Do-over

Americans, Romanians replay 1972 Davis Cup

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) -- Amid lots of laughter and a few reasonable shots, American tennis greats Stan Smith and Tom Gorman met Romanian rivals Ilie Nastase and Ion Tiriac on Saturday to replay the 1972 Davis Cup.

Serves were shorter, the shots were higher and lighter, and the balls slammed into the net more often. The players were slower and heavier, and short of breath, even if their play was punctuated with more humor than ever.

In the only match that looked like two sides were competing, Stan Smith defeated Ilie Nastase 6-3. Of all the players, Smith was the most fit, gaining less than one-half pound since 1972.

Nastase still showed flashes of flair. A handful of passing shots earned hearty applause from the crowd which included Romania's president a prime minister.

Nastase, known for his antics, is still drawing laughs. A woman dropped her purse on court and Nastase picked it up and pretended to put the contents in his pocket.

Nastase and Tiriac then took on Tom Gorman and Smith for a doubles match. It ended 6-6.

For the tiebreak, Nastase played with Gorman and Smith played with Tiriac. Nastase and Gorman won the tiebreak. Gorman and Tiriac did not play singles.

In 1972, at the height of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the United States defeated Romania 3-2 in the Davis Cup final in Bucharest.

In that final, Smith defeated Nastase 11-9, 6-2, 6-3; Tiriac topped Gorman 4-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2; Smith beat Tiriac 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-0; and Nastase beat Gorman 6-1, 6-2, 5-7, 10-8.

The U.S. team took the doubles 6-2, 6-0, 6-3.

 

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