Davis Cup 2013 Thread

[Relinquis]

Which countries do you favour for the Davis cup this year? Any potential match-ups you're looking forward to?

I don't usually follow the DC, but will try to watch more matches this year.

Will tomic play for Australia? Will the Czech/Spanish trash talking continue (Berdych vs. Almagro)? Have France made major changes to their team?

Davis Cup world group schedule and teams: http://www.daviscup.com/En/results/world-group.aspx

First round: 01 Feb - 03 Feb 2013

ESP - Spain (s) VS CAN - Canada (c)

CRO - Croatia (s) VS ITA - Italy (c)

SRB - Serbia (s) VS BEL - Belgium (c)

USA - USA (s) (c) VS BRA - Brazil

ISR - Israel VS FRA - France (s) (c)

GER - Germany VS ARG - Argentina (s) (c)

AUT - Austria VS KAZ - Kazakhstan (s) (c)*

SUI - Switzerland (c) VS CZE - Czech Rep. (s)

 

[Beryl]

So Spain is bringing Granollers and a bunch of clay mugs to Canada to play on an indoor hard court. I know Almagro pulled out injured, but where the hell are Verdasco and Feli Lopez at a time like this? Looks like Granollers will have to carry the load in both singles and doubles. Canada lacking a second proper singles player still keeps the tie close, but it's easy to imagine Spain going out at the first hurdle.

 

[Nostradamus]

POOR Stan

ONLY If Roger Federer played this weekend, this could have the been the Tie of the year. Czech republic VS Swiss. but then Stan once again has to carry the Flag and see it RIPed apart right in front of him.

 

[tennisaddict]

So Spain is bringing Granollers and a bunch of clay mugs to Canada to play on an indoor hard court. I know Almagro pulled out injured, but where the hell are Verdasco and Feli Lopez at a time like this? Looks like Granollers will have to carry the load in both singles and doubles. Canada lacking a second proper singles player still keeps the tie close, but it's easy to imagine Spain going out at the first hurdle.

He has won Valencia once and runner up an other time.

 

[Beryl]

He has won Valencia once and runner up an other time.

Yes, that is exactly why I wrote that Granollers will be forced to carry the load for Spain. Reread my post if you think I was slighting Granollers, I most certainly wasn't.

However, it must be noted, Valencia is quite slow for an indoor hardcourt. The court in Canada should be quite fast. Outside of Valencia, Marcel doesn't have a good record either indoors or on hardcourt.

Spain should still be slight favourites. Ramos and Granollers should beat Pospisil or Dancevic, but it's hard to see either beating the Servebot. So it would comedown to doubles, where Granollers/Lopez are a very solid team and should be favourites.

 

[Lavs]

Good thread, just thought about creating the one..
I expect few tight and very interesting matches..
I think Italy - Croatia is most exciting. Seppi is in good shape now. And if he wins against Cilic, it could bring big problem to Croats.
Then Canada - Spain. I would not pick either safely, may be Canada with small margin (considering they play in Vancouver, indoors hard). Raonic should score at least 2 points.

 

[namelessone]

So Spain is bringing Granollers and a bunch of clay mugs to Canada to play on an indoor hard court. I know Almagro pulled out injured, but where the hell are Verdasco and Feli Lopez at a time like this? Looks like Granollers will have to carry the load in both singles and doubles. Canada lacking a second proper singles player still keeps the tie close, but it's easy to imagine Spain going out at the first hurdle.

At this point I can safely say that Spain passing 1R is looking very unlikely.

Granollers as team leader?

WTF.

 

[Nostradamus]

Good thread, just thought about creating the one..
I expect few tight and very interesting matches..
I think Italy - Croatia is most exciting. Seppi is in good shape now. And if he wins against Cilic, it could bring big problem to Croats.
Then Canada - Spain. I would not pick either safely, may be Canada with small margin (considering they play in Vancouver, indoors hard). Raonic should score at least 2 points.

Canada Spain could be real interesting. Ferrer NOT playing, Spain is being carried by Almagro. LOL. This is his big chance. but afraid his game doesn't translate well against Raonic's big game and 1st strike tennis.

Poor Almagro, just can't get into situations where he is the HERO of davis cup for Spain. Not this time either.

 

[Warmaster]

Pospisil on a fast court will give a good fight as well. Canada are the favourites imo.


Overall, I think Serbia will win it again, it looks like Djokovic is willing to play again this year and with Tipsarevic they have a very solid second player. Troicki as a reserve and Zimonjic for the doubles. Strong team.

 

[rev200g]

Almagro has pulled out I believe.

 

[CDNguy87]

Yes, that is exactly why I wrote that Granollers will be forced to carry the load for Spain. Reread my post if you think I was slighting Granollers, I most certainly wasn't.

However, it must be noted, Valencia is quite slow for an indoor hardcourt. The court in Canada should be quite fast. Outside of Valencia, Marcel doesn't have a good record either indoors or on hardcourt.

Spain should still be slight favourites. Ramos and Granollers should beat Pospisil or Dancevic, but it's hard to see either beating the Servebot. So it would comedown to doubles, where Granollers/Lopez are a very solid team and should be favourites.

I don't know about Spain being favoured in doubles. If Canada has a Nestor/Pospisil duo for doubles, that might be quite formidable on indoor HCs. Spain's doubles team has an atrocious record at Davis Cups in recent years, so it should be very interesting.

If I were the Canadian coach, I'd sit Pospisil out for the first day of singles (against Spain's #1 singles player) so that he's well-rested for the potentially crucial doubles match. If it comes down to the decisive 5th rubber with each team's #2 singles player (which means either Milos loses one or Canada blew it in doubles), then I'd substitute in Pospisil for that as he's the better singles player than Dancevic.

 

[thejackal]

I'll be in Vancouver later this week to cover the tie.
http://tennisconnected.com/home/2013/01/28/davis-cup-can-vs-spa-–-meet-the-new-spanish-armada/

Actually think Guillermo Garcia-Lopez will be the second singles player after Granollers. Ramos is not very good on hardcourt, nevermind a fast indoor court. Garcia-Lopez has beaten both Nadal and Murray on hard, and play the kind of flat game that can give the Canadians trouble

Agreed with CDNguy87 regarding Pospisil. Actually just wrote the Team Canada preview saying essentially the same thing. You never know with something like Mono, so we'll see how much Vasek is actually going to play.

As for the doubles, the Spanish team matches up well against Nestor, especially in best-of-five (2-0 last year, both on hard courts). I'd say the Canadians are slight underdogs there actually.

 

[FEDERERNADAL13]

I'm really excited about Canada vs. Spain. The Canucks can really make something happen here!

If we get through, we'll play either Croatia or Italy, which I think we could take that tie too!

Imagine a Canad Serbia semifinal. That'd be epic

 

[underground]

Could Switzerland win with a one-man team? I mean Stan going out full power against Berdych and Stepanek, plus miraculously winning the doubles to advance.

 

[thejackal]

team Canada preview
http://tennisconnected.com/home/2013/01/29/davis-cup-can-vs-spa-–-the-crazy-canucks-2-0/

 

[GRANITECHIEF]

Very good first round matchups.

Spain and Switz will have their hands full.

 

[norbac]

^^^Stepanek is out, Rosol is to replace him.

 

[augustobt]

Wawrinka x Berdych
Marco x Rosol
Doubles
Wawrinka x Rosol
Marco x Berdych

Is that correct?

 

[InvisibleSoul]

Had such high hopes when the Davis Cup tie against Spain was first announced, and then to see Nadal, Ferrer, and then even Amalgro pulling out was a huge downer.

But at the very least, this gives Canada a real shot at actually winning the tie.

If Raonic can win his two matches, then Canada just has to pull off one upset out of the remaining three matches... very doable.

 

[Love Game]

Which countries do you favour for the Davis cup this year? Any potential match-ups you're looking forward to?

I don't usually follow the DC, but will try to watch more matches this year.

Will tomic play for Australia? Will the Czech/Spanish trash talking continue (Berdych vs. Almagro)? Have France made major changes to their team?

the information regarding the tournament s/b included in the OP, because if sometody else posts it furtehr down page 1 or on later pages, it can easily be missed by members expecting to find it here.

what are the dates?
who's playing?
is there a link?

thx,

 

[Nostradamus]

Wawrinka x Berdych
Marco x Rosol
Doubles
Wawrinka x Rosol
Marco x Berdych

Is that correct?

WOW, this could be the Tie of the century :shock:

 

[Nostradamus]

Very good first round matchups.

Spain and Switz will have their hands full.

Spain gonna get their butt kicked. No Ferrer, No Almagro, No Nadal. They are DONE.

 

[kishnabe]

I'm really excited about Canada vs. Spain. The Canucks can really make something happen here!

If we get through, we'll play either Croatia or Italy, which I think we could take that tie too!

Imagine a Canad Serbia semifinal. That'd be epic

No Nadal, No Almagro, No Ferrer....very doable. I think Spain is tanking?

We have the best single doubles player in the world...better than any Bryan individually. Milos Raonic top 20 guy.....we have a huge chance.....especially with Indoor courts.

 

[FEDERERNADAL13]

No Nadal, No Almagro, No Ferrer....very doable. I think Spain is tanking?

We have the best single doubles player in the world...better than any Bryan individually. Milos Raonic top 20 guy.....we have a huge chance.....especially with Indoor courts.

You're making me more excited than I already was. When do the matches start?

 

[kishnabe]

You're making me more excited than I already was. When do the matches start?

February 1st.....they haven't updated the Spain roster since Almagro withdrawal.

 

[FEDERERNADAL13]

February 1st.....they haven't updated the Spain roster since Almagro withdrawal.

Alright, I know what I'm doing early February.

 

[ruerooo]

Which countries do you favour for the Davis cup this year? Any potential match-ups you're looking forward to?

I don't usually follow the DC, but will try to watch more matches this year.

Will tomic play for Australia? Will the Czech/Spanish trash talking continue (Berdych vs. Almagro)? Have France made major changes to their team?

I don't think the Berdman will have a lot of space for trash talk. Nico is out, but so is Radek, with a back problem.

If you go to http://daviscup.com you can see all the team rosters.

 

[InvisibleSoul]

No Nadal, No Almagro, No Ferrer....very doable. I think Spain is tanking?

We have the best single doubles player in the world...better than any Bryan individually. Milos Raonic top 20 guy.....we have a huge chance.....especially with Indoor courts.

While Nestor is probably the best doubles player between the two countries, Lopez and Granollers are an established pairing who will now probably be ranked second in doubles behind the Bryans. In fact, because of their semifinal showing at the Australian Open, Lopez is ranked higher than Nestor now, at number 3 and 4 respectively, while Granollers is right behind at number 5.

Spain definitely has the leg up for doubles. Probably need Pospisil to pull an upset in one of his matches. He has beaten someone ranked as high as #22 before, so it's definitely possible.

 

[kishnabe]

While Nestor is probably the best doubles player between the two countries, Lopez and Granollers are an established pairing who will now probably be ranked second in doubles behind the Bryans. In fact, because of their semifinal showing at the Australian Open, Lopez is ranked higher than Nestor now, at number 3 and 4 respectively, while Granollers is right behind at number 5.

Spain definitely has the leg up for doubles. Probably need Pospisil to pull an upset in one of his matches. He has beaten someone ranked as high as #22 before, so it's definitely possible.

What I saw from the Spanish Duo in 2012 DC finals....is convincing that Canada has doubles in the bag.

 

[Relinquis]

I don't think the Berdman will have a lot of space for trash talk. Nico is out, but so is Radek, with a back problem.

If you go to http://daviscup.com you can see all the team rosters.

Too bad. I was looking forward to Almagro playing, but it seems he has a leg injury.

 

[Relinquis]

OP updated with 1st round teams.
Poll added.

 

[ruerooo]

Could Switzerland win with a one-man team? I mean Stan going out full power against Berdych and Stepanek, plus miraculously winning the doubles to advance.

Radek is out. Back injury. In the news a couple of days ago.

 

[Beryl]

You have Canada, Italy and Switzerland in the poll, but not Germany and Argentina?!

Seriously, Canada?!?!?

 

[ruerooo]

You have Canada, Italy and Switzerland in the poll, but not Germany and Argentina?!

Seriously, Canada?!?!?

Well, IMO the poll itself is a little sloppy.

It asks who we think will win Davis Cup, when this is only the first round.

 

[dimeaxe]

in Belgium...

\

 

[Gonzo_style]

Djokovic will not play on Friday probably

 

[Relinquis]

Re: your poll questions:

A -I'm only allowed 10 options, but there are 16 teams. Someone is bound to be left off. Vote 'other' and reply on thread with your team.

B - Choosing a team in round 1 makes sense, like you do at the beginning of any tournament. I'm sure there will be other threads about the last matches at the end of the year, or specific matches as the tournament progresses.

Anyway, the poll is just a fun add on. It's nice to have somewhere to discuss the Davis Cup in general. And yes, I'm looking forward to seeing Argentina and Germany play. Enjoy!

 

[kishnabe]

Pathetic...no one is holding Novak bags.

 

[librarysteg]

Did you see Team Serbia has been complaining about the courts in Belgium?

http://www.supersport.com/tennis/article.aspx?Id=1776224

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.

"How is it possible that a clay court can be solid and can be a successful, playable court if it's built on parquet? We tried to slide a few times ... but our feet stayed under ground."

 

[Gonzo_style]

So Federer is afraid to be Rosoled

 

[Clarky21]

Did you see Team Serbia has been complaining about the courts in Belgium?

http://www.supersport.com/tennis/article.aspx?Id=1776224

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.

"How is it possible that a clay court can be solid and can be a successful, playable court if it's built on parquet? We tried to slide a few times ... but our feet stayed under ground."

You know what's even worse than this? The fact that Lance showed up with 2 bodyguards and team from the Serbian Police. He also has 13 personal security men that were assigned to him by the Belgian Tennis Federation. How can Lance fans not laugh at this kind of nonsense? He really thinks too highly of himself that much is clear.

 

[Gonzo_style]

You know what's even worse than this? The fact that Lance showed up with 2 bodyguards and team from the Serbian Police. He also has 13 personal security men that were assigned to him by the Belgian Tennis Federation. How can Lance fans not laugh at this kind of nonsense? He really thinks too highly of himself that much is clear.

They protect him from you Clarky

 

[librarysteg]

You know what's even worse than this? The fact that Lance showed up with 2 bodyguards and team from the Serbian Police. He also has 13 personal security men that were assigned to him by the Belgian Tennis Federation. How can Lance fans not laugh at this kind of nonsense? He really thinks too highly of himself that much is clear.

Is this typical for him or something unique to this tournament? I don't know anything about this side of tennis for any of the players. I'd imagine a lot of the bigger names travel with some type of security, don't they?

 

[Clarky21]

Is this typical for him or something unique to this tournament? I don't know anything about this side of tennis for any of the players. I'd imagine a lot of the bigger names travel with some type of security, don't they?

Nadal doesn't, and I have never heard of Fed travelling with any bodyguards either.

Nadal played in Charleroi for DC in 2011 and didn't have this kind of nonsense following him around. And thank goodness he didn't because I would have been embarrassed for him.

 

[ruerooo]

What I saw from the Spanish Duo in 2012 DC finals....is convincing that Canada has doubles in the bag.

M&M have ten doubles titles. Nestor/Pospisil may have beaten Nadal/Djokovic in one Masters tournament, but I really don't think one can automatically leap from there to "they have it in the bag" for Davis Cup, against a completely different team.

 

[ruerooo]

Is this typical for him or something unique to this tournament? I don't know anything about this side of tennis for any of the players. I'd imagine a lot of the bigger names travel with some type of security, don't they?

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. That one time Roger had trouble, they had to assign him security once he got to China because he hadn't traveled with any. Rafa doesn't really like to travel with too much security, so they assign him more once he shows up here to the USO so he won't get fan-mobbed.

What I think Clarky is taking issue with -- though I don't presume to speak for him/her -- is the ostensible degree of caution ... like, it's one thing to have two or three bodyguards, but are twenty really necessary?

Though I guess if you're a citizen of a war-torn country, your perspective on that might well be different. (Though I also can't see it traveling to ... you know, Belgium. On the other hand, I was a Rafa fan sitting (unwittingly) among several drunk Novak fans at the 2010 USO, where seats are assigned, and I was seriously contemplating asking security there whether I could move because I was concerned for my own safety.)

 

[librarysteg]

Nadal doesn't, and I have never heard of Fed travelling with any bodyguards either.

Nadal played in Charleroi for DC in 2011 and didn't have this kind of nonsense following him around. And thank goodness he didn't because I would have been embarrassed for him.

That's refreshing that it's not the norm. Do you know if Djokovic has done this for a while or if it's new? Unless he's had some kind of threat, it does seem over-the-top.

 

[Moose Malloy]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)—John Isner will play the No. 1 singles spot for the U.S. team against Brazil in the first round of Davis Cup World Group matches.

Team captain Jim Courier made the announcement Thursday at the draw ceremony.

Isner has not played competitively since withdrawing from his opening-round match at the APIA International Sydney three weeks ago with a knee injury.

Sam Querrey will play the No. 2 position. Mike and Bob Bryan will be the doubles team.

The Brazilian team will consist of singles players Thomaz Bellucci and Thiago Alves and the doubles team of Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares. Querrey will play Bellucci in Friday's opening match followed by the Isner-Alves match.

The three-day event begins Friday at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/01/isner-lead-us-davis-cup-team-vs-brazil/46246/

 

[librarysteg]

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/01/isner-lead-us-davis-cup-team-vs-brazil/46246/

That's good. Hopefully this means Isner is back to 100%.

 

[Grgisme]

You know what's even worse than this? The fact that Lance showed up with 2 bodyguards and team from the Serbian Police. He also has 13 personal security men that were assigned to him by the Belgian Tennis Federation. How can Lance fans not laugh at this kind of nonsense? He really thinks too highly of himself that much is clear.

There's a lot of Albanian immigration in Charleroi. They have been receiving threats. Unfortunately, primitives still want to fight on both sides (both Serbian and Albanian). Inform yourself before you post nonsense.