Davis Cup Recap: Isner a Hero Again

All four World Group quarterfinal ties had live Sundays, but all four were clinched in rubber #4.  There was high drama in Europe/Africa Zonal Group II (which won't make many headlines), but it was the winning team's no. 1's:  Ferrer, Isner, Berdych, and Del Potro who enter Davis Cup lore.

World Group Quarterfinals


ESP 4 AUT 1 - Ferrer and Almagro were very good on day 1.  Austria salvaged the doubles, but that just set up Ferrer to clinch the tie over Melzer.

USA 3 FRA 2 - Isner was golden for the Americans, dropping just one set against Simon and Tsonga.  The Bryans did their thing (now 10-0 on clay in Davis Cup), and the USA has now won 4 consecutive ties on clay.

CZE 4 SRB 1 - Berdych was the hero for the home side, winning all 3 points including a 7-6 7-6 7-6 win over Tipsarevic in the 4th rubber.  Tipsarevic won the only point for Serbia in over 5 hours against Stepanek.

ARG 4 CRO 1 - Cilic handed Nalbandian just his 2nd Davis Cup singles loss, but it took over 5 hours.  His doubles match with Karlovic went 5 sets in a losing effort against Nalbandian/Schwank, leaving nothing left to battle Del Potro, who was the home hero after overcoming flu against Karlovic on day 1.

World Group semis (week after US Open):
United States at Spain
Czech Republic at Argentina

Europe/Africa Zonal Group I


ISR 3 POR 2 - This was actually a sweep as the Israelis took care of business at home to return to the playoffs.

BEL 4 GBR 1 - The British only won the doubles as they were without A.Murray and Ward against two top 100 Belgians.

NED 5 ROU 0 - Was this result ever not going to happen when none of Hanescu, Crivoi, Ungur, or Tecau showed up in the Netherlands?

RSA 4 SLO 1 - South African Izak van de Merwe won all 3 points for the home team, which in my opinion surprisingly prevailed over an OK Slovene team.

Israel, Belgium, Netherlands, and South Africa advance to the playoffs.  Only the Netherlands was not there last year.  Their last appearance there was in 2009.

Americas Zonal Group I


CHI 3 URU 1 - Paul Capdeville won 3 points for the visiting Chileans, while Pablo Cuevas never showed up for Uruguay.

BRA 4 COL 1 - Bellucci won both his rubbers as this tie didn't exactly live up to my billing.  These are still the best two teams in this group though.

Chile and Brazil advance to the playoffs, where both competed last year.

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group I


UZB 3 IND 2 - This was actually a sweep as India's B-team couldn't even salvage the doubles against Istomin and his Uzbeks.  They regained some pride though when young Yuki Bhambri beat Istomin in 3 tiebreaks in the dead 4th rubber.  A curious decision though not to play Bopanna at no. 2 singles.

AUS 5 KOR 0 - It was all Aussies at home against a vastly inferior opponent, who competed in Group II last year.

Uzbekistan and Australia advance to the playoffs.  Australia is seemingly there every year but this is Uzbekistan's first trip there since 2009.

CHN 3 TPE 2 - This tie between two arch-enemies was back and forth and needed a live 5th rubber to decide it.  World no. 489 Di Wu won his second singles rubber of the tie, upsetting no. 189 Jimmy Wang in straight sets to keep China in Group I.  Taiwan will play the India/New Zealand loser in the relegation tie.

Europe/Africa Zonal Group II


UKR 5 CYP 0 - No Baghdatis, no chance for the Cypriots.

LAT 3 HUN 2 - This is the first of dramatic ties in this group.  Hungary went up 2-0 when 20-yr-old Marton Fucsovics stunned Gulbis.  But Ernie brought the Latvians with a win in the doubles and in singles over "Attila the Hun".  That set up Andis Juska to beat Fucsovics in a live 5th rubber.

BLR 4 BIH 1 - Mirnyi won the doubles as Belarus rolled behind Ignatik

POL 4 EST 1 - Kubot, Frystenburg/Matkowski and the Poles too much for Estonia, they clinched in 3.

Promotion ties:
Ukraine at Latvia
Belarus at Poland

MON 3 MAR 2 - Monaco found themselves down 2-1 after 2 days but Monte Carlo wildcards Balleret and Lisnard rescued their country on the road at Morocco, the latter winning the live 5th rubber.

IRL 3 EGY 2 - Conor Niland disappeared after losing his day 1 rubber.  The Irish won the doubles but Egyptian no. 1 Maamoun kept the home side in it.  Then world no. 362 James McGee beat no. 688 Sherif Sabry 6-4 in the 5th in the live 5th rubber.

MDA 3 TUR 2 - Ilhan won his two singles matches but couldn't win the doubles, so in a battle of players outside the top 1000, Dubarenco prevailed for the visiting Moldovans in the live 5th rubber.

LUX 4 MAD 1 - Muller leads the Luxembourghers to victory.

All 3 African nations lost home ties, 2 of them in the 5th rubber, and so they all drop back to Group III.  Home countries went 0-4 in these relegation ties.  For Egypt, Turkey, and Madagascar it is an immediate return, while Morocco managed to stay at Group II for 2 years.  Moldova avoided an immediate return to Group III.

Americas Zonal Group II


MEX 5 BAR 0 - The Cinderella story of Barbados is over.

DOM 3 VEN 2 - World no. 203 Victor Estrella won 3 points for the visiting Dominicans.

Promotion tie:  Mexico at Dominican Republic

ESA 3 PAR 2 - Paraguay was one tie from Group I last year, next year they will be in Group III.

PUR 3 BOL 1 - It is an immediate return to Group III for Bolivia.

Paraguay and Bolivia are relegated to Group III, now the lowest level of the Americas Zone.

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II


PHI 5 PAK 0 - No Qureshi after all for the Pakistanis.

INA 3 THA 2 - The Ratiwatana twins gave Thailand a 2-1 lead after 2 days but then Indonesia pulled two massive upsets to prevail in a live 5th rubber.  No. 407 Rungkat beat no. 168 Udomchoke then 18-yr-old no. 1879 Nugroho beat no. 549 Wachiromanowong.  I guess ranking don't always matter.

Promotion tie:  Philippines at Indonesia

LIB 4 PAC 1


SRI 3 HKG 2


Pacific Oceania and Hong Kong are relegated to Group III.  Lebanon and Sri Lanka stave off an immediate relegation after being promoted last year.

And that covers Davis Cup action for this weekend.  I hope you enjoyed my recap especially my coverage of the not so popular lower zones.  I'm just a huge fan of international competitions and think this is great that these players can all play for their country and win rubbers and ties even if they are irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.