Davis Cup Preview

This weekend important Davis Cup ties will take place around the globe.  There will the four World Group quarterfinal ties, all being played on clay, but also numerous zonal group ties many of which will promote or relegate nations between groups.  Since international competitions are dear to my heart, here is my rundown of the action.

World Group Quarterfinals

Austria at Spain:  Spain seems to be playing the majority of their matches at home over the past few years but I guess these things are cyclical.  Spain is pretty much unbeatable at home on clay and this tie should be no different.  Almagro steps in for Nadal alongside Ferrer, and I like the Granollers/M.Lopez team much better than the old Verdasco/F.Lopez team.  Melzer will fight hard and the Austrians have a decent doubles team with Marach/Peya but in reality they have no chance.  ESP 3 AUT 1

United States at France:  Each country will be missing one of their top players due to injury (Monfils, Fish) but the French have greater depth so it tilts a once very even tie toward the home team.  The Americans have actually won their last 3 ties on clay (COL, CHI, SUI) but this will be a very tough test.  Harrison steps in for Fish so Isner may very well need to win both his rubbers.  Also Benneteau/Llodra have beaten the Bryans in the past.  This isn't a foregone conclusion but France be able to squeak it out.  FRA 3 USA 2

Serbia at Czech Republic:  Djokovic is not available which makes this tie very tough to call.  You feel every single rubber to difficult to call as Tipsarevic (in good form) and Troicki (not so much) go against Berdych and Stepanek.  Picking the Czechs partly because they're at home and partly because if they extend it to a live 5th rubber I like Stepanek over Troicki.  Also Zimonjic has not been great in Davis Cup play recently.  The Tipsarevic/Berdych 4th rubber will likely be all important too.  CZE 3 SRB 2

Croatia at Argentina:  Surprisingly, the in form player of this tie is in the Argentine #2 Monaco.  They also have Del Potro and Davis Cup stud Nalbandian who will likely feature in the doubles.  Croatia counters with a recovering Cilic and an inconsistent Karlovic.  If Croatia has any chance, Dr. Ivo will need to find the form that won his team 3 points in Japan.  Even then, Argentina is a much tougher team than Japan.  ARG 3 CRO 0

Europe/Africa Zonal Group I

Promotion ties, where winners advance to the World Group Playoffs

Portugal at Israel:  Sela and the Israelis tend to save their best tennis for Davis Cup, and this is at home on hard courts (it seems like Israel is always at home) so I think they will be able take care of an improving Portuguese team behind Gil and Machado.  ISR 3 POR 1

Belgium at Great Britain:  The Brits will be without Murray which will make it an uphill battle, even at home, against the Belgians, who will be without Malisse.  Rochus and Darcis are both enjoying some decent results on tour and both are ranked 100 places or so above Ward and Evans.  Because they're at home and will have an OK doubles team, I given the British a chance, but I'm not comfortable predicting it.  BEL 3 GBR 2

Romania at the Netherlands:  There is no Hanescu or Crivoi on this Romanian team, and I don't recognize anyone on their team, meaning Haase should be able to get the Dutch into the WG playoffs.  Also joining the home side for the first time is doubles specialist Rojer after the Netherlands Antilles were absorbed by the mother country.  NED 3 ROU 0

Slovenia at South Africa:  Missing players continues to be a theme, as South Africa goes into battle with Anderson or de Voest.  The Slovenes will run out Kavcic and Zemlja so I'll given them the edge against van de Merwe and Klaasen.  South Africa will need to have the home court come in handy, which it could.  SLO 3 RSA 1

Americas Zonal Group I

Promotion ties, where winners advance to the World Group Playoffs

Chile at Uruguay:  Gonzalez has retired, Massu is old, Chile's days of competing in and to get into the World Group are probably through.  That said, this is a winnable tie for Capdeville and his teammates against a Uruguay whose best player (P.Cuevas) is no longer in the top 100.  Tough one to call but I'll say Massu has some magic left.  CHI 3 URU 2

Colombia at Brazil:  CZE/SRB and USA/FRA certainly are great ties without obvious winners, but this one here in the Americans zone may well be the best tie of the weekend.  Giraldo and Falla head to Brazil to challenge Bellucci and up-and-coming Souza.  Brazil has home soil and the doubles team of Melo/Soares though Colombia's team of Farah/Cabal have a lot of Davis Cup experience.  Bellucci may need to finish things off to prevent the young Souza from having the weight of a country on his young shoulders in a live 5th rubber.  Brazil, though, has a bit of a history of choking so I'm predicting victory for the visitors.  COL 3 BRA 2

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group I

Promotion ties, where winners advance to the World Group Playoffs

India at Uzbekistan:  India will be without Devvarman and Bhupathi but may still be the favorite against Istomin's Uzbeks.  I am going to assume Bopanna plays 3 rubbers and wins 2, including the live 5th as the Indians and former boys AO champ Yuki Bhambri work around Istomin to get to the playoffs.  IND 3 UZB 2

South Korea at Australia:  Tomic, Ebden, and Matosevic are all playing so there is no hope for the Republic of Korea who doesn't have a player ranked inside the top 400.  AUS 3 KOR 0

Relegation playoffs, loser will play New Zealand or India to relegation

China at Taiwan:  Hopefully there will be enough police on hand for this one between nations who each politically claim each other.  Taiwan is traditionally stronger but is playing without Lu, while China is slowly rising in men's tennis.  I say they steal it.  CHN 3 TPE 1

Zonal Group II

Promotion second round (SF), winners advance to promotion ties

Europe:
Cyprus at Ukraine - no Baghdatis or Dolgopolov, but Stakhovsky should get UKR through
Latvia at Hungary - Gulbis is here, so LAT should prevail to set up UKR/LAT for promotion
Bosnia & Herzegovina at Belarus - Tough to predict this (Ignatik and Mirnyi vs Delic and Dzumhur)
Estonia at Poland - Kubot is playing, as is the Polish doubles team, so they should be good
Americas:
Barbados at Mexico - it is a surprise BAR is here
Dominican Republic at Venezuela - you'll find Dominican Estrella is slam qualifying
Asia/Pacific:
Pakistan at Philippines - Doubles specialist Qureshi will play singles too for PAK
Thailand at Indonesia - Thai Udomchoke qualified for a slam recently

Relegation ties, losers will descend to group III

Europe:
Monaco at Morocco - you may recognize players from Monte Carlo and Casablanca wildcards
Ireland at Egypt* - Niland is playing for the Irish
Moldova* at Turkey* - Ilhan is playing for the Turks
Luxembourg at Madagascar* - Muller is playing but MAD with a great home court advantage
Americas:
Paraguay at El Salvador
Bolivia* at Puerto Rico
Asia/Pacific:
Pacific Oceania at Lebanon*
Sri Lanka* at Hong Kong

*Team was just promoted last year

And that does it (whew!)  I'll be back on Monday or so to recap these ties, plus Charleston on the WTA tour.