Davis Cup 2007 World Group

by Savannah

First Round Overview
In first round play all the ties will be interesting but I think all eyes will be on the first three:

Czech Republic vs United States - Will the US at least represent on clay?

Spain vs Switzerland - Will the Swiss represent without King Roger playing?

Chile vs Russia - Can the Chileans led by Fernando Gonzalez pull out a win against the Russians who are coming in as defending DC champions? The Chilean fans may have a lot to say about this outcome.

Austria vs Argentina – Argentina is fielding a very good team. I like them in this one but in DC you never know.

Germany vs Croatia – Croatia has the better and more experienced team. Haas plays very well during DC but he can't do it alone.

Belgium vs Australia – The Rochus brothers guarantee excitement but I think the Aussies will be out for blood and will pull it off even on clay.

France vs Romania - No reason for the French not to win this one easily.

Detailed Previews: 09 February - 11 February 2007

Czech Republic vs United States
CEZ Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Stadium Capacity: 7500
Day 1: 1500 hrs (1400 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1430 hrs (1330 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1400 hrs (1300 hrs GMT)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Indoors
Ball Type: Wilson Australian Open



Czech Republic
Tomas Berdych
Lukas Dlouhy
Ivo Minar
Pavel Vizner
Captain: Jaroslav Navratil

United States
Andy Roddick
James Blake
Mike Bryan
Bob Bryan
Captain: Patrick McEnroe

This is the sixth meeting of these two nations. USA hold a 4-1 advantage but its last three encounters with Czech Republic have all been decided in the fifth rubber. USA suffered its only loss in 1996 but gained revenge in 2000.


Austria vs Argentina
Intersport Arena Linz, Linz, Austria
Stadium Capacity: 5000
Day 1: 1400 hrs (1300 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1400 hrs (1300 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1400 hrs (1300 hrs GMT)
Surface: Carpet (Greenset Trophy) - Indoors
Ball Type: Head ATP



Argentina
Jose Acasuso
Juan Martín del Potro
Guillermo Cañas
Sebastián Prieto
Captain: Alberto Mancini

Austria
Jurgen Melzer
Stefan Koubek
Oliver Marach
Julian Knowle
Captain: Gilbert Schaller

This is the first meeting between these two nations, despite both countries boasting long Davis Cup histories. Austria first competed in 1905, while Argentina made its debut in 1921.


Switzerland vs. Spain
Geneva Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland
Stadium Capacity: 5400
Day 1: 1330 hrs (1230 hrs GMT) tbc
Day 2: 1400 hrs (1300 hrs GMT) tbc
Day 3: 1330 hrs (1230 hrs GMT) tbc
Surface: Carpet (Taraflex) - Indoors
Ball Type: Head ATP



Switzerland
Stanislas Wawrinka
Marco Chiudinelli
Yves Allegro
Stephane Bohli
Captain: Severin Luthi

Spain
Rafael Nadal
David Ferrer
Fernando Verdasco
Feliciano Lopez
Captain: Emilio Sanchez

This is the fifth meeting between the two nations, in a Davis Cup series that started 61 years ago. So far Spain has had the best of it, having won the last three of their four previous match-ups. The nations have not met since 1998.


Germany vs. Croatia
Konig Palast Krefeld, Krefeld
Stadium Capacity: 4600
Day 1: 1345 hrs (1245 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1345hrs (1245 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1300 hrs (1200 hrs GMT)
Surface: Hard (Rebound Ace) - Indoors
Ball Type: Head ATP



Germany
Tommy Haas
Benjamin Becker
Alexander Waske
Michael Kohlmann
Captain: Patrik Kuhnen

Croatia
Ivan Ljubicic
Mario Ancic
Ivo Karlovic
Marin Cilic
Captain: Goran Prpic

This is the third meeting between the two nations, having last met in the 2002 World Group first round when Croatia leveled a 0-1 deficit against Germany, defeating the visitors 4-1 on home soil.


Belgium vs Australia
Country Hall du Sart-Tilman, Liege, Belgium
Stadium Capacity: 4000
Day 1: 1330 hrs (1230 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1500 hrs (1400 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1330 hrs (1230 hrs GMT)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Indoors
Ball Type: Head ATP



Belgium
Olivier Rochus
Christophe Rochus
Kristof Vliegen
Dick Norman
Captain: Julien Hoferlin

Australia
Lleyton Hewitt
Chris Guccione
Peter Luczak
Paul Hanley
Captain: John Fitzgerald

Australia has comfortably won both previous meetings between the two nations; in fact, Belgium has yet to win a rubber, losing 5-0 in Perth in 1991 and 4-0 in Scarborough, Great Britain in 1922. Both nations have a long Davis Cup history, Belgium competing for the first time in 1904 and Australia joining a year later.


Belarus vs Sweden
Football Manege, Minsk, Belarus
Stadium Capacity: 4769
Day 1: 1500 hrs (1300 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1500 hrs (1300 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1300 hrs (1200 hrs GMT)
Surface: Hard (Taraflex) - Indoors
Ball Type: Wilson US Open Regular Duty



Belarus
Max Mirnyi
Vladimir Voltchkov
Pavel Katliarou
Serguei Tarasevitch
Captain: Dmitri Tatur

Sweden
Robin Soderling
Jonas Bjorkman
Thomas Johansson
Simon Asperling
Captain: Mats Wilander

This is the first Davis Cup tie between the two nations. Belarus, in only its 14th year in the competition, has won 10 of its 11 previous home ties.


Chile vs Russia
Campus Deportivo Universidad del Mar, La Serena, Chile
Stadium Capacity: 10,000
Day 1: 1100 hrs (1400 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1200 hrs (1500 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1100 hrs (1400 hrs GMT)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Outdoors
Ball Type: Pro Penn Extra Duty (Black Seal)



Chile
Fernando Gonzalez
Nicolas Massu
Paul Capdeville
Adrian Garcia
Captain: Hans Gildemeister

Russia
Marat Safin
Dmitry Tursunov
Igor Andreev
Teimuraz Gabashvili
Captain: Shamil Tarpischev

This is the fourth meeting between the two nations, having last met in the 2005 first round where Chile fell at the hands of the Russians 4-1 in Moscow, who went on to win the title. Chile will be fighting to defeat Russia for the first time and playing on home soil could send out warning signs to the defending champions - Chile has won its last nine home ties.

France vs Romania
Zenith - Grand Halle d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
Stadium Capacity: 5819
Day 1: 1300 hrs (1200 hrs GMT) tbc
Day 2: 1345 hrs (1245 hrs GMT) tbc
Day 3: 1330 hrs (1230 hrs GMT) tbc
Surface: Hard (Taraflex) - Indoors



France
Richard Gasquet
Sebastian Grosjean
Arnaud Clement
Michael Llodra
Captain: Guy Forget

Romania
Andrei Pavel
Victor Hanescu
Victor-Valentin Crivoi
Horia Tecau
Captain: Florin Segarceanu

These two nations have an extensive Davis Cup history, having met seven times previously to this tie. Romania has won only one of these match-ups, back in 1974 on in its second of three home ties against France. They last met in the 2003 World Group first round in Bucharest where France won the tie 4-1 with a day to spare.