Davis Cup World Group Playoffs Draw -And Other Stuff

Key
(s) = seeded nation
(c) = choice of ground
* = choice of ground decided by lot

Australia (s) v Serbia (c)*
Hewitt. Djokovic. Zimonjic and Bozoljac. 'Nuff said.

Austria (s) (c) v Brazil
Guga will only play DC. Brasil brings in a strong team. So does Austria.

Belarus (s) v Peru (c)*
Peru should probably play at sea level to avoid aiding Mirnyi's serve. Horna, Miranda et al should put in a strong showing against Belarus.

Chile (s) v Israel (c)*
Fena. Massu. Rios? Naw but wouldn't it be cool? The Israeli team is going to give them all they can handle.

Croatia (s) v Great Britain (c)*
Will Ljubicic play? Will Ancic be fit enough? Will the Brits pick an outdoor court on - grass? Will James Ward play with the Murray Brothers and Henman? Ward has been training in Spain and got a controversial WC entry into Valencia where he promptly lost.

Czech Republic (s) (c) v Switzerland
I'm sure Federer will come down from his aerie and play to keep his country in the mix.

Romania (s) v Japan (c)*
The Japanese team did pretty well in making it this far. I think they'll be trying to continue their good play.

Slovak Republic (s) (c)* v Korea, Rep.
I'd pick the Slovak Republic to take this.

In Davis Cup Related News...

Francesco Ricci Bicci has announced that the ITF is taking steps to standardize both hard courts and clay courts used by countries in DC competition. No more ice rink like surfaces will be allowed he says. Heavy clay may also be on the way out.

Full Article Here

Much was made of Team United States DC Captain Patrick McEnroe choosing a surface that reduced Spain to spectators at their own tie. Many fans were advocating that Russia choose an ice rink like surface in their semi final match against Germany. And of course the US is still complaining that the surface used in Spain a few years ago was akin to quicksand. By avoiding Argentina and going up against Sweden it will be interesting to see what surface Sweden chooses. I expect to see the US protest this.

The Final Four

World Group Semi Finalists


Germany




Russia




Sweden



United States

Davis Cup Summary 4/7/2007

Lots of 3-0 wins to report in both World Group and Zonal Play

World Group

Sweden over Argentina 3-0



The biggest upset in my very humble opinion is Sweden taking out Argentina with barely a whimper from the mighty Argentine Davis Cup team. As mmmm8, a poster on TAT noted, what was Mancini thinking by not playing Canas in singles yesterday? Whatever it was I hope he’s got his story straight when he faces the always warm and forgiving Argentine press corps.



Germany over Belgium 3-0



R1 - T.HAAS (GER) def. K.VLIEGEN (BEL)
6-7(4) 7-5 6-4 6-2
R2 - P.KOHLSCHREIBER (GER) def. O.ROCHUS (BEL)
6-3 7-5 7-6(4)
R3 - M.KOHLMANN / A.WASKE (GER) def. C.ROCHUS / O.ROCHUS (BEL)
4-6 6-2 6-3 6-1

Patrik Kuhnen needs to get a publicist. Everyone was touting the match up between Forget and Tarpishev but I think it’s time to pay attention to what Kuhnen is doing with the German Davis Cup team. No one knows much about the players other than Tommy Haas and to a lesser extent Philipp Kohlschreiber. Everyone knows that the Rochus brothers are capable of pulling miracles out of their less than famous butts. But the Germans showed that their tennis program is not in it’s death throes as they move on to semi final play in September.



Russia vs France 2-1



The Russians got a leg up today thanks to their doubles team of Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev. Davydenko was reamed after what some saw as lackluster play in his singles match but today he’s the hero lifting Mother Russia to a 2-1 lead over the French team. Guy Forget has his work cut out for him as to who will play the singles matches tomorrow. Gasquet? Paul-Henri Mathieu? Sebastian Grosjean? As strains of “La Marseillaise” echo in the Frenchmen’s heads I say we’ll see Mathieu and Gasquet. Richard seemed a little peeved when reporters asked him how he felt being a young gun apparently getting left behind. Let’s see if he can put up or shut up.



United States vs Spain 2-0



Please see Craig’s live report for details.

Link Here


The United States is up 2-0 after Blake and Roddick did what they had to do. Now it’s up to the number one doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan.





Zonal Play

Asia/Oceania Group 1 Round II

Japan 3-0 over Thailand

R1 - G.SOEDA (JPN) def. K.WACHIRAMANOWONG (THA)
6-1 6-2 6-2
R2 - T.SUZUKI (JPN) def. W.DOAKMAIKLEE (THA)
6-4 6-2 6-3
R3 - S.IWABUCHI / T.SUZUKI (JPN) def. S.RATIWATANA / S.RATIWATANA (THA)
6-3 6-4 2-6 6-4

Korea 3-0 over Uzbekistan

R1 - K.IM (KOR) def. F.DUSTOV (UZB)
6-0 6-2 4-6 7-5
R2 - H.LEE (KOR) def. D.ISTOMIN (UZB)
6-3 6-2 6-2
R3 - J.AN / W.JUN (KOR) def. F.DUSTOV / D.ISTOMIN (UZB)
6-1 6-3 6-1

America’s Zone Group 1 Round II

Peru 1-0 over Mexico

R1 - L.HORNA (PER) def. D.GARZA (MEX)
6-4 7-6(8) 2-6 6-3
R2 - I.MIRANDA (PER) v S.GONZALEZ (MEX)
6-4 3-6 6-1 5-5 Played and unfinished
R3 - L.HORNA / I.MIRANDA (PER) v J.ELIZONDO / A.RUIZ-ROSALES (MEX)
R4 - L.HORNA (PER) v S.GONZALEZ (MEX)
R5 - I.MIRANDA (PER) v D.GARZA (MEX)

Brazil 2-0 over Canada

R1 - R.MELLO (BRA) def. F.DANCEVIC (CAN)
3-6 6-7(7) 6-3 6-3 11-9
R2 - F.SARETTA (BRA) def. F.NIEMEYER (CAN)
6-4 6-7(6) 6-2 6-1
R3 - G.KUERTEN / A.SA (BRA) v D.NESTOR / F.NIEMEYER (CAN)
R4 - F.SARETTA (BRA) v F.DANCEVIC (CAN)
R5 - R.MELLO (BRA) v F.NIEMEYER (CAN)

Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 Round II

Slovak Republic over Macedonia 3-0

R1 - M.MERTINAK (SVK) def. L.MAGDINCEV (MKD)
6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4
R2 - D.HRBATY (SVK) def. P.RUSEVSKI (MKD)
6-2 6-3 6-3
R3 - D.HRBATY / M.MERTINAK (SVK) def. L.MAGDINCEV / P.RUSEVSKI (MKD)
6-2 6-1 6-2

Israel 3-0 over Italy

R1 - D.SELA (ISR) def. A.SEPPI (ITA)
6-3 7-5 1-6 3-6 6-3
R2 - N.OKUN (ISR) def. S.BOLELLI (ITA)
7-5 7-5 6-4
R3 - J.ERLICH / A.RAM (ISR) def. D.BRACCIALI / P.STARACE (ITA)
6-3 7-6(4) 7-6(5)

Serbia 3-0 over Georgia

R1 - N.DJOKOVIC (SRB) def. G.CHANTOURIA (GEO)
6-1 5-0 – Retired
R2 - J.TIPSAREVIC (SRB) def. L.CHIKHLADZE (GEO)
6-4 6-4 7-5
R3 - I.BOZOLJAC / N.ZIMONJIC (SRB) def. L.CHIKHLADZE / G.KHRIKADZE (GEO)
7-5 6-4 6-3

Great Britain 3-0 over The Netherlands



R1 - A.MURRAY (GBR) def. R.SLUITER (NED)
6-3 7-5 6-2
R2 - T.HENMAN (GBR) def. R.HAASE (NED)
7-6(4) 6-3 7-6(4)
R3 - J.MURRAY / G.RUSEDSKI (GBR) def. R.HAASE / R.WASSEN (NED)
6-1 3-6 6-3 7-6(5)

Zonal Results

Again a surprising number of 3-0 victories. Also quite a few ties only got one or two rubbers in.

GROUP I FIRST ROUND RELEGATION PLAY-OFFS
Winners remain in Group I, losers compete in second round relegation play-off in September

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE

Chinese Taipei 2-1 over China, P.R.

R1 - Y.LU (TPE) def. P.SUN (CHN)
3-6 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-2
R2 - Y.WANG (TPE) def. X.YU (CHN)
6-3 6-2 6-4
R3 - X.YU / S.ZENG (CHN) def. T.CHEN / C.YI (TPE)
7-6(7) 4-6 7-5 6-3
R4 - Y.LU (TPE) v X.YU (CHN)
R5 - Y.WANG (TPE) v P.SUN (CHN)

India 2-1 over Kazakhstan

R1 - R.BOPANNA (IND) def. D.MAKEYEV (KAZ)
6-2 6-1 6-2
R2 - A.KEDRYUK (KAZ) def. K.RASTOGI (IND)
6-4 6-4 3-6 7-6(2)
R3 - R.BOPANNA / L.PAES (IND) def. A.KEDRYUK / D.MAKEYEV (KAZ)
6-2 6-2 6-2
R4 - A.KEDRYUK (KAZ) v R.BOPANNA (IND)
R5 - D.MAKEYEV (KAZ) v K.RASTOGI (IND)

GROUP II FIRST ROUND TIES

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE

Morocco 2-1 over Denmark

R1 - R.CHAKI (MAR) def. F.NIELSEN (DEN)
6-4 6-2 6-3
R2 - Y.EL AYNAOUI (MAR) def. R.NORBY (DEN)
6-0 6-3 6-4
R3 - F.NIELSEN / R.NORBY (DEN) def. R.CHAKI / M.EL AAREJ (MAR)
4-6 6-2 7-6(6) 6-3
R4 - Y.EL AYNAOUI (MAR) v F.NIELSEN (DEN)
R5 - R.CHAKI (MAR) v R.NORBY (DEN)

Estonia 2-1 over Slovenia

R1 - G.ZEMLJA (SLO) def. J.ZOPP (EST)
4-6 6-4 7-6(3) 6-3
R2 - M.KUNNAP (EST) def. M.TKALEC (SLO)
7-6(5) 2-6 7-6(10) 7-6(5)
R3 - M.KUNNAP / J.ZOPP (EST) def. L.GREGORC / G.ZEMLJA (SLO)
6-2 3-6 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4
R4 - M.KUNNAP (EST) v G.ZEMLJA (SLO)
R5 - J.ZOPP (EST) v M.TKALEC (SLO)

Ukraine 2-1 over Greece

R1 - S.STAKHOVSKY (UKR) def. A.JAKUPOVIC (GRE)
6-3 6-1 6-2
R2 - K.ECONOMIDIS (GRE) def. S.BUBKA (UKR)
6-3 6-2 6-4
R3 - S.STAKHOVSKY / O.TERESHCHUK (UKR) def. K.ECONOMIDIS / A.JAKUPOVIC (GRE)
6-1 6-4 7-6(4)
R4 - K.ECONOMIDIS (GRE) v S.STAKHOVSKY (UKR)
R5 - A.JAKUPOVIC (GRE) v S.BUBKA (UKR)

Poland 3-0 over Nigeria

R1 - L.KUBOT (POL) def. J.IGBINOVIA (NGR)
6-3 6-2 7-6(4)
R2 - D.OLEJNICZAK (POL) def. A.BABALOLA (NGR)
6-1 6-4 6-3
R3 - M.FYRSTENBERG / M.MATKOWSKI (POL) def. A.BABALOLA / J.IGBINOVIA (NGR)
7-6(4) 7-5 4-6 6-1

Latvia 3-0 over Bulgaria

R1 - A.JUSKA (LAT) def. T.ENEV (BUL)
6-7(5) 6-3 6-3 7-6(3)
R2 - E.GULBIS (LAT) def. I.TRAYKOV (BUL)
6-3 6-2 6-3
R3 - E.GULBIS / D.PAVLOVS (LAT) def. I.KUSHEV / I.TRAYKOV (BUL)
7-5 6-4 6-2

Finland 2-1 over Cyprus

R1 - M.BAGHDATIS (CYP) def. J.PAUKKU (FIN)
6-3 6-3 7-6(3)
R2 - J.NIEMINEN (FIN) def. P.KALLIAS (CYP)
6-1 6-3 6-1
R3 - T.KETOLA / J.NIEMINEN (FIN) def. M.BAGHDATIS / P.KALLIAS (CYP)
4-6 7-6(6) 6-2 6-3
R4 - M.BAGHDATIS (CYP) v J.NIEMINEN (FIN)
R5 - P.KALLIAS (CYP) v J.PAUKKU (FIN)

Monaco 3-0 over Algeria

R1 - B.BALLERET (MON) def. A.HAMEURLAINE (ALG)
6-3 6-2 6-2
R2 - J.LISNARD (MON) def. S.SAOUDI (ALG)
7-5 6-4 6-4
R3 - G.COUILLARD / J.LISNARD (MON) def. A.HAMEURLAINE / S.SAOUDI (ALG)
6-3 7-5 6-7(6) 6-2

Hungary 3-0 over Norway

R1 - K.BARDOCZKY (HUN) def. F.SLETTING-JOHNSEN (NOR)
4-6 7-6(5) 6-2 7-5
R2 - S.KISS (HUN) def. S.BORETTI (NOR)
7-6(5) 6-2 1-6 3-6 6-1
R3 - K.BARDOCZKY / G.KISGYORGY (HUN) def. S.BORETTI / F.SLETTING-JOHNSEN (NOR)
4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(4) 6-2

GROUP II SECOND ROUND TIES
Winners advance to final in September, losers remain in Group II in 2008

AMERICAS ZONE

Uruguay 2-0 over Ecuador

R1 - M.FELDER (URU) def. C.AVELLAN (ECU)
6-3 6-1 6-3
R2 - P.CUEVAS (URU) def. J.CAMPOZANO (ECU)
7-6(11) 6-3 6-3
R3 - M.VILARRUBI / M.FELDER (URU) v C.AVELLAN / J.DURANGO (ECU)
R4 - P.CUEVAS (URU) v C.AVELLAN (ECU)
R5 - M.FELDER (URU) v J.CAMPOZANO (ECU)

Paraguay 1-0 over Dominican Republic

R1 - R.DELGADO (PAR) def. H.ESTRELLA (DOM)
6-0 6-0 6-1
R2 - G.RAMIREZ (PAR) v V.ESTRELLA (DOM)
4-6 Played and unfinished
R3 - R.DELGADO / F.RODRIGUEZ (PAR) v H.ESTRELLA / V.ESTRELLA (DOM)
R4 - R.DELGADO (PAR) v V.ESTRELLA (DOM)
R5 - G.RAMIREZ (PAR) v H.ESTRELLA (DOM)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE

Philippines 3-0 over New Zealand

R1 - C.MAMIIT (PHI) def. J.STATHAM (NZL)
6-4 6-4 6-4
R2 - E.TAINO (PHI) def. S.REA (NZL)
6-1 6-2 6-4
R3 - C.MAMIIT / E.TAINO (PHI) def. D.KING-TURNER / S.REA (NZL)
5-7 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 6-2

Kuwait 2-1 over Indonesia

R1 - M.GHAREEB (KUW) def. P.SIMPATIAJI (INA)
7-6(7) 7-5 7-5
R2 - E.SIE (INA) def. A.MUHAMMAD (KUW)
6-3 6-1 6-0
R3 - M.GHAREEB / M.SIDDIQ (KUW) def. S.SUWANDI / B.WIRYAWAN (INA)
6-7(3) 2-6 6-2 6-3 6-3
R4 - M.GHAREEB (KUW) v E.SIE (INA)
R5 - A.MUHAMMAD (KUW) v P.SIMPATIAJI (INA)


GROUP II RELEGATION PLAY-OFFS
Winners remain in Group II in 2008, losers relegated to Group III in 2008

AMERICAS ZONE

Netherlands Antilles 2-0 over Jamaica

R1 - J.ROJER (AHO) def. D.JOHNSON (JAM)
6-1 6-2 6-2
R2 - R.WINKLAAR (AHO) def. R.RUSSELL (JAM)
3-6 7-6(3) 6-2 6-2
R3 - D.JOHNSON / R.RUSSELL (JAM) v R.BEHR / J.ROJER (AHO)
R4 - R.RUSSELL (JAM) v J.ROJER (AHO)
R5 - D.JOHNSON (JAM) v R.WINKLAAR (AHO)

El Salvador 1 Cuba 1

R1 - R.AREVALO-GONZALEZ (ESA) def. L.CUELLAR-CONTRERAS (CUB)
6-1 5-7 6-4 6-3
R2 - E.HERNANDEZ-PEREZ (CUB) def. M.AREVALO (ESA)
6-4 3-6 6-4 2-0 – Retired
R3 - M.AREVALO / R.AREVALO-GONZALEZ (ESA) v L.CUELLAR-CONTRERAS / S.MARTINEZ-BREIJO (CUB)
R4 - R.AREVALO-GONZALEZ (ESA) v E.HERNANDEZ-PEREZ (CUB)
R5 - M.AREVALO (ESA) v L.CUELLAR-CONTRERAS (CUB)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE

Pakistan 2-1 over Pacific Oceania

R1 - A.KHAN (PAK) def. J.LANGTON (POC)
6-3 6-3 2-6 6-2
R2 - M.LEONG (POC) def. J.KHAN (PAK)
6-1 6-1 6-1
R3 - A.KHAN / S.KHAN (PAK) def. B.BAUDINET / W.NOTT (POC)
5-7 7-6(6) 6-7(5) 7-5 6-3
R4 - M.LEONG (POC) v A.KHAN (PAK)
R5 - J.LANGTON (POC) v J.KHAN (PAK)

Hong Kong, China 2-1 over Iran

R1 - X.LAI (HKG) def. A.SHAHGHOLI (IRI)
6-7(3) 6-4 6-2 4-6 6-3
R2 - H.YU (HKG) def. A.SHOKOOFI (IRI)
6-4 7-6(2) 7-5
R3 - A.SHAHGHOLI / A.SHOKOOFI (IRI) def. H.SO / H.YU (HKG)
6-3 6-4 6-2
R4 - A.SHAHGHOLI (IRI) v H.YU (HKG)
R5 - A.SHOKOOFI (IRI) v X.LAI (HKG)

DC World Group Quarterfinals April 6-8 2007

Teams and Venues



Russia vs France in Russia

Small Sport Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow, Russia
Stadium Capacity: 6500
06 April - 08 April 2007
Day 1: 1400 hrs (1000 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1500 hrs (1100 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1400 hrs (1000 hrs GMT)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Indoors
Ball Type: Head ATP Clay Court

Players

Russia

Nikolay Davydenko
Mikhail Youzhny
Marat Safin
Igor Andreev

Captain: Shamil Tarpishev

France

Arnaud Clement
Richard Gasquet
Michael Llodra
Paul Henri Mathieu

Captain: Guy Forget

This tie is all about the two captains, Shamil Tarpishev and Guy Forget who are considered among the best ever Davis Cup captains. The strategies employed will be closely watched. I'd give Russia the edge here.

Belgium vs Germany in Belgium

Sleuyter Arena, Ostend, Belgium
Stadium Capacity:5000
06 April - 08 April 2007
Day 1: 1330 hrs (1130 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1330 hrs (1130 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1330 hrs (1130 hrs GMT)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Indoors
Ball Type: Head ATP

Players

Belgium

Olivier Rochus
Christophe Rochus
Kristof Vliegen
Dick Norman

Captain: Julien Hoferlin

Germany

Tommy Haas
Florian Mayer
Alexander Waske
Michael Kohlmann


Captain: Patrick Kuhnen

Haas can’t carry Germany on his own. Mayer has been playing well lately. This is a real toss up.N I never underestimate the Rochus brothers.


USA vs Spain in United States




Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Stadium Capacity: 14500
06 April - 08 April 2007
Day 1: 1400 hrs (1800 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1400 hrs (1800 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1400 hrs (1800 hrs GMT)
Surface: Hard (Latex-ite) - Indoors
Ball Type: Wilson US Open Extra Duty

Players

United States

Andy Roddick
James Blake
Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan

Captain: Patrick McEnroe

Spain

Tommy Robredo
David Ferrer
Fernando Verdasco
Feliciano Lopez

Captain: Emilio Sanchez

Tickets sold out in record time for this tie with fans anticipating a replay of the Nadal vs Roddick encounter from a couple of years ago. Rafa, citing a foot injury, pulled out. Roddick has a hamstring injury that caused him to retire during his last match in Miami. I’m sure Andy will show up. The United States would be slightly favored to win this but with Roddick perhaps hampered by injury and Blake having never shown he can handle pressure the playing field is pretty level. I say pick 'em.

Sweden vs Argentina in Sweden



Svenska Massan (Gothenburg Convention Centre), Gothenburg, Sweden
Stadium Capacity: 4000
06 April - 08 April 2007
Day 1: 1300 hrs (GMT 1100 hrs)
Day 2: 1400 hrs (GMT 1200 hrs)
Day 3: 1300 hrs (GMT 1100 hrs)
Surface: Carpet (Taraflex Tennis) - Indoors
Ball Type: Wilson US Open

Players

Sweden

Robin Soderling
Jonas Bjorkman
Thomas Johansson
Robert Lindstedt

Captain: Mats Wilander

Argentina

David Nalbandian
Guillermo Canas
Juan Martin Del Potro
Sebastian Prieto

Captain: Alberto Mancini

With the hottest man in tennis Guillermo Canas on their team as well as David Nalbandian and Juan Martin Del Potro Argentina should do well here. This is one of the most solid teams playing in this phase of Davis Cup competition. If France vs Russia is about the captains this tie is about the Argentine team which should be in Sweden to simply take names.



The Zonal Ties will be covered separately.