By Chris Oddo | Thursday, April 3, 2014
The Swiss will bid to reach the World Group semifinals for the first time since 2003, but it's been even longer for Italy and Great Britain.
Photo Source: Reuters
According to Daviscup.com reporter Craig Gabriel, there were 10 TV outlets, 45 journalists, and another 10 radio outlets on hand for the draw ceremony on Thursday in Geneva, where the Swiss Davis Cup team is preparing to play its first World Group quarterfinal since 2004. In other words, Switzerland, already a tennis-mad nation because of Roger Federer and all his success, is practically going bonkers. But this weekend isn't only about the Swiss and their quest to finally hoist the Davis Cup. There are intriguing ties between France and Germany, Italy and Great Britain and defending champion Czech Republic and Japan as well.
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Here's a look at each:
Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan, Geneva, Hard Court
In a frothy atmosphere, replete with Swiss flags painted on fingernails, faces and other body parts, Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer will look to bring the Swiss Davis Cup team to the World Group semifinals for the first time since 2003. Many see this weekend's tie against an undermatched-on-paper Kazakh team as a forgone conclusion, but the Kazakhs believe they have a fighting chance. They shut out the Swiss in a World Group playoff in 2010 (though Federer was not in action) and they will hope that lightning strikes a second time in Geneva.
“Ranking-wise Davis Cup has never been that kind of tournament where favorites play a big role,” Kazakh captain Dias Doskarayev said on Thursday. “Of course there are favorites but it’s a matter of the team’s spirit.”
Sometimes, in fever-pitched environments such as the Palexpo in Geneva is sure to be, the pressure can be high for the home team, and the underdogs can actually benefit from the chaos and excitement of playing in a venue so packed to the rafters with excitement.
That could be the case here, but the gulf in talent between Federer and Wawrinka and Mikhail Kukushkin and Andrey Golubev should prove too large to overcome for the Kazakhs either way.
Pick: Switzerland, 4-1
France vs. Germany, Nancy, Indoor Hard
Injuries have hit this highly anticipated tie hard, as Tommy Haas, Florian Mayer and Philipp Kohlschreiber are out for Germany, and Richard Gasquet was a last-second pullout for France. But three injuries are far worse than one, and the deeper French team should come away with an easy victory provided that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Julien Benneteau can avoid falling victim to the upset against Germany's one-two punch of Tobias Kamke and Peter Gojowczyk.
Pick: France, 5-0
Italy vs. Great Britain, Naples, Red Clay
Despite the presence of two-time Grand Slam champion and three-time French Open quarterfinalist Andy Murray, Italy is considered by many as the slight favorite in what is sure to be an exciting tie.
The mere sight of this picturesque seaside venue in Naples has one dreaming about Campari spritzers and artisanal pizzas with the thinnest crusts known to man.
Italy's fate will rest in the hands of Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi, a duo that has proven to be formidable for the Italians, especially on clay, while Great Britain will look to Murray to earn them three points and a berth in the World Group semifinals for the first time in over 30 years.
If there is one tie to remain glued to throughout the weekend, this is most certainly the one, as the eventual winner could be decided by an intriguing clash on Sunday between Fognini and Murray (Murray actually owns a 1-0 head-to-head with Fognini on clay). The doubles tie on Saturday will likely prove pivotal as well.
Murray, who missed the draw ceremony on Thursday due to a stomach bug, expects to be fine for his opener against Andreas Seppi, and the same can be said of Fognini, who will meet James Ward in the second rubber on Friday. He had some issues with a thigh last week in Miami, but claims to be fully recovered.
Pick: Italy, 3-2
Czech Republic vs. Japan, Tokyo, Hard
More injuries have turned this tie from a must-see to a must-survive, as both nation's No. 1 players are out. Expect the Czechs to ride the experience of Radek Stepanek and Lukas Rosol to their 11th consecutive Davis Cup victory against a Japanese team that will also be without its No. 2 player (Go Soeda, in case you wondered) on Friday.
If Stepanek and crew can get the victory, the two-time defending champion Czechs will look a lot better heading into the semifinals, as they'll likely have Berdych back in the fold.
Pick: Czechs, 4-1