Davis Cup Quarterfinals Preview

Indian Wells and Miami are in the rear view mirror and the 2014 Davis Cup Quarterfinals have arrived.  There is an interesting slate of quarterfinal matchups with many of the usual suspects have lost in the first round - Spain, Serbia, USA, Argentina.  So those nations won't be in action at all this weekend and I'll focus on those that will be, plus the huge slate of action in the zones.

World Group Quarterfinals

Czech Republic at Japan: When Berdych declared he was going to skip this tie, it looked like it might be able to go either.  But then Nishikori pulled out injured and Soeda is sick and won't play at least on Friday, leaving Ito and Daniel as the two singles players for Japan.  So now Rosol and Stepanek are looking like strong favorites.  It is hard to imagine the 2-time defending champions not coming through.  CZE 3 JPN 1

Germany at France: This was shaping up to be an interesting between the two European neighbors until the entire German squad got hurt.  Haas, Kohlschreiber, and Mayer have all missed time recently with injuries so it is left to Kamke, Struff, and Gojowczyk to carry the German flag.  Gasquet is also missing but France has far more depth with Tsonga, Benneteau, Monfils, and Llodra on indoor hard in France, so the only question is if the visitors can win a point.  Doubtful.  FRA 3 GER 0

Great Britain at Italy: The classic one man team versus a squad of decent players.  Murray got help from Ward against the US but this battle on clay will be on the host's best surface.  This is a tough ask for the British, with the form of Murray not great at the moment.  Fognini will be licking his chops with a chance to upset him in the 4th rubber but the Brits will need a doubles win for that match to even matter with Seppi awaiting either Evans or Ward in the 5th.  The tie really could go a number of ways but Murray has been mediocre recently, it's away on clay, and while Evans and Ward have come up big in the past in Davis Cup, this may be a bridge too far.  ITA 3 GBR 1

Kazakhstan at Switzerland: The Swiss now have two top 4 players and have the minds of winning this whole cup.  A loss here might be the biggest upset ever.  Kukushkin, Golubev, and now Nedovyesov come into this tie in good form, but the gulf between them and Federer and Wawrinka is very large.  SUI 3 KAZ 0

All Group I ties are promotion ties with the winner advancing to the World Group Playoffs.

Europe/Africa Zonal Group I

Croatia at Poland: Cilic returns to Davis Cup action after Croatia fell from the World Group during his suspension, but neither Dodig nor Karlovic are alongside.  Instead it's promising teenager Coric alongside one of the tour's hottest players.  Janowicz is also back for Poland after missing their playoff tie last fall with an injury.  The Poles have the good doubles and the home court so Croatia will need a heroic effort from Cilic.  I think he'll beat Janowicz but won't win the doubles, so Przysiezny can clinch against Coric in the 5th rubber.  POL 3 CRO 2

Israel at Slovenia:  The team that is better on paper against the team with Davis Cup pedigree. Sela, Weintraub, and Erlich/Ram versus Kavcic, Rola, and Zemlja.  The Slovenes are at home but Sela is playing decent on tour and Weintraub in a 5th rubber is the ace in the hole.  The Israelis do occasionally struggle on the road but I don't think Slovenia has enough punch to knock them out.  ISR 3 SLO 2

Ukraine at Sweden:  Sweden without Soderling is a sad story, but somehow they have managed to stay to Group I with some clutch play by Eriksson in the past.  Ukraine has Stakhovsky and Bubka are their top two players so they are vulnerable but I can't see the Swedes getting two singles wins.  UKR 3 SWE 2

Austria at Slovakia:  Melzer is still out injured so Austria's hopes rest mostly on the young shoulders of Thiem.  Its still an OK team with Haider-Maurer and Peya, but the Slovaks are at home with Klizan and Lacko.  This could be another interesting tie and the doubles could be key.  I think Austria will find a way to make it a live 5th rubber and Haider-Maurer will find a way to lose that.  SVK 3 AUT 2

Americas Zonal Group I

Brazil at Ecuador: Brazil is without Bellucci but still has a superior team.  Road tests are often tricky at this level of the competition but with Melo/Soares on doubles and two top 200 players in Dutra Silva and Clezar, the visitors should still advance.  BRA 3 ECU 1

Dominican Republic at Colombia: Dominican tennis is quite the story and will the fairy tale continue for Estrella and Hernandez?  A win would mean a playoff berth and a possibility of getting Spain or Serbia to travel to the island of Hispaniola.  It's unlikely though as Giraldo, Falla, and Cabal/Farah (now a good tour doubles team) have the experience, skill, home court, and generally play well in Davis Cup.  COL 3 DOM 1

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group I

Uzbekistan at China: Chinese tennis has been getting better and the Uzbeks rely heavily on their workhorse Istomin with Dustov an OK compliment.  I give Wu and Zhang a fighting chance but even at home I think they'll come up short.  UZB 3 CHN 1

India at South Korea: India seems to have straightened some of their internal strife as Devvarman, Bhambri, and Bopanna are on the team.  Korea has some decent juniors coming up but likely no one to bother the top two Indians.  IND 3 KOR 0

Europe/Africa Zonal Group II

Group semifinals:

Lithuania at South Africa: South Africa has been having trouble getting their top players to come so this is Berankis vs de Voest and I like the Lithuanian.  However, if South Africa can win the doubles it could be Grigelis vs Klaasen or some unknown South African.  Tough to call but I'll go with hosts in a mild upset.  RSA 3 LTU 2

Bosnia & Herzegovina at Finland: Bosnia is a team on the rise with Basic, Dzumhur, and Sektic but they're on the road against Nieminen, who is a Davis Cup warrior.  I think he'll win 3 points to give the Finns the win.  FIN 3 BIH 1

Belarus at Moldova: Moldova has some decent players for this level and they're at home vs Ignatik and also Mirnyi.  This could go live to the 5th rubber but I think Moldova will win.  MDA 3 BLR 2

Luxembourg at Denmark: Muller is not playing, Nielsen is and Denmark is at home, so I'll take the Danes.  DEN 3 LUX 1

Relegation ties - losers to Group III in 2015

Monaco at Norway: With Balleret I think Monaco will avoid relegation against an unknown Norweigan squad.

Bulgaria at Greece: Dimitrov is playing so Bulgaria should cruise.

Egypt at Ireland: Ireland is at home, McGee is playing.  Egypt could make this interesting but I favor the Irish.

Cyprus at Morocco: Baghdatis is not playing so this may finally be the year that Cyprus gets dumped down to Group III.  Morocco has some guys you'll occasionally see in Casablanca, Dubai, or Doha.

Americas Zonal Group II

I don't really know enough about these players and teams to offer much in the way predictions for the remaining ties.

Group semifinals:

El Salvador at Barbados: Barbados another great Caribbean story, for such a tiny nation even getting to this stage.  King and Lewis will have a fighting chance against the Arevalo brothers.

Peru at Mexico

Relegation ties - losers to Group III in 2015

Paraguay at Chile: The fall of Chile from the World Group is well documented and they are coming off back-to-back road losses to Dominican Republic and Barbados.  A loss here to Paraguay and relegation to Group III would have to utterly humiliating.  But they are at home and have some veterans so they ought to be able to win.

Guatemala at Bolivia

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II

Group semifinals:

Pakistan at Philippines: This tie was moved from Pakistan because the ITF doesn't feel it is safe there.

Kuwait at Thailand

Relegation ties - losers to Group III in 2015

Sri Lanka at Vietnam

Hong Kong at Indonesia: This tie has been postponed for 3 weeks.

So there you go, enjoy and I'll be back Sunday or Monday to wrap it all up.