I thought I'd write a few words about the upcoming Fed and Davis Cup finals.
Fed Cup: Russia at Czech Republic
There are 3 top 10 players involved in this tie in Sharapova, Kvitova, and Safarova plus Pliskova who was fairly recently in the top 10 and was nominated for the second singles place with Safarova having not played much in recent weeks.
This has the potential to be a closely contested tie but I predict the Czechs will win their 4th title in 5 years. Kvitova has won her last 2 meetings against Sharapova and both were on indoor hard courts. I expect both #1s to win their singles on Saturday to set up that pivotal 3rd rubber clash which I think Kvitova will take. Then it will be up to either Safarova or Pliskova to clinch the tie though you never know what you're going to get with Pavlyuchenkova. The Russian is in fine form and is the wild card in this tie. There's even a outside chance she'll take down Kvitova on day 1. But the Czechs are the home team and we know how well Kvitova plays on indoor hard. If the tie does get to the doubles with either Sharapova or Pavlyuchenkova winning on Sunday, I like the Czechs in the doubles simply because Makarova hasn't touched a racquet in a real match since the US Open not to mention Safarova/Strycova are formidable in the their own right. I also can't see Makarova/Vesnina having the mental stamina to win a live 5th rubber on the road. But then there's also a slight chance, depending on Makarova's health, that Pavlyuchenkova plays with Vesnina...
Lots of possible scenarios for this tie but I'm going with CZE 3 RUS 1
Davis Cup: Great Britain at Belgium
Unlike all the top 25 players running around in Prague, the tie in Ghent is not quite so star-studded will the notable exception of the world no. 2 of course, Murray. Goffin, also, is up to world no. 16 and has had a nice year but I'm not sure beating Murray is ever going to happen, which means the hosts will need to win the doubles and beat Ward twice. I've picked against the Brits in every tie this year I believe but I'm not going it here. Belgium doesn't have the second singles player or doubles team that the USA, France, and Australia all had. There's a fairly decent chance Ward will beat Darcis or whoever is the Belgian no. 2, and the Murray brothers will be difficult to beat in doubles, after they've already bested Mahut/Tsonga and Groth/Hewitt. I've give Goffin the win over Ward but otherwise it's a Murray as he joins Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer with Davis Cup titles. GBR 3 BEL 1
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