strikeouts.The Diamondbacks hoped Greinke and
other offseason acquisitions as Shelby Miller and Jean Segura could combine with
Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock, David Peralta and Yasmany Tomas to ignite a
surge toward playoff contention. Instead, Arizona is battling the San Diego
Padres to stay out of last place in the NL West.Greinke (12-4) leads the
Diamondbacks in wins, but his ERA has ballooned to 4.17, his worst since 2010.
He has already allowed 140 hits while striking out just 114. Away from Phoenixs
Chase Field, Greinke owns seven victories but a 5.50 ERA.Last week, the Dodgers
expressed interest in re-acquiring Greinke after he cleared revocable waivers,
Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal reported, as the right-handers departure in January
further depleted Los Angeles thin rotaation.dddddddddddd However, Rosenthal
reported that discussions did not proceed very far, and USA Todays Bob
Nightengale added that the Diamondbacks would not trade Greinke during the
offseason.Opposing Greinke on Monday will be the veteran signed to replace him,
right-hander Kenta Maeda(13-8, 3.37 ERA). After eight seasons with the Hiroshima
Carp in Japans Central League, Maeda signed an eight-year contract worth $25
million in January, one month after Greinke joined the Diamondbacks.In his final
season in Japan, Maeda led the Central League with 15 victories, compiled a 2.09
ERA and limited opposing hitters to a .222 average. That performance enabled
Maeda to win the Sawamura Award as the best pitcher in Nippon Professional
Baseball for the second time.Maeda will pitch with a full week of rest after his
last start. The 28-year-old rookie collected six strikeouts in five innings Aug.
29 against the Colorado Rockies, but he allowed two runs on four hits and a walk
in an 8-1 loss. Those runs were the result of a Nick Hundley two-run homer.That
one pitch, a slider, was definitely a mistake, Maeda told MLB.com through an
interpreter regarding Hundleys homer. Overall, I thought I pitched pretty well.
I always want to pitch longer, but that one pitch led to the team losing.Before
that defeat, Maeda won his previous four starts and earned victories in five
successive decisions since July 23. During that stretch, he allowed 28 hits and
only seven walks in 33 2/3 innings while getting 30 strikeouts, compiling a 3.74
ERA and allowing permitting hitters to bat just .226. However, Maeda also
conceded six home runs in that span.
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