Vince Spadea
Senior List
Get underway on Good Friday and wind up on Easter Sunday. The big news in the lead-up has been the withdrawl of Rafael Nadal from the Spanish side leaving Tommy Robredo and David Ferrer to go up against James Blake and Andy Roddick (under an injury cloud himself).
USA vs. Spain - Indoor Hard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
USA - Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, James Blake, Andy Roddick, Captain - Patrick McEnroe
Spain - Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez, Captain - Emilo Sanchez.
Can't see the Bryan Brothers losing the doubles here meaning the Spainards need to win 3 singles matches, Blake is out of form and Robredo has beaten him before, but struggles big time against Roddick. Ferrer has beaten Roddick prveiously but lost to him in Miami in the last tournament. The Americans at home look to be too strong for a Rafaless Spain.
Belgium vs. Germany - Indoor Clay, Ostend
Belgium - Olivier Rochus, Kristof Vliegen, **** Norman, Christophe Rochus, Captain - Julien Hoferlin
Germany - Tommy Haas, Florian Mayer, Alexander Waske, Michael Kohlmann, Captain - Patrik Kuhnen
Fairly evenly matched tie, Haas is the standout player of the eight but clay is not his preferred surface and the Belgians will believe he is beatable on the dirt. Florian Mayer has replaced Benjamin Becker from the first round in what is a smart move from Kuhnen, Mayer is much more suited to the clay than Becker. The doubles could well be the crucial rubber here.
Russia vs. France - Indoor Clay, Moscow
Russia - Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny, Marat Safin, Igor Andreev, Captain - Shamil Tarpischev
France - Arnaud Clement, Richard Gasquet, Michael Llodra, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Captain - Guy Forget
The defending champions on paper look to be favourites here and are very tough to beat on home soil. Seems likely that Davydenko and Safin will play singles for Russia, which is harsh on Youzhny who has had a great year to date, but it shows the depth the Russians have. France's best chance will probably be in the doubles with the combination of Llodra/Clement. The Russians to advance to the semi's for me as I don't have massive confidence in the French team coming through in the important moments.
Sweden vs. Argentina - Indoor Carpet, Gothenburg
Sweden - Robin Soderling, Jonas Bjorkman, Thomas Johansson, Robert Lindstedt, Captain - Mats Wilander
Argentina - David Nalbandian, Guillermo Canas, Juan Martin Del Potro, Sebastien Prieto, Captain - Alberto Mancini
Interesting tie with Swedes unsuprisingly selecting a fast court, but Argentina are still a good chance with Nalbandian who normally brings his 'A' game to the Davis Cup. The question mark will be over whether Willy Canas can transfer his good form to a faster court, Del Potro is the other singles option and is capable of playing on the faster court. Tough tie to call, the likely 3rd day singles clash between Soderling and Nalbandian should be a highlight and may prove to be decisive.
Fox Sports will have highlights on Sat/Sun/Mon of one of the ties.
USA vs. Spain - Indoor Hard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
USA - Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, James Blake, Andy Roddick, Captain - Patrick McEnroe
Spain - Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez, Captain - Emilo Sanchez.
Can't see the Bryan Brothers losing the doubles here meaning the Spainards need to win 3 singles matches, Blake is out of form and Robredo has beaten him before, but struggles big time against Roddick. Ferrer has beaten Roddick prveiously but lost to him in Miami in the last tournament. The Americans at home look to be too strong for a Rafaless Spain.
Belgium vs. Germany - Indoor Clay, Ostend
Belgium - Olivier Rochus, Kristof Vliegen, **** Norman, Christophe Rochus, Captain - Julien Hoferlin
Germany - Tommy Haas, Florian Mayer, Alexander Waske, Michael Kohlmann, Captain - Patrik Kuhnen
Fairly evenly matched tie, Haas is the standout player of the eight but clay is not his preferred surface and the Belgians will believe he is beatable on the dirt. Florian Mayer has replaced Benjamin Becker from the first round in what is a smart move from Kuhnen, Mayer is much more suited to the clay than Becker. The doubles could well be the crucial rubber here.
Russia vs. France - Indoor Clay, Moscow
Russia - Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny, Marat Safin, Igor Andreev, Captain - Shamil Tarpischev
France - Arnaud Clement, Richard Gasquet, Michael Llodra, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Captain - Guy Forget
The defending champions on paper look to be favourites here and are very tough to beat on home soil. Seems likely that Davydenko and Safin will play singles for Russia, which is harsh on Youzhny who has had a great year to date, but it shows the depth the Russians have. France's best chance will probably be in the doubles with the combination of Llodra/Clement. The Russians to advance to the semi's for me as I don't have massive confidence in the French team coming through in the important moments.
Sweden vs. Argentina - Indoor Carpet, Gothenburg
Sweden - Robin Soderling, Jonas Bjorkman, Thomas Johansson, Robert Lindstedt, Captain - Mats Wilander
Argentina - David Nalbandian, Guillermo Canas, Juan Martin Del Potro, Sebastien Prieto, Captain - Alberto Mancini
Interesting tie with Swedes unsuprisingly selecting a fast court, but Argentina are still a good chance with Nalbandian who normally brings his 'A' game to the Davis Cup. The question mark will be over whether Willy Canas can transfer his good form to a faster court, Del Potro is the other singles option and is capable of playing on the faster court. Tough tie to call, the likely 3rd day singles clash between Soderling and Nalbandian should be a highlight and may prove to be decisive.
Fox Sports will have highlights on Sat/Sun/Mon of one of the ties.
