Davis Cup World Group Preview

While the Americans are hosting Brazil, seven other World Group ties will be taking place this weekend. Here's a quick preview of each.

By Chris Oddo

(January 31, 2013) -- After a wild Australian Open, it's back to the Davis Cup format for what promises to be an exciting weekend all around the globe. While my colleague Erik Gudris is covering the American Davis Cup team's tie with Brazil, I'll be keeping an eye on the rest of the World Group ties.

Here's a preview of what we can expect:

Spain at Canada

The typically formidable Spanish squad will take an atypical risk when it travels to British Columbia to face a dangerous Canadian squad without its heavy artillery. Minus Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro, and Fernando Verdasco, the Spaniards will try an advance on a very fast hard court with Marcel Granollers as their big dog.

Will it work? Not if Milos Raonic can help it. What would have been a blowout if the Spaniard's core had attended, now promises to be a hard-fought battle. This one should be interesting.

Pick: Spain, 3-2

Croatia at Italy

Croatia owns a 2-0 advantage against Italy, but Zeljko Krajan's squad, let by Marin Cilic, will have to travel to Turin for a little fun on the red clay. Cilic owns a 3-3 career record on clay in Davis Cup competition, but he'll be counted on to improve upon that in his two matches against Andreas Seppi and Fabio Fognini. Italy is looking to win their first World Group tie since 1998, when they lost in the final to Sweden.

Pick: Italy, 3-2

Serbia at Belgium

With Novak Djokovic in action on the red clay in Charleroi, Belgium, Serbia's tie with a David Goffin-led Belgian team promises to be an electrifying event. With Janko Tipsarevic out due to a heel injury, Viktor Troicki will look to provide assistance to the Serbian squad, while Steve Darcis and Olivier Rochus will do their best to keep it interesting for Belgium.

Pick: Serbia 4-1

Israel at France

The French are 3-0 against Israel in Davis Cup play, and this French team, one that features two top ten players in Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet, is going against an Israeli squad that has nobody inside the top 100. Can you say 4-0?

Pick: France 5-0

Germany at Argentina

For the second straight year Germany and Argentina will meet in the first round. Last year the Argentine squad triumphed easily on the road, but this year, in spite of playing at home in Buenos Aires, things should be a lot closer. Juan Martin del Potro has elected to skip Davis Cup this year, so that leaves Carlos Berlocq playing against Philipp Kohlshcreiber on Friday, while Juan Monaco will take on Florian Mayer. The home advantage will help Argentina to be sure. They've won eight of their last ten at home, but the two losses were absolute heartbreakers at the hands of the Spaniards in the 2008 final and the Czechs in last year's semifinals.

Pick: Argentina, 3-2

Austria at Kazakhstan

The teams have never met, but the Austrians should have the edge if Jurgen Melzer can keep his end of the bargain against Andrey Golubev and Mikhail Kukushkin.

Pick: Austria, 3-2

Czech Republic at Switzerland

The most heavily anticipated rubber of the weekend, should it end up being a live one, will be contested by Stanislas Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych in Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday. With Roger Federer out of the mix, and Radek Stepanek too, the focus of this tie rests squarely on the capable shoulders of the top-ranked player on either side. Wawrinka will be looking to build on the momentum that he gained by nearly ousting Novak Djokovic in a memorable five-setter in the fourth-round of the Australian Open. He'll also have the opportunity to guide the Swiss to a monumental victory without the help of Roger Federer this time around. If he can accomplish the feat, it will do wonders for his confidence and wonders for his image, too. But big, bad and burly Tomas Berdych, who led the Czech Republic to the Davis Cup title in 2012, will be standing in his path every step of the way.

Pick: Czech Republic, 3-2

(Photo Credit: Telam)