Davis Cup 2008: World Group- 1st Round

[Drummond]

Round 1 Ties:

Russia v Serbia
Czech Republic v Belgium
Argentina v Great Britain
Israel v Sweden
Germany v Korea, Rep.
Peru v Spain
Romania v France
Austria v USA

USA begins the defence of its title when the first round of the 2008 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas gets underway this Friday, with seven of the world’s top ten in action.

The largest annual international team competition in sport has attracted 127 entries in 2008, with a total of eight World Group first round ties and 16 Zonal Group I and II ties taking place on 8-10 February.

USA faces a tough away trip to Vienna against Austria on indoor clay, with the hosts looking to secure their first victory in three meetings between the two teams. The USA team includes its four final heros, Andy Roddick, James Blake, and Bob and Mike Bryan, while Stefan Koubek heads a full-strength Austrian team.

Last year’s beaten finalist Russia also has a difficult tie at home in Moscow against Serbia, who include the newly crowned Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, alongside Janko Tipsarevic and doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic. Marat Safin returns to the Russian team that also features Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny and Dmitry Tursunov.

Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is set to make his Davis Cup debut for France against Romania away in Sibiu.

In other matches, Czech Republic faces Belgium in Ostrava; Israel is at home to Sweden in Ramat Hasharon; Argentina hosts Great Britain in Buenos Aires; Germany meets Korea in Braunschweig; and Peru takes in Spain in Lima.

The eight first round winners will contest the World Group quarterfinals on 11-13 April, while the eight first round losers will compete in the World Group Play-offs on 19-21 September.

We get the Russia v Serbia tie on Fox Sports 2 starting Saturday morning at 8:00am. IMO it’s far and away the best tie and I’m really looking forward to it. Some of those match-ups are going to be really fascinating.

 

[aaronm46]

safin djokovic will be a very interesting tie, hope its first up

 

[Rick18]

safin djokovic will be a very interesting tie, hope its first up

Safin has withdrawn from the tie, there was a break found in his leg.

 

[Russian]

Djokovic out of day 1 with one of those mystery illnesses, Tipsarevic has an ankle injury so Zimonjic had to play singles and no surprise he lost to a top 10 player (big surprise he won a set). Speaking of no surprise - Davydenko won the first set easily then lost the second one just as easily against Troicki

Nalbandian thrashed Baker in 1:42, Israel-Sweden 1-1 with easy wins to Sela over Bjorkman and Johansson over Levy, Melzer's taken a set off Roddick but is down a break in the 4th

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

serbia looking ominous this year. they havce novak and if tipsarevic plays like he did aginst roger in the aus open this year... look out.

australia is shit and its giving me the SHITS!!

 

[Drummond]

serbia looking ominous this year. they havce novak and if tipsarevic plays like he did aginst roger in the aus open this year... look out.

And just like that they’re gone...

MOSCOW, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Russia beat Serbia in the Davis Cup when 'flu-stricken Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic retired from his match against Nikolay Davydenko, handing the home team an unassailable 3-1 lead in their first-round tie on Sunday.

Djokovic, despite being way below his best and often struggling for breath after suffering from the 'flu symptoms in the last few days, had built up a two-set lead and was 3-0 up in the third.

However, Davydenko staged a miraculous recovery to win the third set 6-4 after which the Serbian decided to quit.

The home team had led 2-0 after sweeping both of their singles matches on Friday but Djokovic kept alive Serbia's hopes when he teamed up with Nenad Zimonjic to win Saturday's doubles.

Everything I’ve read seems to indicate he simply ran out of fuel. Serbia were hoping desperately he would win in straight sets but at 3-0 up he started to really struggle; he had difficulties breathing and was feeling really ill. Obviously once he dropped the set he couldn’t go on any longer. Real shame.

 

[ShearMagic9]

LOL at the players we put out:

Baker and Bogdanovic for the singles

 

[Geddy Lee]

LOL at the players we put out:

Baker and Bogdanovic for the singles

Argentina at home so far in the 21st century out of 44 rubbers played are 42-2, and only one of those was live. They've lost one live rubber at home in 8 years lol