By Chris Oddo | Thursday July 14, 2016
Initially this weekend’s Davis Cup tie between defending champion Great Britain and Serbia at Belgrade promised to be a colossal matchup of the top-two players in the world battling for international supremacy as their nations adoringly looked on.
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It hasn’t worked out that way (the draw was announced on Thursday and Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic’s absence was made official), but that doesn’t mean there isn’t lots at stake this weekend between Serbia and Great Britain.
It will be a big weekend for Kyle Edmund of Great Britain and Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia. They aren’t household names with the cachet of "Nole" or "Muzzah," but the Davis Cup is the Davis Cup and the show must go on. Neither has made a big impact in the rankings or at the Grand Slam level of late, but Edmund and Tipsarevic will be looking to notch meaningful wins that could end up being a catalyst in the weeks and months to come.
Davis Cup has long been criticized for its lack of star-power--and rightfully so--as top players frequently back out of the competition in order to rest up for events that they prioritize more highly. The stacked 2016 tennis calendar, with Wimbledon hardly in the rearview and the Olympics just around the bend, creates an even more difficult scenario than normal for the Davis Cup, but as is always the case, under-the-radar players are ready to step in and shine for their nations.
It’s an oft-overlooked advantage of Davis Cup—and it’s part of the charm and allure of the competition: The passion of the fans and the importance that comes with playing for one’s country often gives less experienced players the chance to cut their teeth in matches of great magnitude. That will be the case this weekend as Edmund tries to keep the British rolling into the semis while Tipsarevic looks to get himself back on the map as a player who can win noteworthy matches.
Edmund and Tipsarevic will open the tie on Friday at Tasmajdan Stadium in Belgrade, with unheralded Dusan Lajovic and James Ward squaring off in the second rubber. Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic are slated to battle Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot in Saturday’s doubles rubber.
Tipsarevic, a veteran of 34 ties and 40 wins on the Davis Cup stage, is looking to continue his progression back from a foot injury that has haunted and hindered him since 2013. The 32-year-old has been trying to find his form and his fitness in 2016, but has managed just one tour-level victory against four losses. Could this be the weekend that sparks a resurgence?
Edmund, 21, was thrown into the deep end of the Davis Cup pool last winter in Belgium when he faced David Goffin in the first rubber of the 2015 Davis Cup final. He lost that battle in five sets, but Edmund will take that experience with him as he leads Great Britain into a quarterfinal clash as their highest-ranked player. At a career-high No. 67 in the world, many see Edmund as a future Top 20 player.
With Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic out of action this weekend, Edmund and Tipsarevic will be looking to step in and make a big splash, both for themselves and for their country. Opportunity knocks. Who will answer?
France set to Meet Berdych-less Czechs
The French ended the Czech Republic’s hope of a Davis Cup three-peat in 2014, and this year the Czechs will hope to shut down Les Bleus to gain a modicum of revenge for that defeat. But they’ll have to do it without Tomas Berdych and against a very deep French team that is a threat to win this event every year.
Lukas Rosol will meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first rubber with Jiri Vesely and Lucas Pouille set to meet in the second rubber. Both Vesely and Pouille enjoyed breakout runs at Wimbledon and all eyes will be watching the two rising youngsters as they meet for the third time (Vesely won the first two).
Croatia Seeks to Remain Perfect vs. U.S.A.
Two very talented rosters will go head to head in Portland as U.S.A. hosts Croatia this weekend at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center. More details on the draw to follow…