Davis Cup Tips?

[robbie_dademo]

Not much has been mentioned on the davis cup here, so ill start a thread on it with my tips.... a few interesting matchups here!

SLOVAK REPUBLIC VS SPAIN: I think the one-two punch of nadal/lopez will be too good here, even away from home, both are proven on non clay surfaces, I think Hrbaty wil win a rubber or two but. SPAIN 4-1.

SWITZERLAND VS NETHERLANDS- Without Federer, i can't see them winning here, may win one rubber. NETHERLANDS 4-1

AUSTRALIA VS AUSTRIA- Think the Australians will be far too good here, Hewitt always plays well in Davis Cup and Arthurs is looking good, but Melzer will be dangerous. AUSTRALIA 4-1

ARGENTINA VS CZECH REPUBLIC- Argentina have lost Gaudio, but bring in david nalbandian who is only slightly less superior to gaudio.. Nalbandian has form queries since the AO... but should lift for this.. CZECHS will be gallant but find it too hard. ARGENTINA 5-0

RUSSIA VS CHILE- Fairly easy tie to predict here, Russia have 3 stars in safin, youzhny and davydenko, while Chile only really has Gonzalez who is unreliable at times- RUSSIA 5-0

FRANCE VS SWEDEN- A very tough tie to predict, but i give the edge to france, Sweden are without JOACHIM, and i think the home crowd will get them over the line, but all the matches will be thrillers... FRANCE 3-2

ROMANIA VS BELARUS- Once again a tough tie to predict, but i will go the home team again here, i think Pavel will hold firm in his 2 singles, with the rubber vs Mirnyi a very decisive one which could decide the tie. ROMANIA 3-2

USA VS CROTIA- Both Croats in Ancic and Llubucic are coming off finals, so their form is great, but i can't see them beating USA IN USA... The doubles is virtually a given to the USA, so they are basically 1-0 up going in..
USA 4-1.

Thoughts people>

 

[aj_m2009]

Your picks sound good to me. I not sure about the Belarus-Romania or the France-Sweden ties but the others sound good. I am also not sure who all is playing for the majority of the teams so I kinda assume who is playing. But again, the teams you have picked to win sound like the ones I would pick.

 

[Vlad]

Don't underestimate Croats. Roddick is coming off from ankle injury and Andre does not look great in his matches. I would not be suprised if they pull out a 3-2 win.

 

[aj_m2009]

I still expect them(USA) to win even though Roddick is coming back off an ankle injury and Agassi isn't playing great. Agassi has a winning record against big servers(except Sampras) and if I remember correctly they(Ancic and Ljubicic) both have big serves so I don't really expect him to lose both matches, maybe one but not both. And Roddick I think can really blow at least one of them off the court. And like robbie said, the doubles is a given so I expect the US to win at least 3-2 but I myself think it will be 4-1.

 

[VamosRafa]

I hope the USA will win -- I'll be there as a Nethead cheering our guys on. But both Ljubicic and Ancic are coming in with a lot of confidence, especially Ljubicic.

I agree re the Bryans. Let's hope Andy and Andre are healthy and ready to go.

I'm not sure I agree with this comment:

SLOVAK REPUBLIC VS SPAIN: I think the one-two punch of nadal/lopez will be too good here, even away from home, both are proven on non clay surfaces, I think Hrbaty wil win a rubber or two but. SPAIN 4-1.

The Slovak Republic has put down a very fast indoor carpet -- which is Nadal's worst surface. The latest word in the Spanish press is that Rafa may not play singles, at least not on the first day. He's just come off claycourt, several time zones away. So Lopez and Verdasco may have the initial honors.

This is a very tough first-round draw for Spain, especially without Moya. They know this, and they expect a very tough time of it.

But this an interesting note. Spain's team features three left-handed players. That has to be a bit unusual.

Nadal and Costa have had some success in doubles, so they could play doubles on Saturday, and give Lopez and Verdasco a rest.

 

[Max G.]

And remember, Hrbaty is no slouch! He can take down anyone in the world, including the spaniards. If he gets two singles wins, which he might... look out Spain.

 

[VictorS.]

I agree with Vlad. Ancic is always dangerous as is Ljubicic. I would definitely say Team USA is is the favorite going in. However, both Ljubicic and Ancic can compete with the best players in the world when they are on their game. Ancic is the last guy to beat Federer at Wimbledon and Ljubicic has given Federer a scare the last couple times they've played.

 

[VamosRafa]

Max and Victor, we posted at nearly the same time, it seems. But said essentially the same thing. I think both ties are far from being decided.

 

[bigserving]

The Croatian players are both hot right now. Ancic and Ljubicic are each coming off of tournament finals just last weekend. If they ever had a chance to upset the Americans, it would be now.

The Americans are surely favored but if they come in expecting a couple of rollovers, they may be in for a fight.

I will also be down there checking it out live. Hope it doesn't rain.

 

[baseliner]

Added note. The France vs. Sweeden tie is carried live on the tennis channel.

 

[Jonas]

When I saw that Slova Rep./Spain match and where it will be played and the surface, I said Slovaks 3-2 or even 4-1. Moya and JCF (circa 2003) are needed to win this tie on a fast indoor surface.
My upset special of the weekend.

 

[Gemini]

Is Massu playing for Chile? If that's the case, I think this tie will be closer that what shows on paper. I think Gonzalez/Massu will rise to the occasion...I wagering 3-2 Chile.

 

[Vlad]

Massu is out of Davis Cup. He has a broken toe.

 

[robbie_dademo]

i still rate lopez and nadal and i think one of them will pinch a singles off hrbaty... definately a danger match but..

also yeh massu is out, otherwise id be thinking long and hard about chile.

 

[pound cat]

Not only is the Croatian team hot, Goran is also the assistant coach. And if Safin is having an off-day, his plan is to shock Chile into a loss with his new hair style. http://tennisclub.wtatour.ru/DavisCup/Photos/DC4.jpg

 

[thebigidiot]

that picture looks like he just woke up.

 

[Andy Hewitt]

Why isnt Federer or mah main man Moya playing?

God, i havent seen Moya play since the Masters in Houston!

 

[VamosRafa]

Why isnt Federer or mah main man Moya playing?

God, i havent seen Moya play since the Masters in Houston!

Moya has decided that given his age, he needs to cut back his schedule to be fresh for the bigger events. So he said right after the final last year, no Davis Cup this year. But he will play next year, if asked.

I haven't seen Moya play since the Davis Cup final. He hasn't made it far enough to be shown on TTC in recent claycourt events.

The Spaniards have lodged an official complaint against the very fast carpet in Bratislava. They claim it doesn't conform to standards:

"Our players say they have never played on a surface like this and the regulations state it should have been used at at least three other ATP tournaments," team coach Juan Avendano told sports daily Marca.

There are only five other tournament sites with an indoor carpet surface -- Basil, Lyon, Milan, Moscow and St Petersburg. "The surface appears different from all the others," added Avedano. "The players say that serves were impossible to return in training. No two balls bounce the same."

International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament official Soren Frimmel will make a decision about the surface on Thursday and could insist it is relaid.

It's very unlikely Nadal will start out for Spain; it's looking like Feli and Fernando.

 

[aj_m2009]

The Spaniards have lodged an official complaint against the very fast carpet in Bratislava. They claim it doesn't conform to standards:

"Our players say they have never played on a surface like this and the regulations state it should have been used at at least three other ATP tournaments," team coach Juan Avendano told sports daily Marca.

There are only five other tournament sites with an indoor carpet surface -- Basil, Lyon, Milan, Moscow and St Petersburg. "The surface appears different from all the others," added Avedano. "The players say that serves were impossible to return in training. No two balls bounce the same."

International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament official Soren Frimmel will make a decision about the surface on Thursday and could insist it is relaid.

Sounds kinda like they are a bunch of babies to me. I mean I like the Spanish team just as much as the next guy but suck it up. Who cares if you lose(obviously they do), all it means is that you lost to a better team. And they should blame themselves for not playing on a court like that, nobody is keeping them from it. And sorry to be a little mean but it is just the way they sound that makes me say that. But it's just my opinion.

 

[Max G.]

Sounds kinda like they are a bunch of babies to me. I mean I like the Spanish team just as much as the next guy but suck it up. Who cares if you lose(obviously they do), all it means is that you lost to a better team. And they should blame themselves for not playing on a court like that, nobody is keeping them from it. And sorry to be a little mean but it is just the way they sound that makes me say that. But it's just my opinion.

Well, it's up to the jury to decide. If the surface indeed does not conform to regulations, then they have a full right to demand that it's relaid. I see nothing wrong with their complaint - if it's invalid, it'll be dismissed with no harm done to anyone.

 

[K!ck5w3rvE]

AUSTRALIA VS AUSTRIA- Aussies comfortably....4-1

ARGENTINA VS CZECH REPUBLIC- Argentina 4-1

RUSSIA VS CHILE- What about Massu? I'll say 3-2 Russia.

FRANCE VS SWEDEN- France 3-2

ROMANIA VS BELARUS- Romania 3-2

USA VS CROTIA- USA 3-2

 

[VamosRafa]

I think Spain's complaint isn't so much about the quickness, as the fact that the carpet has holes in it, and the balls don't bounce consistently.

But both teams will have to deal it, if that's the case. The issues aren't on just one side of the court.

It seems the ITF has approved the court.

Spanish team (as expected):

Karol Beck (SVK) v Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) v Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
Dominik Hrbaty/Michal Mertinak (SVK) v Albert Costa/Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) v Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
Karol Beck (SVK) v Fernando Verdasco (ESP)

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

The complaint from Spain
Is mainly very lame.

 

[VamosRafa]

Maybe, but Jordi had a funny comment today:

"If they allow this sort of thing to happen it will be the ruin of the Davis Cup. They (the Slovaks) have gone too far and prepared a court that doesn't even suit their own players."

Captain Jordi Arrese said: "If it is in our interests, next time we are the hosts we will play the tie on the beach at Luanco because after what has happened here that is what I hope we can do.

I thought Sevilla was a great place for a DC event, but the beach at Luanco sounds even better. *lol*

 

[Marius_Hancu]

I think Lopez,with his outstanding slice, will do quite well on this very fast surface. But the Spaniards could very well lose.

BTW, this Slovak National Tennis center has a retractable roof, model after Melbourne. Kudos to the Slovaks for investing in their tennis.

 

[pound cat]

Russia/Chile 4-1 (maybe, if gonzalez has a good day) They're only using Garcia? & Gonzalez.

 

[pound cat]

Russia/Chile 4-1 (maybe, if gonzalez has a good day) They're only using Garcia? & Gonzalez.

 

[BERDI4]

God, i havent seen Moya play since the Masters in Houston![/QUOTE]

Moya played on February in Buenos Aires and Brazil. He was the favourite in both tournaments but he lost.

 

[robbie_dademo]

LOL MY SPAIN to beat slovaks tip seems out the window~!! 2-0 lol i havnt seen the court but it must be helping them lots

 

[bertrevert]

Hrbaty is no slouch. When you see him on a good day he can really pound that ball corner to corner. And as Marius Hancu says earlier - this stadium and surface is a great investment and one that he must feel comfortable on. Nadal only in the doubles - what the? Is he injured? Is it the surface? Well the home side is up 2-0

 

[aj_m2009]

Nadal only in the doubles - what the? Is he injured? Is it the surface?

I think people have been saying it is the surface. But I think that is a ton of crap considering that Nadal got to the third round of Wimbledon in '03.

 

[Max G.]

I think people have been saying it is the surface. But I think that is a ton of crap considering that Nadal got to the third round of Wimbledon in '03.

It's the fact that Nadal just got back from several weeks of playing on the slow clay and hasn't had time to adjust to the surface, I think.

 

[aj_m2009]

It's the fact that Nadal just got back from several weeks of playing on the slow clay and hasn't had time to adjust to the surface, I think.

IMO that would be like saying Federer won Roland Garros and then isn't going to warm up for Wimbledon 'casue he just won the French and it is slower than grass. And Nadal is a pro, he should be able to play on it a couple of days and be ok. It shouldn't take him a week IMO.

 

[Max G.]

IMO that would be like saying Federer won Roland Garros and then isn't going to warm up for Wimbledon 'casue he just won the French and it is slower than grass. And Nadal is a pro, he should be able to play on it a couple of days and be ok. It shouldn't take him a week IMO.

Well, coulda-shoulda don't make anything better. Yes, it would have been nice if Nadal was in shape to play - but you know, saying "he SHOULD be okay" is kind of pointless when he says he is not. The captain could, of course, put him in anyway - but that seems silly, to put him in because we say he should be fine though he says he isn't.

Oh and, btw, Federer has a full week after the French Open to warm up for Wimbledon.

 

[aj_m2009]

Well, coulda-shoulda don't make anything better. Yes, it would have been nice if Nadal was in shape to play - but you know, saying "he SHOULD be okay" is kind of pointless when he says he is not. The captain could, of course, put him in anyway - but that seems silly, to put him in because we say he should be fine though he says he isn't.

Oh and, btw, Federer has a full week after the French Open to warm up for Wimbledon.

All I am really saying is that there is still room for improvement in Nadal's game.

And I was just using the Federer thing for a comparison, as I hope you have figured that out by now.

 

[VamosRafa]

Well, coulda-shoulda don't make anything better. Yes, it would have been nice if Nadal was in shape to play - but you know, saying "he SHOULD be okay" is kind of pointless when he says he is not. The captain could, of course, put him in anyway - but that seems silly, to put him in because we say he should be fine though he says he isn't.

Oh and, btw, Federer has a full week after the French Open to warm up for Wimbledon.

Rafa never said he wasn't fit to play.

If the captains chose him for singles, he would have played. He is a team player.

But they felt Nadal wasn't the right choice, as they felt he hadn't made the adjustment to the surface. And he said he was comfortable with the decision, and expressed confidence in his teammates.

But of all the Spanish players, he was the only one whose serve was never broken during the tie.

He faced one breakpoint, which was saved.

 

[Max G.]

Oh, okay. I stand corrected, then.

 

[VamosRafa]

There's a description of the doubles match that was posted on our site by someone in Spain who saw it. I think it's very good - just know that his main language in Spanish:

Slovak republic has won doubles match .

What was the key ? : Slovaks are biggers servers and due to this reason have won this match , because in this kind of courts the most important is to have a good serve.

I didn't like the way Nadal started the match the first games of first set when he was nervous and too excited, but step by step he started to play better and making an analysis of the whole match, Nadal has played better than Albert Costa.

In the first set Rafa had to defend the only break point in the whole match when he was serving ( he has never lost his serve ) and saved the break point with an ace ( He has hit 3 aces ). Slovak also had to defend one break point in this first set but Beck's serve helped to win his game . And in the tie break , Slovaks have shown which is the most important shot in a tie break, the serve .

In the second set Slovakia broke Costa in the first games and spaniards weren't able tu recuperate the break.

In the third set, two teams were winning their serves, and it seemed almost impossible to break Slovak serve because they were serving great the whole match and they have only let a break point in the first set.

But 5-4 up Spain and serving Slovakia Beck made a double fault an Spain had his first set point , but Beck hit a good second serve and Costa sent his one-backhand return to the net , then deuce . The next point Nadal has hit a good return backhand to the Beck's feet and Beck wasn't able to raise the ball, then second set point for Spain, but Beck saved this second set point with an ace, and finally Beck won this game .

They arrived to the tie break in the third set : 6-5 up Slovakia , then first match point, and Nadal had to serve . Nadal serves and after some volleys slovakia sends the ball out of the baseline, then first match point saved 6-6.
Good Costa's volley to the Slovakia's player body, then 6-7 up Spain and the third set point.

Mertinak hits a great shot on the baseline line 7-7.
Nadal hits a good forehand winner from the baseline and the ball passed between Slovaks players 7-8 and fourth set point for Spain .
Spanish volley goes out 8-8.
Serving Costa , Mertinak played a good point and 9-8 and second match point for Slovakia.
And the match couldn't finish in a different form, Slovak great serve and point and Match, 9-8 in the tie break.

Talking about Rafa i would like to say different things :

* He played better than Costa, and inclusively in the third set Rafa was playing a very good tennis and maybe with another partner and if the match had started at the thirdset , Spain had could win this match.

* Nadal made some good forehand returns winners, but he had problems with his backhand return.

* Nadal has shown security when he was serving, he only let a break point in the whole match when he was serving . He hit 3 aces ( 2 in the third set,) and for sure at the end of the match is when he was serving better and surprised me he hardly bounced the ball before hitting the serve . he was serving very quickly and curiously is when he has served better when he was more excited because in third set he was a twister on court, bouncing, saying Vamos, jumping, was very very nervous, very excited, but thanks for this energy Spain has fought till the end of the match, and this energy and power let Nadal to be the best player in the third set.

Inclusively when Slovak republic was 5-4 up in the tie break of the first set and Spain won that point (5-5 ) Nadal has made an strange thing , because it seemed he has fallen and maybe he was injured but not, he has dropped his body like when he won an important match , and in that point i thought Nadal needed to calm donw his excitement because he was a twister( I have never seen him so excited ). [Ed note: he wasn't injured; it was just the excitment of the moment.]

Although Spain has lost this match, i think this match helps Nadal to make bigger his legend of fighter on court and i intuit the press will be very hard with Costa.