He’s going to Disneyland. . .or somewhere. Photo by: Angelo Tonelli

Though both semifinals were decided on Saturday, with Spain and the Czech Republic destined to meet in the finals, some Davis Cup drama still remained on Day 3.

After winning the doubles rubber against Team Suisse on Saturday, hope remained for the Italians at home. That hope ran out fast on Sunday, despite the two hour rain delay that interrupted Roger Federer’s straight set victory over Potito Starace (subbing for Seppi) in the fourth rubber.

Along with the dropshot, Roger seems to have added the between the legs shot into his regular bag of tricks, using it to good effect in his match against Starace on Sunday (sorry the quality is poor, but you get the idea):

The best news for hot doggin’ Roger Federer? He doesn’t have to play tennis for a while. He revealed after his match that he is suffering from a leg injury and general fatigue:

“I’m very happy to have won the point for Switzerland so that we can play in the World Group again. I’ m very happy with the quality of my game today, as I definitely didn’t feel the best and had a problem on my leg, which has troubled me a bit since the final of the US Open.” (via Daviscup.com)

A few more quotes from Roger Federer on the injury front:

“I took a chance with my fitness because I was not feeling great coming in. I’m happy I kind of survived, but I definitely need a rest right now because my leg is hurting quite a bit.” (via Daviscup.com)

“I have to go on holiday badly. I have a problem with my leg, I have a problem with my arm — everything is hurting. And I’ve got to do some baby-sitting. I’ve been spending a lot of time on the tennis court the last few weeks.” (via the AP)

Federer’s next tournament is the Japan Open, starting on October 5.

Tsonga gives his oh all all. Photo: Virginie Bouyer

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga continues to be a Davis Cup stalwart, clinching the tie for France vs. the Netherlands in Sunday’s fourth rubber. Tsonga won all three of his live rubbers for his team this weekend, saying afterwards that the DC atmosphere inspires him:

“I think it (Davis Cup) raises my game because you give everything. It’s very different because everything is more. You have more sentiment. You have more crowd. You have more pressure. . .I enjoy this because it’s different when you win, you win more and more. It’s good.” (via Daviscup.com)

And we enjoy you, too, Jo-Dubs!

Murray mopes for the dopes. Photo: GETTY IMAGES via the Telegraph.

In Zonal Tie news, the controversy grows after Team Britain failed to save themselves despite having a Top 3 player, Andy Murray, a top flight coach, Paul Annacone, and a home crowd advantage against their Polish opponents.

Here’s the Telegraph’s withering summary:

The 3-2 defeat by Poland at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Sunday, sealed when Dan Evans, the world No 302, got blown off court by a player ranked 376 places below him on the computer, all felt so familiar, a Davis Cup Sunday roast replete with all the old trimmings of mediocrity, embarrassment and humiliation.

All credit goes to Andy Murray – playing for the third day despite an ongoing wrist injury – for winning Sunday’s fourth rubber and evening things at  2-2. Of course, that just made it more torturous for the home crowd, when Britain’s 19-year-old Dan Evans lost the deciding rubber in straight sets to Michal Przysiezny, a guy ranked #678 to Evans’s #302.

Andy Murray was blunt in his appraisal of Team Britain, now bumped down to the “Davis Cup wasteland” of third division play (via the Telegraph):

“I think now, at last, we are where we deserve to be. We clearly are not good enough to be playing against these teams. With or without me, we are struggling to win matches.”

“Everybody who’s involved – and I am one of them – needs to be honest about how we are doing and that we need to get better. This could be the best thing that happens.“

Poor Murray – he’s too young to sound like a disappointed Daddy, but I think he speaks the truth. And like Poppa Fed, he could use a nice, long vacation from tennis.

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