Davis Cup: Previewing Sunday’s World Group Play
By Chris Oddo
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Photo Credit: GEPA
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(February 11, 2012) After Saturday’s full plate of dazzling doubles, it all comes down to Sunday for those Davis Cup first round World Group ties that are still live. Fortunately for the Americans, Spaniards, Argentines, and Czechs, the work has already been done. As for the other four ties, it could be a sleepless night for the Captains of the teams whose prospects are still up in the air.
Here’s a quick look at the key matches and key players for Sunday’s World Group play, along with a glance at those four fortunate enough to have clinched.
Kazakhstan at Spain, Spain leads 3-0
Done Deal! Even without Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer, the Spaniards were too much for the up-and-coming Kazakh squad on their home clay. Mikhail Kukushkin made things interesting in the first rubber by going up a break on Juan Carlos Ferrero in the fifth set, but in the end the sweep was unavoidable, as is the Spanish march to the late stages of Davis Cup play.
Spain will play the winner of the Austria-Russia tie in the quarterfinals.
USA at Switzerland, USA leads 3-0
Done Deal! Bonus points for anybody who saw this coming. The gritty Americans, not known for clay-court prowess (or any prowess on par with Roger Federer’s, for that matter) have done the unthinkable. After Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish’s convincing doubles display today, they hold the insurmountable 3-0 lead. They will go against the winner of the Canada-France tie in the quarterfinals.
Argentina at Germany, Argentina leads 3-0
Done Deal! Argentina’s new Captain Martin Jaite passes with flying colors, as Juan Monaco, David Nalbandian and the doubles pairing of Nalbandian and Schwank have all contributed to a 3-0 lead. Argentina will await the winner of the Japan-Croatia tie.
Italy at Czech Republic, Czech Republic leads 3-0
Done Deal! The biggest surprise of the weekend? There wasn’t one. Czech firepower is just too much for Italian finesse on a hard court. The Czech Republic awaits the winner of the Sweden-Serbia tie.
Russia at Austria, Austria Leads 2-1
Still Live! Russia averted crisis today when old-timers Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny salvaged the doubles tie in Austria.
Key Player: Shamil Tarpischev: The Russian Captain will have to decide between a physically weary Mikhail Youzhny, who was hitting first serves as slowly as 85 mph today due to shoulder issues, or a mentally weary Alex Bogomolov, who lost to No. 127-ranked Andreas Haider-Maurer in four sets on Friday.
Key Match: Melzer vs. whomever Tarpischev picks, 4th rubber: The Russians need this one to stay alive. If they get it, I like their chances to complete the comeback.
France at Canada, 1-1 with doubles currently underway
Still Live! Canada’s first ever appearance in the World Group will come down to Sunday in Vancouver, thanks to Milos Raonic’s fine form on Friday against Julien Benneteau.
Key Player: Milos Raonic: A win over Tsonga on Sunday would be the win of his career, and maybe the win of the Davis Cup weekend. Depending on the outcome of today’s doubles tilt, it could be a tie-clinching victory or one that forces a deciding fifth rubber. Either way it’s bound to be suspenseful.
Key Match: Raonic vs. Tsonga, 4th rubber: If any Canadians can turn their heads from the NHL this time of year, this is that time!
Sweden at Serbia, Serbia leads 2-1
Still Live! The overmatched Swedes have been coming up with inspired efforts all weekend in Nis, Serbia. Today in the doubles, Robert Linstrom and Johan Brunstrom stole the match, 10-8 in the 5th. Great effort from the Swedes to rally.
Key Player: Experience and talent: The Swedes don’t have enough to win a singles match tomorrow, let alone two.
Key Match: No. 9 Janko Tipsarevic vs. No. 348 Michael Ryderstedt, 4th rubber: Clinching a tie at home should be another special moment for Tipsarevic and this tennis-mad nation.
Croatia at Japan, Croatia leads, 2-1
Still Live! Go Soeda played the match of his life on Friday to beat Ivan Dodig from two sets down, but since then the Japanese have lost the last two rubbers. They face long odds tomorrow, with Soeda needing another momentous win against Ivo Karlovic.
Key Player: Kei Nishikori: He was disappointing in a straight-sets defeat at the hands of Karlovic, but Nishikori can redeem himself with a win over Ivan Dodig in the first match on Sunday.
Key Match: Kei Nishikori vs. Ivan Dodig, 4th rubber: Even if Japan doesn’t prevail tomorrow, a win by Nishikori to force a deciding match would be a nice moral victory for the Japanese, and it would make the atmosphere for the final match unforgettable for all those in attendance in Kobe, Japan.