Davis Cup Preview

Davis Cup begins early this year, likely because it's an Olympic year so the tweaked the scheduling.  The quarterfinals will be played the week after Miami.  The first ball will be stuck in just over 24 hours in Hyogo, Japan.  There's quite a few intriguing matchups and I'll give you the rundown of the World Group ties plus many zonal group ones as well.

World Group


Kazakhstan at Spain:  If there ever was a time for Spain to stumble at home, this might be it.  This is almost their 3rd string as their roster is Almagro, Granollers, Ferrero, and Marc Lopez (yes Marc not Feliciano).  The Kazakhs counter with Golubev, who beat Berdych in Davis Cup last year and won Hamburg in '10, and Kukushkin, who just beat Monfils to make R4 at the Aussie Open.  I'm not going to bet on the upset, but stranger things have happened.  ESP 3 KAZ 1

Russia at Austria:  Russia is probably too deep (Youzhy, Bogomolov, Davydenko, Kunitsyn) for Austria (Melzer, Haider-Maurer, Peya, Marach), plus Melzer really choked in that airplane hangar against France last year.  This time it's curiously on hard courts, where all the Russians do their biggest damage.  RUS 3 AUT 1

France at Canada:  This is one of the most interesting ties, and the fans should be treated to plenty of aces and tiebreaks.  The Canadians Raonic and Pospisil are young but potent and will have the crowd support.  France finally gets Monfils and Tsonga together on a hard court, but the venue is as far west as Davis Cup can go (unless the US chose to play in Anchorage I guess).  The doubles will be important.  Canada has specialist Nestor to go against France's seasoned team of Benneteau/Llodra.  If you discount Pospisil, do so at your peril as he scored 3 pts at Israel last fall.  FRA 3 CAN 1

United States at Switzerland:  I'm not sure the USA could get a tougher draw.  Roddick not showing up may or may not matter, but the absence of Bob Bryan will hurt.  Federer and Wawrinka will be very hard to beat on clay, remember they beat the Bryans at the Olympics.  This could be a shutout but I'll give the US one point.  SUI 3 USA 1

Italy at Czech Republic:  The Czechs lost at this stage last year, at home to Kazakhstan, but without Stepanek.  This year Radek is back, and their playing the dirt-balling Italians.  The Berd-anek Express should roll past Seppi and Starace.  CZE 3 ITA 0

Sweden at Serbia:  No Soderling, no chance for Sweden, even without Djokovic.  I thought about giving the Swedes the doubles, but Aspelin has retired.  SRB 3 SWE 0

Croatia at Japan:  Croatia limps in without Cilic or Ljubicic, but still has Dodig and Karlovic outranking Japan's no. 2 Soeda.  Nishikori should be pumped to play in front of the home crowd, where Japan plays its first World Group tie in 27 years.  Tough tie to call, and I'll say Nishikori gets his two, but the Japs don't have enough depth to wrap it up.   CRO 3 JPN 2

Argentina at Germany:  This was shaping up to be a classic tie, then Kohlschreiber pulled out with injury.  Del Potro is not participating but Argentina is still stack with Monaco, Chela, and Nalbandian, and the tie's on clay.  Mayer is not in great form, so I'm not sure the hosts will be up to it.  ARG 3 GER 1

Davis Cup (unlike Fed Cup) plays regular knockout-format ties down in Zonal Groups I and II, so here's a look at those.

Europe/Africa Zonal Group I


Slovakia at Great Britain (winner plays Belgium):  Murray chose to sit this one out, which makes the British underdogs against Slovakia and the red-hot Lukas Lacko.  But I think Ward and Evans can work around him to get it done, and keep hope alive of getting the world #4 into the World Group.  GBR 3 SVK 2

Finland at the Netherlands (winner plays Romania):  Haase and de Bakker are both slated to play for the Dutch, which makes them the favorites.  Nieminen, though, is the highest ranked player in the tie.  NED 3 FIN 2

Denmark at Slovenia (winner plays South Africa):  Frederick Nielsen is rising for the Danes, but they don't have much else.  Slovenia isn't a great squad, but should be good enough to beat Denmark.  The Danes were just promoted from Group II last year.  SLO 3 DEN 1

(also Israel and Portugal have byes and will play for World Group playoff spot next round)

Americas Zonal Group I


Peru at Uruguay (winner plays Chile):  Pablo Cuevas has fallen down the rankings, but he's the only recognizable name here.  URU

Colombia at Ecuador (winner plays Brazil):  The Lapentti's are gone and so are Ecuador's chance to make much progress in Davis Cup, especially against Falla and Giraldo.  COL

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group I


Uzbekistan at New Zealand (winner plays India):  Denis Istomin is the only recognizable name here.  UZB

Taiwan at South Korea:  Lu is not on the list, but I'll still guess...TPE

China at Australia:  Rumor has it the Chinese men getting better, but Australia has the boy wonder (Tomic) and a 2-time major champion and former #1 (Hewitt), both of which reached R4 at their home major.  Is this the year the Aussies finally get back to the World Group.

Europe/Africa Zonal Group II


Monaco at Ukraine
Morocco at Cyprus
Ireland at Hungary
Latvia at Egypt
Moldova at Belarus
Bosnia & Herzegovina at Turkey
Luxembourg at Estonia
Madagascar at Poland

Not going to try and predict these.  Names of note here are Stakhovsky (UKR), Baghdatis (CYP), Niland (IRL), Gulbis (LAT), and Ilhan (TUR).  Notable absences are Dolgopolov (UKR), Muller (LUX), and Kubot (POL).

Americas Zonal Group II


Paraguay at Barbados
El Salvador at Mexico
Bolivia at Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico at Venezuela

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II


Pacific Oceania at Philippines
Pakistan at Lebanon
Indonesia at Hong Kong
Thailand at Sri Lanka