Davis cup action starts today
The Davis Cup serves up first round action this weekend. In world group first round ties there are 8 match ups. In my view the most interesting tie is between cup holders Russia and Chile in Chile. Following the injury withdrawal of Dmitry Tursunov Russia will struggle to make it past the first round. Chile has won the last 10 home ties and with a red hot Fernando Gonzalez being partnered by Athens gold medallist Nicolas Massu you would have to think Chile will win. Marat Safin may think otherwise. He is capable of winning both of his ties. If so the tie will be one to watch.
In Liege we see Australia take on the Belgium team. Lleyton Hewitt is supported by Chris Guccione and Paul Hanley. Team Belgium has Kristof Vliegen and Olivier Rochus teaming up for the singles while Dick Norman joins Christophe Rochus to represent Belgium in the doubles. Lleyton Hewitt’s fitness will be tested this weekend as he is drawn to play both doubles and singles. If Hewitt fires I expect Australia to win this tie.
The US team of Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan brothers look way too strong for the Czech Republic. With only one top player the Czech teams does not look to have the depth to match the US when they play in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Tomas Berdych is ranked no. 12. The next best ranked Czech player is world no. 160 Ivo Minar. This compares with Roddick at no. 4 and Blake at no. 6. The US also have the 3rd ranked doubles players Mike and Bob Bryan.
France is at home against Romania. With Richard Gasquet leading the French I expect them to win. First up on Friday is Gasquet against Victor Hanescu. This is followed by Sebastien Grosjean versus Andrei Pavel. The French have a strong doubles team with Arnaud Clement playing with Michael Llodra. This team should be too good for Florin Mergeal and Horia Tecau.
Unlike Roger Federer world no. 2 Rafael Nadal is showing up for Davis Cup action to represent Spain as they take on Switzerland. Federer seems to have better things to do then play in this competition. Nadal is supported by a solid player in the form of David Ferrer. This team should be strong enough to easily overcome Switzerland. How good would it have been if Federer was involved in this tie?
Ivan Ljubicic is hoping his Davis Cup career does not end this weekend when Croatia plays Germany in Germany. Ljubicic has decided to quit Davis Cup play after this year as he says it takes too much out of him. He will be joined by Mario Ancic another top ten player. If Germany’s Tommy Haas can pull off two wins Germany just might have a chance of knocking out Croatia. Benjamin Becker is the other German singles player.
Austria against Argentina looks to be an evenly matched tie. Argentina does not have its top players available so this gives Austria a chance to win at home. The top Austrian player is Jurgen Melzer is ranked no. 30 in the world and when teamed with Stefan Koubek the team looks stronger than the team of Jose Acasuso and Guillermo Canas.
The final tie of the weekend is the match up between Sweden and the home team of Belarus. If you look at the rankings you do not give Belarus a chance. Sweden have two top 50 players compared with Max Mirnyi at 55 and then Vladimir Voltchkov who is 730. Voltchkov was ranked no. 25 at one point in his career. However that was in 2001 and he has not been in the top 100 since October 2003.
My tips for the Davis Cup first round are:
Chile over Russia
France over Romania
Germany to upset Croatia
Australia over Belgium
USA over Czeck Republic
Spain to beat Switzerland
Sweden over Belarus
Austria over Argentina.
I look forward to your comments.
