Davis Cup Round 1

[Russian]

This weekend (Friday to Sunday). A few big names missing including Federer, Johansson and a lot of Spaniards

Slovak Republic v Spain
Indoor hardcourt in Bratislava. Day 1 start at midnight AEDT, 10pm days 2 and 3.
SVK: Dominik Hrbaty, Karol Beck, Michal Mertinak, Kamil Capkovic
ESP: Rafael Nadal, Fernado Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez, Albert Costa
First time these two nations have met in Davis Cup

Switzerland v Netherlands
Indoor hardcourt in Fribourg. Days 1 and 2 start at 11pm AEDT, 10pm on day 3.
SUI: Ivo Heuberger, Marco Chiudinelli, Yves Allegro, Stanislas Wawrinka
NED: Sjeng Schalken, Raemon Sluiter, Peter Wessells, Dennis van Scheppingen
Switzerland lead 4-2 in Davis Cup, this is the first meeting on a hardcourt.

Australia v Austria
On grass in Sydney. Days 1 and 3 start at 11am AEDT, 1pm on Saturday.
AUS: Lleyton Hewitt, Scott Draper, Wayne Arthurs, Todd Woodbridge
AUT: Jurgen Melzer, Marco Mirnegg, Julian Knowle, Alexander Peya
1-1 head to head but this is the first time they've played on Australian soil. Australia won on grass, Austria in the last meeting on clay where they won 5-0 in 1989 when John Fitzgerald was a player.

Argentina v Czech Republic
On clay in the Buenos Aires sun starting at 1am AEDT each day
ARG: Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian, Guillermo Canas, Gaston Gaudio
CZE: Jiri Novak, Thomas Berdych, Jan Hernych, Tomas Zib
The Czechs have won both ties, both outdoors and on clay in 1980 and 87.

Russia v Chile
Indoors on carpet in Moscow, singles starting at 10pm AEDT, doubles at 11.
RUS: Marat Safin, Mikhail Youzhny, Igor Andreev, Nikolay Davydenko
CHI: Fernando Gonzales, Hermes Gamonal, Adrian Sr. Garcia, Paul Capdeville
Their only two meetings were in the 60s with the Soviets winning both

France v Sweden
Indoor clay court in Strasbourg, singles at 11pm, doubles 12:30am AEDT.
FRA: Sebastien Grosjean, Arnaud Clement, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Michael Llodra
SWE: Jonas Bjorkman, Robin Soderling, Thomas Johansson, Simon Aspelin
11 meetings - Sweden lead 7-4, 5-3 on clay, but France have won the only tie indoors - the last time they played in the 1996 final

Romania v Belarus
Another indoor clay court in Brasov, singles at 10pm, doubles midnight.
ROM: Victor Hanescu, Andrei Pavel, Razvan Sabau, Gabriel Trifu
BLR: Max Mirnyi, Vladimir Voltchkov, Egor Puntus, Aliaksandr Bury
First meeting between these teams

USA v Croatia
The third outdoor tie for the weekend, this one on a Los Angeles hardcourt. Day 1 begins at 8am Saturday, day 2 at 10am and day 3 at 9am
USA: Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan
CRO: Ivan Ljubicic, Roko Karanusic, Zeljko Krajan, Mario Ancic
These nations have only met once, in the first round of 2003 where Ljubicic lead Croatia to a 3-1 victory against a US combination of James Blake and Mardy Fish

 

[ben.carbonaro]

Very informative and plenty of detail, well done.

 

[Ricketts]

TIPS​

Slovak Republic v Spain
Indoor hardcourt in Bratislava. Day 1 start at midnight AEDT, 10pm days 2 and 3.
SVK: Dominik Hrbaty, Karol Beck, Michal Mertinak, Kamil Capkovic
ESP: Rafael Nadal, Fernado Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez, Albert Costa
First time these two nations have met in Davis Cup

Slovak 2-3 Spain

Switzerland v Netherlands
Indoor hardcourt in Fribourg. Days 1 and 2 start at 11pm AEDT, 10pm on day 3.
SUI: Ivo Heuberger, Marco Chiudinelli, Yves Allegro, Stanislas Wawrinka
NED: Sjeng Schalken, Raemon Sluiter, Peter Wessells, Dennis van Scheppingen
Switzerland lead 4-2 in Davis Cup, this is the first meeting on a hardcourt

Swiss 1-4 Dutch

Australia v Austria
On grass in Sydney. Days 1 and 3 start at 11am AEDT, 1pm on Saturday.
AUS: Lleyton Hewitt, Scott Draper, Wayne Arthurs, Todd Woodbridge
AUT: Jurgen Melzer, Marco Mirnegg, Julian Knowle, Alexander Peya
1-1 head to head but this is the first time they've played on Australian soil. Australia won on grass, Austria in the last meeting on clay where they won 5-0 in 1989 when John Fitzgerald was a player.

Aus 4-1 Aut

Argentina v Czech Republic
On clay in the Buenos Aires sun starting at 1am AEDT each day
ARG: Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian, Guillermo Canas, Gaston Gaudio
CZE: Jiri Novak, Thomas Berdych, Jan Hernych, Tomas Zib
The Czechs have won both ties, both outdoors and on clay in 1980 and 87.

Argies 5-0 Czech

Russia v Chile
Indoors on carpet in Moscow, singles starting at 10pm AEDT, doubles at 11.
RUS: Marat Safin, Mikhail Youzhny, Igor Andreev, Nikolay Davydenko
CHI: Fernando Gonzales, Hermes Gamonal, Adrian Sr. Garcia, Paul Capdeville
Their only two meetings were in the 60s with the Soviets winning both

Russia 4-1 Chile

France v Sweden
Indoor clay court in Strasbourg, singles at 11pm, doubles 12:30am AEDT.
FRA: Sebastien Grosjean, Arnaud Clement, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Michael Llodra
SWE: Jonas Bjorkman, Robin Soderling, Thomas Johansson, Simon Aspelin
11 meetings - Sweden lead 7-4, 5-3 on clay, but France have won the only tie indoors - the last time they played in the 1996 final

France 4-1 Sweden

Romania v Belarus
Another indoor clay court in Brasov, singles at 10pm, doubles midnight.
ROM: Victor Hanescu, Andrei Pavel, Razvan Sabau, Gabriel Trifu
BLR: Max Mirnyi, Vladimir Voltchkov, Egor Puntus, Aliaksandr Bury
First meeting between these teams

Rom 4-1 Bel

USA v Croatia
The third outdoor tie for the weekend, this one on a Los Angeles hardcourt. Day 1 begins at 8am Saturday, day 2 at 10am and day 3 at 9am
USA: Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan
CRO: Ivan Ljubicic, Roko Karanusic, Zeljko Krajan, Mario Ancic
These nations have only met once, in the first round of 2003 where Ljubicic lead Croatia to a 3-1 victory against a US combination of James Blake and Mardy Fish

5-0 or 4-1 if USA throw a dud in for the last match.

 

[kretchy]

My predictions/previews

Slovak Republic vs. Spain

The Spaniards are perhaps only short Moya from a full strength side, although an argument could be mounted to fit Ferrero and/or Robredo in there. I’d personally leave Ferrero out he’s been struggling for a while now (although he held match points against Federer in Dubai), Robredo teamed up with Nadal for a lot of doubles matches last season, but Costa and Nadal have played together this year so are probably the preferred doubles combination. Nadal will be one of the singles player and I’d say Lopez would be the best choice on the hard court.
For the Slovaks Hrbaty will be the key and needs to win both his matches and will probably play doubles as well. Beck will be the other singles player and is a decent show against Verdasco or Lopez. Don’t know much about the other two in the squad.

Slovak Rep. 3-2 Spain

Switzerland vs. Netherlands

No Federer shows up the lack of depth in the Swiss ranks. Wawrinka and Chiundielli are reasonable players and would be my choice for the singles spots although wouldn’t surprise to see Heuberger (who I don’t rate) get a singles gig. Allegro is a decent enough doubles player but don’t know how the others go on a doubles court.
For the Dutch Schalken should get one singles spot then it is a toss up between the other three for the other singles berth and all three are definitely beatable opponents for Wawrinka and Chiundielli and shouldn’t put any fear through them.

The Swiss in a minor upset 3-2

Australia vs. Austria

On grass and with Arthurs in some form the Australians to win 5-0, unless a dead rubber sees Draper or Woodbridge play. Melzer the only decent Austrian and both Hewitt and Arthurs will have his measure on grass.

Argentina vs. Czech Rep.

Tough to decide who Argentina will play in the singles, could play any one of the four and not lose too much. For the Czech’s Berdych has plenty of potential and is dangerous but wouldn’t expect him to beat any of the four Argies on the clay. Novak will make sure his opponents earn their wins over him.

Argentina 4-1 Czech (Novak to sneak a rubber or the doubles)

Russia vs. Chile

In terms of basing the squads just on singles ability the Russians are only probably behind Argentina. Safin will be the first singles player and then it’s a toss of a coin between Youzhny and Davydenko I’d go Youzhny.
Chile’s only chance of a rubber is if Gonzalez has an on day. The others will be lucky to get a set let alone a rubber.

Russia 5-0 Chile

France vs. Sweden

Another tough tie to predict, probably lean towards the French on clay. Grosjean hasn’t been in the best form of his career, Clement has been struggling, Mathieu has never gone on from his Davis Cup heroics a few years back and Llodra has improved as singles player but wouldn’t say the clay is the best surface for his game.
Would play Johansson and Soderling in the singles for Sweden. The doubles should be of a high standard with Llodra and Grosjean/Clement against Bjorkman and Aspelin.

Sweden in an upset 4-1.

Romania vs. Belarus

It’s up to the Beast to give Belarus any hope but being on clay he isn’t going to get any help. Voltchkov will be the second singles player and the Romanians probably will go with Pavel and Hanescu.

Romania 4-1 Belarus

USA vs. Croatia

On paper the USA should win with Roddick and Agassi back in the team but Ljubicic has been in good form recently but it is a big ask for him to get probably two singles and hope Ancic can pinch one, can’t see a Croatian doubles combination that would beat the Bryan brothers.

USA 4-1

 

[DaveW]

1-1 head to head but this is the first time they've played on Australian soil.

How is that possible?

Aren't they supposed to rotate the venues of the head to head contests?


edit: Never mind. I looked it up.

The first meeting was played in London in 1905 - back when we competed as Australasia.

 

[Borry]

Andre Agassi went out in straight sets to Ljubicic this morning. Roddick has beated Ancic in four to bring the tie back on level terms.


Every other tie is locked at 1-1.

 

[Borry]

Correction

France 1 Sweden 1
Joachin Johansson lost in straight sets to Paul Henri-Mathieu
Thomas Johansson got up in four against Grosjean

Netherlands 2 Switzerland 0
As predicted without Fed Ex.

Spain 0 Slovak Republic 2
Undermanned Spanish Team in trouble. Beck and Hrbaty victorious.

Czech Rep 0 Argentina 2
As predicted. Nalbandian and Coria victorious. May meet the Aussies in the next round. Oh dear!

Belarus 1 Romania 1
Mirnyi and Hanescu victorious

Russia 1 Chile 1
Safin and Gonzalez victorious

Australia up 2-0 against Austria
Arthurs looking dangerous on his serve in both singles and doubles. Impressive straight sets win over Melzer. In trouble in the first set losing it in the doubles but fought back to take the second. Rain delay during the third set, Australia 1-4 down though.

 

[Borry]

Australia took the match in five and now have an unbeatable 3-0 lead.

Spain are out, 0-3 down to the Slovak.

Argantina win the doubles to take the tie over the Czech.

Belarus 2-1 against Romania

Russia hold a 2-1 lead over Chile.

 

[Russian]

Mertinak made it 4-0 for the Slovak's then Verdasco beat Capkovic to get the Spaniards on the board but they're off to the qualifiers in September.

Wawrinka serving at 5-4 in the 5th to level the tie against the Netherlands at 2-2.

Safin has a break in the 5th to seal the tie for the Russians.

Joachim Johansson and Sebastien Grosjean 1 set all, Grosjean serving down a break to stay in the 3rd

Pavel beat Mirnyi in 4 to force that tie into a decider - Hanescu v Voltchkov.

The Bryan brothers lost to Ancic and Ljubicic so Croatia lead 2-1 going into the reverse singles

 

[Russian]

Wawrinka having another go at serving it out, now 7-6 in the 5th

Safin won in 5 to get the Russians into the quarters 3-1. They will play whoever wins the 5th rubber between France and Sweden after Joachim Johansson beat Sebastien Grosjean 6-1 in the 4th. Paul-Henri Mathieu and Thomas Johansson playing the decider

Voltchkov has a first set break against Hanescu in the decider there.

Quarter finals (July 15-17, 2nd weekend after Wimbledon final):
Slovak Republic v Netherlands @ TBC (haven't played before)
Australia v Argentina @ Australia (Sydney, grass)
Russia v France/Sweden @ Russia/Sweden
Romania/Belarus v USA/Croatia @ not Romania

 

[Russian]

Wawrinka's serve fell apart in the 5th and Schalken broke, held and broke again with his 14th break point of the set (converted 4, Wawrinka 3/3) to take it 9-7 and therefore the rubber and the tie 3-1

 

[Russian]

Wessels retired after winning the first set to default Switzerland the dead rubber. Netherlands win 3-2

Argentina have completed a clean sweep with straight set victories to Coria and Calleri over Hernych and Zib

Davydenko easily beat Capdeville for a 4-1 victory

Mathieu beat TJo in 4 to take the tie for France 3-2

Hanescu beat Voltchkov in straight sets for a 3-2 Romanian victory

US in trouble with Roddick having lost the 3rd set tiebreak 13-11 to go down 2-1 and Croatia only needing to win one of the last two rubbers to advance. Roddick's first serve has hit 246kph, Ljubicic 201 on his second

Quarter finals (July 15-17, 2nd weekend after Wimbledon final):
Slovak Republic v Netherlands @ TBC (haven't played before)
Australia v Argentina @ Australia (Sydney, grass)
Russia v France@ Russia
Romania v USA/Croatia @ USA/Croatia

 

[Russian]

Roddick took the 4th set tiebreak 9-7 but Ljubicic has broken to 0 in the opening game of the 5th.

 

[MRobbo]

Asia/Ocenia playoffs
Group 1
Pakistan 3 def Thailand 2
Chinese Tapiei 3 def Japan 2
Uzbekistan 3 def Indonesia 2
India 5 def China PR 0
Group 2
New Zealand 4 def Kazakstan 1
Kuwait 4 def Iran 1
Pacific Ocenia 3 def Lebanon 2
Korea Republic 3 def Phillipines 2

Americas Playoffs
Group 1
Canada and Paraguay had Byes
Venezuela 2 lead Peru 1
Ecuador 2 lead Mexico 1
Group 2
Brazil 5 def Colombia 0
Netherland Antilles 3 def Bahamas 2
Cuba 2 level with Uruguay 2
Jamaica 2 level with Dominican Republic 2

Europe/Africa Playoffs
Group 1
(2nd Round)Great Britain 3 def Israel 2
(1st Round) Serbia and Montenegro 5 def Zimbabwe 0 (Serbia now play Belgium in 2nd Round)
(1st Round)Italy 5 def Luxembourg 0 (Italy now play Morocco in 2nd Round)
(2nd Round)Germany 3 def South Africa 2
Group 2
Finland 5 def Ghana 0
Bulgaria 4 def Georgia 1
Hungary 4 def Monaco 1
Ukraine 4 def Norway 1
Portugal 4 def Estonia 1
Algeria 2 lead Poland 1
Slovenia 5 def Cote D'Ivoire 0
Latvia 4 def Greece 1

 

[PrideOf]

Roddick took the 4th set tiebreak 9-7 but Ljubicic has broken to 0 in the opening game of the 5th.

Croatia takes it 6-2 in the fifth. The Yanks are out.

 

[MRobbo]

Who will the Yanks blame for their loss. Will Andre Agassi play the dead rubber?

 

[PrideOf]

Who will the Yanks blame for their loss. Will Andre Agassi play the dead rubber?

Condaleeza Rice has already been on CNN labelling Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader as a despotic lunatic who is an opponent of freedom and American battleships are marshalling in the Adriatic Sea.

 

[Russian]

Well done to Ljubicic, beating Roddick, Agassi and the Bryan brothers in 3 days is a pretty good effort.

All the results
Slovak Republic 3 def Spain 0
Karol Beck [43] (SVK) def Feliciano Lopez [21] (ESP)
6-4 7-5 6-3
Dominik Hrbaty [29] (SVK) def Fernando Verdasco [37] (ESP)
6-3 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-3
Karol Beck [99]/Michal Mertinak [135] (SVK) def Albert Costa [111]/Rafael Nadal [41] (ESP)
7-6 (7-3) 6-4 7-6 (10-8)

Michal Mertinak [186] (SVK) def Feliciano Lopez [21] (ESP)
6-0 6-7 (3-7) 6-4
Fernando Verdasco [37] (ESP) def Kamil Capkovic [370] (SVK)
6-2 6-2

Switzerland 1 lost to Netherlands 3
Sjeng Schalken [73] (NED) def Marco Chiudinelli [150] (SUI)
7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-3 5-7 6-2
Peter Wessels [78] (NED) def Stanislas Wawrinka [118] (SUI)
7-6 (14-12) 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (9-7) 6-4
Yves Allegro [38]/George Bastl [318] (SUI) def Dennis Van Scheppingen [344]/Peter Wessels [282] (NED)
5-7 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 9-7
Sjeng Schalken [73] (NED) def Stanislas Wawrinka [118] (SUI)
1-6 6-2 6-4 2-6 9-7

Marco Chiudinelli [150] (SUI) def Peter Wessels [78] (NED)
4-6 (ret)

Australia 3 def Austria 0
Lleyton Hewitt [2] (AUS) def Alexander Peya [144] (AUT)
6-2 6-3 6-4
Wayne Arthurs [63] (AUS) def Jurgen Melzer [34] (AUT)
7-6 (7-5) 6-2 6-4
Wayne Arthurs [16]/Todd Woodbridge [8] (AUS) def Julian Knowle [33]/Jurgen Melzer [70] (AUT)
4-6 6-3 2-6 6-4 7-5

Tood Woodbridge [unranked] (AUS) def Marco Mirnegg [326] (AUT)
6-3 4-6 7-5
Chris Guccione [280] (AUS) def Alexander Peya [144] (AUT)
6-3 6-4

Argentina 3 def Czech Republic 0
David Nalbandian [10] (ARG) def Jiri Novak [27] (CZE)
4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4
Guillermo Coria [5] (ARG) def Tomas Berdych [44] (CZE)
6-3 3-6 6-0 6-3
Guillermo Canas [96]/David Nalbandian [=1459] (ARG) def Jan Hernych [401]/Tomas Zib [145] (CZE)
6-3 4-6 6-1 6-2

Guillermo Coria [5] (ARG) def Jan Hernych [75] (CZE)
6-3 6-0
Agustin Calleri [59] (ARG) def Tomas Zib [79] (CZE)
6-2 6-4

Russia 3 def Chile 1
Fernando Gonzales [19] (CHI) def Mikhail Youzhny [17] (RUS)
7-6 (7-4) 5-7 6-3 7-6 (7-4)
Marat Safin [4] (RUS) def Adrian Garcia [117] (CHI)
6-1 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4)
Marat Safin [212]/Mikhail Youzhny [92] (RUS) def Adrian Garcia [147]/Fernando Gonzales [64] (CHI)
6-3 6-4 6-3
Marat Safin [4] (RUS) def Fernando Gonzales [19] (CHI)
7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 6-7 (3-7) 6-4

Nikolay Davydenko [15] (RUS) def Paul Capdeville [312] (CHI)
6-2 6-1

France 3 def Sweden 2
Paul-Henri Mathieu [99] (FRA) def Joachim Johansson [11] (SWE)
6-3 6-4 6-2
Thomas Johansson [25] (SWE) def Sebastien Grosjean [28] (FRA)
6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-1)
Arnaud Clement [32]/Michael Llodra [17] (FRA) def Simon Aspelin [22]/Jonas Bjorkman [1] (SWE)
7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-4
Joachim Johansson [11] (SWE) def Sebastien Grosjean [28] (FRA)
3-6 6-1 6-4 6-1
Paul-Henri Mathieu [99] (FRA) def Thomas Johansson [25] (SWE)
6-1 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-4

Romania 3 def Belarus 2
Max Mirnyi [38] (BLR) def Victor Hanescu [84] (ROM)
7-6 (8-6) 6-4 3-6 6-4
Andrei Pavel [24] (ROM) def Vladimir Voltchkov [168] (BLR)
6-4 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-2)
Max Mirnyi [10]/Vladimir Voltchkov [313] (BLR) def Andrei Pavel [43]/Gabriel Trifu [133] (ROM)
7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-4
Andrei Pavel [24] (ROM) def Max Mirnyi [38] (BLR)
6-1 7-6 (7-0) 4-6 6-3
Victor Hanescu [84] (ROM) def Vladimir Voltchkov [168] (BLR)
7-6 (7-2) 6-4 7-6 (8-6)

USA 1 lost to Croatia 3
Ivan Ljubicic [14] (CRO) def Andre Agassi [9] (USA)
6-3 7-6 (7-0) 6-3
Andy Roddick [3] (USA) def Mario Ancic [23] (CRO)
4-6 6-2 6-1 6-4
Mario Ancic [108]/Ivan Ljubicic [105] (CRO) def Bob Bryan [=6]/Mike Bryan [=6] (USA)
3-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 6-4
Ivan Ljubicic [14] (CRO) def Andy Roddick [3] (USA)
4-6 6-3 7-6 (13-11) 6-7 (7-9) 6-2

Bob Bryan [=918] (USA) def Roko Karanusic [167] (CRO)
6-2 3-6 6-1

Quarter finals (July 15-17, 2nd weekend after Wimbledon final):
Slovak Republic v Netherlands @ TBC (haven't played before)
Australia v Argentina @ Australia (Sydney, grass)
Russia v France @ Russia
Romania v Croatia @ Croatia

 

[OldSchool]

Thanks for the updates Russian.

 

[kretchy]

Some suprises over the weekend, a number of my predictions now look pretty poor.

 

[DaveW]

Well I'm not terribly familiar with Paul-Henri Mathieu or Ivan Ljubicic but they've obviously done well to defeat the opponents they've come up against.

As for Australia, we should trash the Argies on grass.

 

[Ricketts]

As for Australia, we should trash the Argies on grass.

I reckon we might lose.

Hewitt will win both his singles.

Argies will take the doubles.

They have high quality singles players so whoever plays as number 2 for Aussies could lose both his matches.

 

[silky-smooth]

Top stuff Ljubicic beating Roddick.

I think we'll beat the Argies, though as Ricketts mentioned, doubles will be the pickle of the lot.

BTW... thanks Russian for those updates.

 

[starz]

I really thought the USA would win or at least make the Final this year.