Davis Cup Recap: 2013 Final Will Be CZE vs SRB

Another great weekend of Davis Cup is behind, with a few live 5th rubbers to talk about.  The 2013 final and 2014 World Group participants are set.

2013 Final:  Serbia at Czech Republic

2014 World Group:  Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, United States

Promoted Teams (last year in World Group):  Australia (2007), Great Britain (2008), Japan (2012), Netherlands (2009)

Relegated Teams (last year in Group I):  Austria (2010), Brazil (2012), Croatia (2008), Israel (2012)

Live 5th Rubbers:
-World Group Semis: Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 7-6 6-2 7-6
-World Group Playoffs: Steve Darcis (BEL) def. Amir Weintraub (ISR) 6-2 6-2 6-2
-World Group Playoffs: Go Soeda (JPN) def. Alejandro Falla (COL) 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3
-Europe/Africa Zonal Group I: Lukas Lacko (SVK) def. Isak Arvidsson (SWE) 6-2 6-3 6-3
-Europe/Africa Zonal Group II: Rui Machado (POR) def. Maxim Dubarenco (MDA) 7-5 6-1 6-3
-Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II: Michael Venus (NZL) def. Treat Huey (PHI) 5-7 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-3

World Group Semifinals

SRB 3 CAN 2 - Raonic needed 5 sets to get past Tipsarevic on day 1 and then Canada won an epic doubles match to take the lead.  But Djokovic was too tough, winning 2 rubbers without losing a set and Tipsarevic was the hero in a live 5th rubber.

CZE 3 ARG 2 (3-0) - Stepanek squashed Monaco to set the tone, Berdych did drop a set to L.Mayer but came through.  Then they teamed up to win doubles and complete the sweep, improving upon their stellar record.  Argentina won a pair dead rubber to wrap up the tie.

Final: Czech Republic at Serbia

World Group Playoffs

ESP 5 UKR 0 - Nadal showed up and played both singles and doubles.  So when Verdasco defeated Dolgopolov in 4 sets on day 1, that essentially ended the tie.

NED 5 AUT 0 - Haider-Maurer was injured late so Haase opened the tie with a win over doubles specialist Marach.  Then de Bakker upset Melzer in 5 sets to all but seal the time.  Haase/Rojer then capped the sweep by beating Marach/Peya to relegate the Austrians and make a return to the World Group after a 5 year absence.

GBR 4 CRO 1 (3-1) - Murray showed up and won 3 points to ensure Evans wouldn't need to go out and play a live 5th rubber.  Of note, 16-yr-old US Open boys champion Coric got 6 games off the world no. 3 and former US Open boys champion in the opening rubber.

SUI 4 ECU 1 (3-0) - Ecuador punched above their level in this tie but couldn't finish off any live rubbers.  Campozano took the first set from Chiudinelli and the doubles went 5 sets, but Swiss swept with Wawrinka winning 2 points.

GER 4 BRA 1 (3-1) - Kohlschreiber and Mayer got victories on day 1 over a seemingly punchless Brazilian squad.  Melo/Soares kept the visitors in it but Brands then came off the bench and beat Bellucci in straight sets to clinch the tie.

AUS 4 POL 1 (3-1) - Without Janowicz, the Poles were overrun on day 1, but Fyrstenberg/Matkowski got 1 point back, outlasting Guccione/Kyrgios in 5 sets.  That only set up Tomic to clinch the tie in straight sets over Kubot.

BEL 3 ISR 2 - There turned out to be drama here, but Darcis brought his best tennis to hold off an Israeli upset.  He only lost 5 games to Sela on day 1 but then Weintraub overcame Bemelmens in 5 sets.  Erlich/Ram also came from behind to win the doubles in 5 sets and the visitors liked their chances.  But Bemelmens kept the tie live heading to the 5th rubber and Weintraub, who generally saved his best tennis for Davis Cup and 5th rubbers, won only 6 games against Darcis.

JPN 3 COL 2 - Another excellent tie.  Nishikori and Giraldo (in 5 sets) won the day 1 rubbers, then Cabal/Farah lost only 4 games in the doubles to put the visitors ahead.  But Nishikori kept Japan in it, setting Soeda to clinch the tie over Falla in 4 sets in a live 5th rubber.

Zonal Group I Relegation Playoffs

Europe/Africa:

SLO 4 RSA 1 (3-0) - Zemlja didn't play but Kavcic and Rola (whoever he is) proved too strong for the South Africans, who played de Voest and Roelofse in singles.

SVK 3 SWE 2 - Klizan was apparently unavailable but Slovakia still started well with Lacko and Martin.  However, Sweden took the doubles as expected then world no. 487 Eriksson upset Martin.  The Slovaks got the last laugh though when Lacko came on and clinched the tie over Arvidsson in the 5th rubber.

Final Relegation Ties: South Africa at Russia, Denmark at Sweden

Americas:

DOM 4 CHI 1 (3-0) - This may have been the biggest upset of the weekend as once annual World Group team Chile will find itself in Group II next year as Estrella and Hernandez bested Capdeville and Garin in singles then combined to knock off Aguilar/Jarry in doubles.  The Dominicans did not drop a set in a live rubber.

Chile relegated to Group II in 2014.  It is the first time they will play there since 1991!

Asia/Pacific:

TPE 5 INA 0 - Taiwan did not drop a set in live rubber and only one over the entire weekend.

Indonesia relegated to Group II in 2014.  They had just a one year stay in Group I.

Zonal Group II Promotion Ties

Europe/Africa:

LAT 3 FIN 2 (3-1) - Gulbis won three rubbers for Latvia.

POR 3 MDA 2 - Albot turned this tie into a dogfight when he beat J.Sousa, ranked over 100 places above him, 11-9 in the 5th in the 4th rubber, but Machado came off the bench to win a live 5th rubber over Dubarenco.

Latvia returns to Group I for the first time since 2010, while Portugal was absent from that level for just one year.

Americas:

VEN 3 ESA 1 - Venezuela returns to Group I for the first time since 2007.

Asia/Pacific:

NZL 3 PHI 2 - This tie featured three 5-setters as the Philippines nearly came back 2-0 down.  World no. 933 Gonzales beat world no. 293 Statham 10-8 in the 5th to force a live 5th rubber, which was won by Venus coming from two sets down.

New Zealand makes an immediate return to Group I after being relegated last year.

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group III

Hong Kong and Malaysia earned promotion, beating out Vietnam and Cambodia in the promotion pool.  Hong Kong earned promotion again immediately after being relegated last year, but Malaysia last played in Group II in 2010.

Oman and Pacific Oceania were relegated, contending with Iran and hometown United Arab Emirates in the relegation pool.  Oman hasn't been in Group IV since 2006 while Pacific Oceania hasn't played there since 2001.  The latter has dropped levels 2 years in a row.

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group IV

Turkmenistan and Singapore earned promotion to Group III, defeating Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the finals.  Singapore last played in Group III in 2009, but it is the first ever promotion for Turkmenistan, which played Davis Cup first in 2004.