Goodall falls short

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:21

World number 192 Goodall had assumed the mantle of British number one in the absence of Murray, who pulled out with a virus, and it was vital he beat a player ranked 32 places below him.

But he was made to pay for nervy starts to the opening two sets as well as losing three tie-breaks in a 7-6 (7/2) 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/4) loss at Glasgow’s Braehead Arena.

Not since Andrew Richardson beat Zimbabwe’s Wayne Black 12 years ago has a Briton other than Murray, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski won a live Davis Cup singles rubber.

Goodall, 23, dropped his opening service game all too easily as he fell 3-0 behind early on.

But, serving for the set, Marchenko folded – surrendering the game in double-quick time. Goodall still had to hold twice to take the set to a tie-break, which he did. But it was not to be as the Ukrainian eased through.

Goodall appeared to carry the disappointment of losing the first set into the second. This time, he dropped his opening two service games to ‘gift’ world number 224 Marchenko a 4-0 lead.

With the Ukrainian serving for the set, Goodall produced his best tennis of the match to help him level at 5-5.

That set up another tie-break, and again Goodall had the early advantage. Despite a flurry of aces, he let it slip once more – losing four points in a row to go down 7-5.

Goodall once again took the third to a tie break and yet again he fell 5-1 down, before Marchenko finally finished him off at the seventh time of asking.

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