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.
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