2013 Davis Cup

[matt_897]

The first round of Davis cup gets underway tomorrow, here's the 8 ties that are being played in the world group:

Canada vs Spain
Italy vs Croatia
Belgium vs Serbia
USA vs Brazil
France vs Israel
Argentina vs Germany
Kazakhstan vs Austria
Switzerland vs Czech Rep

The Swiss and Czech tie is on Foxtel.

Australia is in the zonals again and they are in Chinese Taipei. Should win although they have a good doubles pair. But with no lu Australia are a heavy favourite. We have a team of Hewitt, Matosevic, Ebden and guccione

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

My thoughts on all matches + ties if they play out as named:

Spain defeat Canada 3-2
Raonic defeats Almagro in four sets
Granollers defeats Pospisil in straight sets
Raonic defeats Granollers in straight sets
Almagro defeats Pospisil in straight sets
Ramos/Lopez defeat Dancevic/Nestor in four sets

Italy defeat Croatia 4-1
Seppi defeats Cilic in four sets
Fognini defeats Dodig in five sets
Seppi defeats Dodig in four sets
Cilic defeats Fognini in straight sets
Lorenzi/Bolelli defeat Veic/Pavic in four sets

Serbia defeat Belgium 5-0
Djokovic defeats Goffin in straight sets
Tipsarevic defeats Darcis in straight sets
Djokovic defeats Darcis in straight sets
Tipsarevic defeats Goffin in four sets
Troicki/Zimonjic defeat Bemelmans/Rochus in four sets

USA defeat Brazil 4-1
Isner defeats Bellucci in five sets
Querrey defeats Alves in straight sets
Isner defeats Alves in straight sets
Bellucci defeats Querrey in five sets
Bryan/Bryan defeat Melo/Soares in four sets

France defeat Israel 5-0
Tsonga defeats Sela in straight sets
Gasquet defeats Weintraub in straight sets
Tsonga defeats Weintraub in straight sets
Gasquet defeats Sela in four sets
Benneteau/Llodra defeat Erlich/Ram in four sets

Germany defeat Argentina 3-2
Kohlschreiber defeats Monaco in five sets
Nalbandian defeats Mayer in four sets
Monaco defeats Mayer in four sets
Kohlschreiber defeats Nalbandian in four sets
Kamke/Kas defeat Zeballos/Berlocq in four sets

Austria defeat Kazakhstan 4-1
Melzer defeats Kukushkin in four sets
Golubev defeats Haider-Maurer in five sets
Haider-Maurer defeats Kukushkin in four sets
Melzer defeats Golubev in straight sets
Peya/Knowle defeat Korolev/Schukin in straight sets

Czech Republic defeat Switzerland 4-1
Berdych defeats Wawrinka in five sets
Rosol defeats Chiudinelli in straight sets
Wawrinka defeats Rosol in four sets
Berdych defeats Chiudinelli in straight sets
Minar/Vesely defeat Lammer/Laaksonen in four sets

Some great match-ups in there.

 

[matt_897]

Pick of ties are Spain/Canada and Germany/Argentina, interesting to see Kohli back playing for Germany. Unless I'm getting my time zones wrong, the Spain andCanada tie is on at a good time for us starting at 8am Saturday

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/articles/disappointment-for-tried-and-tested-trio.aspx

Nicolas Almagro, Janko Tipsarevic and Radek Stepanek have all been forced to pull out of this weekend's first round ties due to injury.

 

[matt_897]

Pat Rafter continues his bizarre captaincy by choosing Ebden over Matosevic. I guess given its a faster surface that might help Ebden and realistically it shouldn't matter but given how poor Ebden's form (mixed dubs doesn't count for singles) it just makes you scratch your head. What's even more stupid is having Lleyton playing 3 rubbers again. HAVE YOU NOT LEARNED FROM GERMANY? Again, hopefully it doesn't come down to day 3 but we should be getting teams to try and work together so we don't have to use Lleyton for doubles. Can't believe I'm saying this but bring John Fitzgerald back....

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Yes, I was hoping that they wouldn't have Hewitt in doubles and singles as well. I suppose it might not matter in this tie.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Very odd decisions. Love Rafter but his captaincy has indeed been questionable thus far.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Where are people getting their info on this from? The Davis Cup site has Matosovic in the singles, not Ebden, has this changed?

http://www.daviscup.com/en/results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=100019760

Given that Ebden has just won a mixed doubles Grand Slam why not put him in the doubles with Guccione?

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Where are people getting their info on this from? The Davis Cup site has Matosovic in the singles, not Ebden, has this changed?

http://www.daviscup.com/en/results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=100019760

Given that Ebden has just won a mixed doubles Grand Slam why not put him in the doubles with Guccione?

http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/articles/asiaoceania-zone-group-i-thursday-(1).aspx

I agree with you completely, stupid move.

 

[matt_897]

Given that Ebden has just won a mixed doubles Grand Slam why not put him in the doubles with Guccione?

This would be common sense, sadly Pat hasn't shown any since he became captain. Got to be trying to find solid doubles combinations without Lleyton

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Hmmm, Marinko still not in the boys club? Seriously did he kill someone's dog during that tie last year? They pretty much patronised him during that awards thing last year I thought.
Maybe they think "oh Chinese Taipei, doesn't matter", but surely its a good testing ground in terms of trying a different strategy, not a proven failed one.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/articles/asiaoceania-zone-group-i-thursday-(1).aspx

Thanks

Matosevic has not been in great form lately (IMO) but then neither has Ebden for singles and Matosevic is ranked higher. To me it makes sense to use Ebden's current doubles form in the doubles (thereby giving Hewitt a rest) and give Matosevic a go in the singles. Yes, on the one hand it is only Chinese Taipai but on the other because it's only Chinese Taipai they might as well try a few different things.

I'm repeating what others have said and preaching to the converted I think.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-...-ahead-of-davis-cup-tie/4494952?section=sport

Djokovic and the rest of his Serbian team are unhappy that a clay surface has been laid on top of a parquet floor.
"This is definitely the worst court we have ever played on," he told a news conference on Thursday. "We're all putting our health at stake here.

That's pretty disgusting. Surely the court has to be approved? Clay should never, ever be put over parquet, and should never be played on.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Ebden takes the first rubber against Yang 6-4 6-4 6-4. Nothing like consistency.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

It was Hewitt that beat Yang according to this and it has Matosevic playing Chen in the other singles

http://www.flashscore.com/tennis/

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Sorry, that's my bad; read the tweet wrong.

 

[pepsi]

Is there a link for live scores anywhere?

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Is there a link for live scores anywhere?

Yes, the one I posted above

http://www.flashscore.com/tennis/

Edited to add: Sorry I just realised this site only give the final score once the match is over for these games.

 

[matt_897]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-...-ahead-of-davis-cup-tie/4494952?section=sport

That's pretty disgusting. Surely the court has to be approved? Clay should never, ever be put over parquet, and should never be played on.

I don't know much about this but Serbia don't have much to complain about, there's aren't usually any better. The court we played on against them a few years ago was beyond a joke.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

I don't know much about this but Serbia don't have much to complain about, there's aren't usually any better. The court we played on against them a few years ago was beyond a joke.

Fair enough, but countries aside no court should be like that. It's putting a lot of players at risk.

 

[matt_897]

Fair enough, but countries aside no court should be like that. It's putting a lot of players at risk.

Agree if the surface is too risky and unplayable but crappy surfaces in davis Cup have been a long time staple.

 

[Chris_2593]

Look forward to watching Switzerland Vs Czech Republic tonight at 11:00 on Fox sports 1.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Agree if the surface is too risky and unplayable but crappy surfaces in davis Cup have been a long time staple.

It's unfortunate, really...shows you why the top players often shun the early ties, though.

Look forward to watching Switzerland Vs Czech Republic tonight at 11:00 on Fox sports 1.

Cheers for the reminder, will be watching too.

 

[matt_897]

Look forward to watching Switzerland Vs Czech Republic tonight at 11:00 on Fox sports 1.

Hmmm, deciding whether to stay up and watch this or get up and watch Spain vs. Canada tomorrow, that's the tie I'm most interested in, hope canada can take advantage of the udnerstrength Spainish team

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Fabio Fognini is too sick with the flu to play tonight, will be replaced by Paolo Lorenzi.

EDIT: Also, Australia take a 2-0 lead as expected as Ebden wins 6-3 6-4 7-5.