Image is Everything: D Cup Quarter-finals

Because nothing generates quite so much fantastic photoage as Davis Cup. You know it to be true.

sorry but ive to say i fcking won davis cup!omg

Pretty sure I could snap him like a twig. A twig.

Marin’s left arm makes a desperate bid for freedom.

Get the man a Big Mac, a big drink and a big vuvuzela.

“Did I leave the gas on …?”

This is not the face I’ve missed.

This is the face I’ve missed.

Put it away, Nole. Or I will come to Serbia and show you where to … never mind.

“Mr. President. What the hell.”

Nothing beats a good old-fashioned Serbian love huddle.

Eduardo Schwank looking in no way ridiculous.

Eduardo Schwank being no way ridiculous.

Kind of impossible to dislike Gael when he finds himself on this planet long enough to win a big match.

Tipsy wants a cuddle. No-one on this earth can blame him.

They shoot horses, don’t they?

Premature celebrating.

Yeah, Youzh better run.

Having beaten Spain at tennis, France take them on at the art of the manly hug. And win.

Have him caramelised and sent to my room.

Nole Major and Nole Minor.

Look who showed up to ‘help’.

“I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the woods …”

Kolya contemplates the many tragedies of life.

Shamil contemplates finding another job.

You’re not helping.

Homoerotic celebrations: must try harder.

D Cup: Croatia 1 – 4 Serbia

I have to say, this one got a bit short-changed for me this weekend; I was focused on Argentina and France. Much has been said and written about the political background to this one, and the sad behaviour of some fans in Split. But at the end of the day, the players all showed up, did their jobs, played some fantastic tennis and treated each other and the spectators with respect. So that’s what I’m going to hastily honour.

Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic, or as I mentally refer to them ‘Errol Flynn and Crazy Eyes’ won their doubles rubber.

Marin once again veered wildly between thrilling …

… and enormously disappointing.

Markko Djokovic was there as a reserve for no adequately explained reason.

And Nole did the absolute business, winning both his matches to put Serbia into their first ever Davis Cup semi-finals.

A fine effort, but less clothing and much more wetness required for full marks, Serbia.

R1 – N.DJOKOVIC (SRB) def. I.LJUBICIC (CRO)
7-6(3)  6-4  6-1
R2 – M.CILIC (CRO) def. V.TROICKI (SRB)
6-4  7-5  6-2
R3 – J.TIPSAREVIC / N.ZIMONJIC (SRB) def. M.CILIC / I.DODIG (CRO)
6-3  6-2  6-4
R4 – N.DJOKOVIC (SRB) def. M.CILIC (CRO)
6-3  6-3  6-2
R5 – J.TIPSAREVIC (SRB) def. A.VEIC (CRO)
6-2  7-6(5)

Belgrade Results: Doubles Briefly Interesting

You know, I’m trying to be interested in this tournament. It feels somehow imperialistic not to be interested. But I’m just not, you know, that much. Some people won, some people lost, Cips – who has been dubbed as “a surprise of the tournament” in the vaguely adorable vernacular of the official website – did the former …

Ice Cips.

But the real surprise of the day came in the doubles, where no. 1 seeds Nestor and Zimonjic lost to Djokovic (not that one) and Madjarovski. Kind of embarrassing, hmmm?

Congratulations, Marko Djokovic. You now have your very own YFB tag. It will probably never be used again.

Singles – Second Round
[2] I Karlovic (CRO) d B Dabul (ARG) 64 76(5)
[4] A Seppi (ITA) d L Mayer (ARG) 64 61
M Daniel (BRA) d [6] I Ljubicic (CRO) 64 63
[Q] F Cipolla (ITA) d [7] A Clement (FRA) 16 64 62

Doubles – First Round
[WC] M Djokovic (SRB) / D Madjarovski (SRB) d [1] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) 76(2) 26 10-6
[2] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) d J Tipsarevic (SRB) / V Troicki (SRB) 64 61
M Granollers (ESP) / S Ventura (ESP) vs S Querrey (USA) / S Roitman (ARG)