2013 Davis Cup Groups and Preview

I want to take a moment to look ahead to Davis Cup competition in 2013, set up the groups and see who's rising and falling.

World Group
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, United States

-13 of the 16 countries competed in the World Group last year.  Belgium, Brazil, and Israel were promoted in 2012.  Belgium had just a 1-year absence from the World Group and Israel 2-years, but Brazil hasn't competed in the World Group since 2003.
-The 3 countries relegated from the World Group were Japan, Sweden, and Russia.  Japan only lasted 1-year in the World Group, but other two have been stalwarts at the top level.  This will be first year since 2000 for Sweden and 1992 for Russia (wow!) that they haven't been in the World Group.

2013 Draw:  ESP at CAN, CRO at ITA, SRB at BEL, BRA at USA, ISR at FRA, GER at ARG, AUT at KAZ, CZE at SUI.  This is in the order of the actual bracket so you can look ahead to future rounds.

Here is a link to the home-away table for 2013.  It is interesting to note that some of Spain's success the last few years in Davis Cup could have been because the draws worked out so they played the majority of their matches at home.  Now it is coming back on them as they only countries they would potentially play at home are Belgium and Czech Republic.  On the other hand, the USA and France have both been derailed on the road in recent years, but now they are due for extended home stays.  The USA would only travel to Argentina, Germany, or Italy while France would only go to Argentina, Croatia, Italy, or the USA.  We will see over the next few years affects the fortunes of these countries.

Given those draws, it will tough for Spain to win the Cup this as they would potentially have road ties against Canada, Italy, USA or Serbia, and France/Argentina/Switzerland.  On the other hand, although the USA does not field its strongest ever, they would be at home for a run of Brazil, Serbia, Spain, and France/Czech Republic/Switzerland.  Most of the other countries have fairly balanced sheets so it will depend on the draw whether they're home or away.

I will have more of a preview the week the Davis Cup begins.  I thought about making some predictions here but it is really difficult this far out especially when you don't know if guys such as Federer and Djokovic will play.

Europe/Africa Zonal Group I
Denmark, Great Britain, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine

-Russia and Sweden were relegated from the World Group as mentioned above.  Netherlands and South Africa made the playoffs but lost.
-Poland and Ukraine were promoted from Zonal Group II last year.  For both countries it was only a one year relegation.

2013 Draw:  SLO at POL (winner plays RSA), DEN at ROU (NED), SVK at UKR (SWE), RUS at GBR for spot in the playoffs.

Unless Soderling gets healthy, Sweden likely plummets all the down through this group to Group II for 2014.  Netherlands should be able to get back to the playoffs.  The SLO/POL/RSA section is the most intriguing with the rise of Klizan and Janowicz and the South Africa tennis association in disarray.  Russia got a favorable draw since Murray doesn't seem to be interested in Davis Cup at the moment (though he would only need to play 2 ties this year since they fell into the bye).  There are a few intriguing ties in this group.

Americas Zonal Group I
Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Uruguay

-No teams were relegated from the World Group this year so there are only 5 teams in the group.  Chile was a playoff loser.
-Dominican Republic was promoted Zonal Group II last year.  They boast a top 200 player in Victor Estrella and last played in Group I in 2010.

2013 Draw:  DOM at URU (winner plays COL), CHI at ECU

The talent level seems to be down in the group with the aging of Gonzalez and Massu from Chile and the Lapenttis from Ecuador although it also has to do with Brazil and Canada getting promoted.  Colombia is an easy choice to advance here and Chile has a good shot too although they go on the road.

Asia/Oceania Zonal Group I
Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Uzbekistan

-Japan's relegation from the World Group makes an even eight teams in this group.  Australia and Uzbekistan qualified for the playoffs last year but lost road ties.
-Indonesia was promoted from Group II last year and last competed in Group in 2005.

2013 Draw:  AUS at TPE, CHN at UZB, KOR at IND, INA at JPN

There is a fair amount of firepower in this group with names such as Hewitt (Tomic has been suspended by Tennis Australia), Nishikori, Istomin, and the Indian doubles teams (although the Indian Davis Cup teams have been a mess recently).  I would expect those four teams to progress to the semis where Japan should prevail and then the AUS/UZB would be in Uzbekistan so that outcome could be up in the air and depend on who is playing for the Aussies.

Europe/Africa Zonal Group II
Belarus, Benin, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Portugal, Tunisia

-Finland and Portugal were relegated from Group I last year.  Finland last played in Group II in 2009 and Portugal was last here in 2010.  Belarus and Latvia made the group final last year.
-Bulgaria and Lithuania were promoted from Group III last year after each having only a one-year stay at the lowest European zone.  Benin and Tunisia took advantage of African stalwarts Egypt and Morocco hanging around in Group II for an extra year to earn the promotion from Group III.  Tunisia has been bouncing back and forth between Groups II and III for years (they played in Group II in 2011) but Benin makes its first ever appearance in Group II.

2013 Draw:  FIN at BUL, EST at IRL, LAT at TUN, BLR at MON, HUN at MDA, LUX at BIH, CYP at LTU, BEN at POR

There are enough recognizable players here to warrant some projections.  There are 16 countries playing for 2 promotions while 4 countries will be dumped back to Group III.  A fair amount depends on who shows up because there is no depth for some of these teams i.e. Cyprus and Baghdatis, Latvia and Gulbis.  I'm going to say Dimitrov leads Bulgaria to Group I and Portugal is too deep a team for this level.  But believe me when I say there are plenty of contenders.  I really like that LAT/TUN tie too.

Americas Zonal Group II
Barbados, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Venezuela

-Peru was relegated from Group I last year after just a 1-year appearance there.  Mexico made group final last year but lost to Dominican Republic.
-Guatemala and Haiti were promoted from Group III last year.  It was just a 1-year stay at the lower group for Haiti and 2-years for Guatemala.

2013 Draw:  MEX at PUR, BAR at ESA, GUA at VEN, HAI at PER

I don't know enough about these teams to comment here, but one would think Mexico is far too big a country to toil long in Group II.  Venezuela and Peru also have some tennis history.

Asia/Oceania Zonal Group II
Kuwait, Lebanon, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand

-New Zealand was relegated from Group I last year after spending 2-years in that group.  Philippines was seeking an immediate return to Group I but lost in the final to Indonesia.
-Kuwait and Syria were promoted from Group III last year.  Syria spent only 1-year at the lower group, but Kuwait hasn't competed at Group II since 2009.

2013 Draw:  LIB at NZL, PAK at SRI, THA at KUW, SYR at PHI

Both countries promoted here in 2011 (Lebanon, Sri Lanka), are still here which is a bit unusual.  New Zealand and Philippines should be playing with the chip on their should after both played together in Group I in 2011.

Europe Zonal Group III
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, Turkey

-Turkey was relegated from Group II last year after just a 1-year stay at the higher group.  Greece and Macedonia reached the group final last year.

Africa Zonal Group III
Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria, Zimbabwe

-Egypt, Madagascar, and Morocco were all relegated from Group II last year, but only 2 can return this year.  For Egypt and Madagascar it was an immediately relegation after a 1-year stay, but Morocco last competed in Group III in 2010.  Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana reached the group final last year.

*The Davis Cup website lists additional countries at the Group III and Group IV but I will wait until the draw to announce these because in the past countries have pulled out of Davis Cup and I wonder if the website may be listing all teams which have ever competed in Davis Cup.

Americas Zonal Group III
Aruba, Bahamas, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Virgin Islands

-Bolivia and Paraguay were relegated from Group II last year.  For Bolivia it was just a 1-year stay at the higher group but Paraguay has never been this low in the Davis Cup ladder, and even played in the World Group as recently as 1989.  Bahamas and Costa Rica reached the group final last year.

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group III
Cambodia, Hong Kong, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Pacific Oceania, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam

-Hong Kong and Pacific Oceania were relegated from Group II last year.  Hong Kong will compete in Group III for the first time since 2005, while Pacific Oceania last played here in 2009.  Iran and Malaysia made the group final last year.
-Cambodia and the UAE were promoted from Group IV last year.  Cambodia was competing in their first ever Davis Cup while UAE had just a 1-year stay in Group IV.

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group IV
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Iraq, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkmenistan

-Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan were relegated from Group III last year, both after lasting just 1-year there.  Qatar and Turkmenistan made the group final last year.

I hope everyone enjoyed that.  I have a special place in my heart for international competitions even for those countries toiling away at the lowest level, striving to make it up just one rung on the international ladder.  Benin was an especially good story last year as was Cambodia.  Then you also see countries heading the wrong way like Paraguay and Sweden.  I think the whole format is pretty cool.