So in spite of what I just posted about, here comes a Davis Cup recap. I had some time tonight so here it goes, since I do enjoy Davis Cup (and Fed Cup) and when Spain loses on clay to Brazil and is relegated, that's certainly worth posting about. Also Barbados beat Mexico so next year both Barbados and Dominican Republic will be in Group I. I know most don't care about the lower levels, but I am intrigued by it and what a story. Congrats to world no. 319 Darian King and unranked Haydn Lewis for putting an island nation of less than 300,000 among countries like Colombia and Ecuador, and 2 wins from a World Group Playoff spot in 2015.
And now, back to the headlines. Our 2014 final will feature several top players as Switzerland travels to France. Can Federer finally fill the spot missing in his trophy case? Or France thwart him, reaching the final for the 2nd time in 5 years?
World Group Semis
FRA 4 CZE 1 - This tie was likely over when Berdych was upset Gasquet. But then Berdych/Stepanek suffered just their 2nd Davis Cup doubles loss ever (the other was in the '09 final the Lopez/Verdasco) to Gasquet/Tsonga and the hosts punched their ticket to the final inside Philippe Chatrier.
SUI 3 ITA 2 - Federer and Wawrinka looked strong on day 1 but the Italians Fognini/Bolelli fought back to beat Wawrinka/Chiudinelli in the doubles. But Federer wasn't letting this opportunity get away, defeating Fognini in straight sets to clinch
World Group Playoffs
SRB 3 IND 2 - Serbia was cruising up 2 sets to love in the doubles after getting wins from both Lajovic and Krajinovic on day 1, but India came back, Bopanna/Paes won the doubles 8-6 in the 5th and Devvarman upset Lajovic to force a 3rd rubber. Then Serbia found a new Davis Cup hero, 22-yr-old Filip Krajinovic clinched the tie over Bhambri to avoid suffering the same fate at Spain.
ESP 3 BRA 1 - Speaking of Spain, they were cruising, winning the first 5 sets (Bautista Agut dropping just 4 games vs Dutra Silva). But Bellucci came from 2 sets down to beat Andujar and Brazil won the doubles with Melo/Soares. Still they could be confident with Bautista Agut, right? Nope, Bellucci was Brazil's hero, taking down a player ranked 70 places above him. I realize Spain was without Nadal, Ferrer, and others, but they still should have easily won this tie. It's their first loss on clay in 15 years!
ARG 3 ISR 2 - The final Davis Cup tie for Andy Ram started well (but a shame with Palestinian conflict it couldn't be at home) with Israel getting a win from Sela and winning the doubles. But then Sela laid an egg against L.Mayer (grant it he's the world no. 25) and with 5th rubber stud Weintraub out with injury, poor Botzer couldn't win a live 5th rubber vs the victorious Carlos Berlocq.
CAN 3 COL 2 - Any chance the visitor's thought they had vanished win Giraldo fell to Pospisil. They salvaged some pride with Cabal/Farah bested Nestor/Pospisil in the doubles but that only set up the Canadian hero Raonic to clinch the tie.
USA 5 SVK 0 - The USA just had too much firepower for Slovakia, winning all 9 live sets. Maybe this can rejuvenate Querrey's game. The Bryans lost just 4 games in the doubles.
AUS 5 UZB 0 - I thought Uzbekistan might put up a bit of fight with Istomin and Dustov, who just managed to qualify for the US Open. But the Aussies with Kyrgios, Hewitt, and Hewitt/Guccione didn't lose a single set, even in the dead rubbers.
CRO 3 NED 2 - Cilic didn't play singles on day 1 but 21-yr-old Delic upset Sijsling to start the visitors strong. Haase handled Coric and then Cilic/Draganja won doubles even against Rojer. Croatia still sent Delic out to clinch the tie and he nearly did, falling to Haase in 5 sets. Then they quit playing around and summoned Cilic to despatch de Bakker in the live 5th rubber. With Cilic in top form and 2 rising young talents in Delic and Coric, we may be hearing more from this Croatian team.
BEL 3 UKR 2 - Not being able to play at home because of the Russian invasion (let's call it what it is), Ukraine really needed the doubles to work around the inform Goffin. They didn't get it, and they lost. Stakhovsky won one singles rubber but then looked surprising inept against Goffin as the Belgian no. 1 clinched.
2015 World Group teams: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Switzerland, United States
Teams promoted from zones (last year in World Group): BRA (2013), CRO (2013)
Europe/Africa Zonal Group I
RUS 4 POR 1 - Portugal surprisingly punchless despite having the highest ranked player in the tie (Sousa) versus relative Davis Cup newbies in Kuznetsov and Donskoy.
ROU 3 SWE 1 - Sweden struggling mightily in Davis Cup since Soderling got injured. They did get one win here from 22-yr-old Lindell. Copil and Ungur did singles duty for Romania.
AUT 4 LAT 1 - Gulbis only played the doubles, and that was the only rubber won by Latvia. Melzer got 2 singles victories for the Austrians.
Portugal is relegated to Group II, making an immediate return there after a 2013 promotion. Latvia travels to Sweden to determine the other relegated country. The outcome likely depends on whether Gulbis plays.
Americas Zonal Group I
URU 4 VEN 1 - Venezuela had little resistance to the Cuevas brothers as the in form Pablo returned to Davis Cup action after years of being bothered by injury.
Venezuela is relegated to Group II, making an immediate return there after a 2013 promotion.
Asia/Pacific Zonal Group I
KOR 3 TPE 1 - Taiwan can't get Lu and Wang to show up so they lose all their singles matches to South Korea. The Korean no. 1 is Hyeon Chung, an 18-yr-old ranked inside the top 200.
Taiwan will play at New Zealand in October with the loser being relegated to Group II.
Europe/Africa Zonal Group II
LTU 3 BIH 2 - Berankis won 3 points to lead Lithuania, defeating Dzumhur in straight sets in the clincher.
DEN 3 MDA 2 - Moldova was heavily favored here, though on the road, with top 200 player Albot, and top 400 Dubarenco, who outranked all the Danes. But the latter lost both his singles matches and the doubles, as world no. 758 Martin Pedersen won the live 5th rubber, 7-5 in the 5th.
Denmark and Lithuania are promoted to Group I. The Danes make an immediate return after being relegated in 2013 but Lithuania will make their Group I debut.
Americas Zonal Group II
BAR 3 MEX 2 - I discussed this result above. King was the highest ranked player in the tie but after losing the doubles he couldn't do it all himself. Haydn Lewis won the live 5th rubber in 4 sets over 19-yr-old world no. 830 Gomez.
Barbados is promoted to Group I and will make their Group I debut.
Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II
THA 4 PAK 1 - An easy sweep for Thailand against the Pakistani, whose players Qureshi (known for doubles) and Khan, were both born in 1980.
Thailand is promoted to Group I. The Thais haven't been there since 2009.
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