DAVIS CUP: Round One

Amazingly, there are no tournaments in the ATP calendar this week.

Still, Friday brings us the first round of Davis Cup. Some good matches to be seen. Djokovic, the only top player to take part, from cooking outdoor hard courts of Australian Open - back to European indoor clay and another jet-lag to recover from, impressive from Novak .

1st-3rd February

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

Canada vs. Spain
Thunderbird Sports Centre, Vancouver, Canada

Italy vs. Croatia
Palavela, Turin, Italy

Belgium vs. Serbia
Spiroudome de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium

United States of America vs. Brazil
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, USA

France vs. Israel
Kindarena, Rouen, France

Argentina vs. Germany
Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Kazakhstan vs. Austria
National Tennis Centre, Astana, Kazakhstan

Switzerland vs. Czech Republic
Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland


Official Davis Cup Website:

http://www.daviscup.com/en/home.aspx

Fed is not playing I guess. Such a beautiful cup....but they need to make the tournament more exciting over 2 weeks.

It really coudl become a very exciting tournament...more than teh ryder cup for instance.

You mean like a round-robin World Cup tournament style?

Here are all the teams:

Canada v Spain
Venue: Thunderbird Sports Centre
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Surface: Indoor hard

Canada
Milos Raonic
Vasek Pospisil
Frank Dancevic
Daniel Nestor
Martin Laurendeau (captain)

Spain
Nicolas Almagro
Marcel Granollers
Marc Lopez
Albert Ramos
Alex Corretja (captain)

Italy v Croatia

Venue: Palavela
Location: Turin, Italy
Surface: Indoor clay

Italy
Andreas Seppi
Fabio Fognini
Paolo Lorenzi
Simone Bolelli
Corrado Barazzutti (captain)

Croatia
Marin Cilic
Ivan Dodig
Antonio Veic
Mate Pavic
Zeljko Krajan (captain)

Belgium v Serbia

Venue: Spiroudome de Charleroi
Location: Charleroi, Belgium
Surface: Indoor clay

Belgium
David Goffin
Steve Darcis
Ruben Bemelmans
Olivier Rochus
Johan van Herck (captain)

Serbia
Novak Djokovic
Janko Tipsarevic
Viktor Troicki
Nenad Zimonjic
Bogdan Obradovic (captain)


USA v Brazil

Venue: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Location: Jacksonville, USA
Surface: Indoor hard

USA
John Isner
Sam Querrey
Mike Bryan
Bob Bryan
Jim Courier (captain)

Brazil
Thomaz Bellucci
Thiago Alves
Marcelo Melo
Bruno Soares
Joao Luis Zwetsch (captain)


France v Israel

Venue: Kindarena
Location: Rouen, France
Surface: Indoor hard

France
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Richard Gasquet
Julien Benneteau
Michael Llodra
Arnaud Clement (captain)

Israel
Dudi Sela
Amir Weintraub
Jonathan Erlich
Andy Ram
Eyal Ram (captain)


Argentina v Germany

Venue: Parque Roca
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Surface: Outdoor clay

Argentina
Juan Monaco
Horacio Zeballos
Carlos Berlocq
David Nalbandian
Martin Jaite (captain)

Germany
Philipp Kohlschreiber
Florian Mayer
Tobias Kamke
Christopher Kas
Carsten Arriens (captain)


Kazakhstan v Austria

Venue: National Tennis Centre
Location: Astana, Kazakhstan
Surface: Indoor clay

Kazakhstan
Mikhail Kukushkin
Andrey Golubev
Evgeny Korolev
Yuri Schukin
Dias Doskarayev (captain)

Austria
Jurgen Melzer
Andreas Haider-Maurer
Alexander Peya
Julian Knowle
Clemens Trimmel (captain)


Switzerland v Czech Republic

Venue: Palexpo
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Surface: Indoor hard

Switzerland
Stanislas Wawrinka
Marco Chiudinelli
Michael Lammer
Henri Laaksonen
Severin Luthi (captain)

Czech Republic
Tomas Berdych
Radek Stepanek
Lukas Rosol
Jiri Vesely
Jaroslav Navratil (captain)

Yes, it's a shame other top players are not taking part: Federer, Del Potro, Ferrer.

There doesn't seem to be enough room for Delpo and Nalby on the same team

Scheduling is a bit outdated and the cause of players missing the ties.
Maybe they should really do it like an Olympic tournament, I'm sure all the best players would turn up.

I do like Davis Cup even the way it is now, but it's getting more and more difficult to justify the way it is at the moment as the best players often don't participate because of awkward scheduling.

noleisthebest wrote:You mean like a round-robin World Cup tournament style?

Same format but played over 2 weeks instead of a year.It would simplify a lot the schedule of the year as well as the travelling. It woudl be held every year in the cup holding country....or it coudl be randomly changing.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:You mean like a round-robin World Cup tournament style?

Same format but played over 2 weeks instead of a year.

that would be tough because of traveling, they'd have to play in one neutral place, so no home and away atmosphere, dodgy local linesmen and all the other priceless old style Davis Cup frills .

I suppose since Britain is in some Z group, they could play it at Wimbledon, give some kudos back to grass since there are virtually just two/three weeks of play on grass anyway.

As mentioned easier on the travelling too. I like the fact that the cup holder woudl have soil advantage. The challenge woudl be to get the cup in cup holder territory.

Tenez wrote:As mentioned easier on the travelling too. I like the fact that the cup holder woudl have soil advantage. The challenge woudl be to get the cup in cup holder territory.

yes, as things stand, the Czechs have only had two months of enjoying their champions status. They could lose the title this weekend in theory (because Federer is not playing)
Never thought of that, but a great idea in fact - to have the tournament played in the country of the defending champion!

And it woudl be much easier to organise too and that woudl free other weeks for tour tournaments. It's not my idee, I first heard it from McEnroe years ago...but on this occasion, I'd agree with him.

I don't know why they don't do it, really.

Some bureaucratic dinosaurs probably love their bit of power and all the free traveling they get all year round....Having it in two weeks would really cramp their style...they remind me of all these council people that go and have a jolly visiting "twinned towns"......

Speaking of bureaucrats, any idea/news who may replace the current ATP boss as he's resigned due to illness?

No idea...but hopefully he will fix a few more things.

Stepanek's out of Davis Cup with the back injury. Rosol to replace him. It's going to be interesting....

"I cannot take part with the guys, unfortunately I have a problem with my disc that I have to have an operation on"

[quote="noleisthebest"]Stepanek's out of Davis Cup with the back injury. Rosol to replace him. It's going to be interesting....

"I cannot take part with the guys, unfortunately I have a problem with my disc that I have to have an operation on"[/quote

Step is already after the operation, he will be out from tennis for 6 weeks.

Rosol is ready to play both matches in Swiss, no fear from Stan. He believes that at least one match he wins. I think he will play against Chiudinelli, so he should win it, but there is nothing sure with him.

Berd with Stan will be something to watch.

[quote="paulcz"]

noleisthebest wrote:Stepanek's out of Davis Cup with the back injury. Rosol to replace him. It's going to be interesting....

"I cannot take part with the guys, unfortunately I have a problem with my disc that I have to have an operation on"[/quote

Step is already after the operation, he will be out from tennis for 6 weeks.

Rosol is ready to play both matches in Swiss, no fear from Stan. He believes that at least one match he wins. I think he will play against Chiudinelli, so he should win it, but there is nothing sure with him.

Berd with Stan will be something to watch.

I suppose this is Rosol's big chance. Chiudinelli was not bad a couple of years ago, I only seem to see him play in Basel, and last year he was terrible.
It may come to doubles.

[quote="noleisthebest"]

paulcz wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Stepanek's out of Davis Cup with the back injury. Rosol to replace him. It's going to be interesting....

"I cannot take part with the guys, unfortunately I have a problem with my disc that I have to have an operation on"[/quote

Step is already after the operation, he will be out from tennis for 6 weeks.

Rosol is ready to play both matches in Swiss, no fear from Stan. He believes that at least one match he wins. I think he will play against Chiudinelli, so he should win it, but there is nothing sure with him.

Berd with Stan will be something to watch.

I suppose this is Rosol's big chance. Chiudinelli was not bad a couple of years ago, I only seem to see him play in Basel, and last year he was terrible.
It may come to doubles.

Doubles will be the key to win, Rosol will play with Berd. I am looking forward to Stan & Berd match. Stan should have enough confidence from AO and Berd plays also in good form, so this weekend will be interisting again.

Yes that should be a good match. I don't remember ever seeing the two of them play.

I'd be very surprised if Rosol were to win a match.

Friday's matches:

Tsonga-Wintraub Gasquet-Sela
Fognini-Cilic Seppi-Dodig
Goffin-Troicki Rochus-Djokovic
Golubev-H.Maurer Korolev-Melzer
Wawrinka-Rosol Laaksonen(whoever that is )-Berdych
Querrey-Bellucci Isner-Alves

Spain vs Canada, still no order of play.

So far in DC,
Stan beat Rosol in straights,
Tsonga beat Weintraub in 4

Kazakstan leading 2:0 against Austria


Troicki and Goffin slogging int out on ultra-slow clay 2 sets all, 3 all in the 5th, Troicki coming back from 2 sets down, may tune in to have a look

Goffin playing some really nice tennis.

I must say I really look forward to clay season !

Goffin cracks under pressure, Troicki beaks him and now serves for the match.

Great game from Troicki, and Serbia leads 1:0, Nole next against Rochus.

Nole on clay aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ...
should be a good match against Rochus

and the first point starts with an ace
I can't believe I'm so happy watching tennis after only a week of break. Tenniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis

Nole playing really well. Mid second set, 14 aces.

Nole serves out the 2nd set with 4 aces - golden game

Nole serving for the match !

Job done Nole charming the crowd by speaking French.

elsewhere,
Gasquet beats Sela and takes France to 2:0 lead, and
Berd levels the score against the Swiss to 1:1

"Germany's hopes of beating Argentina in Buenos Aires suffered a cruel blow, however, as Philipp Kohlschreiber was forced to retire with a hamstring injury when serving for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set against Carlos Berlocq."
Italy-Croatia 1:1, Lorenzi took Cilic to 5 sets, Seppi beat Dodig.
At the moment, Raonic, a set and a break down losing to Ramos in Canada. Is Raonic turning out to be a choker?

Yesterday both matches went as expected Stan beat Rosol and Berd went through Laaksonen. So after the first day 1:1.

I have read a lot said by Rosol in this DC, but I am quite sceptical about his performance for today´s double and possible his fifth match with Laaksonen tomorrow. He speaks and behaves as a Maestro, yes he beat Nadal in Wimbledon, but that is all in his career. He should start to work harder and concentrate on his game to go up at the ranking, but instead of that he just babbles about no pressure from the double match to him and how he is experienced and that he will not have to play the fifth match tomorrow. That is not going to end up well for Czech.

In my opinion Berd with Rosol will lose the double and tomorrow Stan will beat Berd and Rosol will not play the fifth match.

Rosol is a typical player where you can see a good potential, but due to his dull head, he can not go any further.

It is really a big truth that the greatest players differ from the good by intelligence and concentration. Some can take a lesson, but it is not case for all. Rosol is unfortunately the second case. Fortunately the dull head could beat the dulliest head ever.

paulcz wrote:It is really a big truth that the greatest players differ from the good by intelligence and concentration. Some can take a lesson, but it is not case for all. Rosol is unfortunately the second case. Fortunately the dull head could beat the dulliest head ever.

Well I think Stan can certainly play fast, sending the ball right and left thanks to his great BH and that was never going to be an easy thing for big guys like Rosol who in terms of tennis are considered moving like dinosaurs. Problem with Rosol is that he has no choice but to go for broke on every point so it's certainly a case of having a good or bad day rather than mental...don't you think? though knowing that you need to have a good day to stand a chance to win puts even more pressure on the mind.

Tenez wrote:

paulcz wrote:It is really a big truth that the greatest players differ from the good by intelligence and concentration. Some can take a lesson, but it is not case for all. Rosol is unfortunately the second case. Fortunately the dull head could beat the dulliest head ever.

Well I think Stan can certainly play fast, sending the ball right and left thanks to his great BH and that was never going to be an easy thing for big guys like Rosol who in terms of tennis are considered moving like dinosaurs. Problem with Rosol is that he has no choice but to go for broke on every point so it's certainly a case of having a good or bad day rather than mental...don't you think? though knowing that you need to have a good day to stand a chance to win puts even more pressure on the mind.

Rosol does not react on the match course at all. He just does not think about a game pattern. He does not watch a player weaknesses, he plays always the same. He does not slow down a ball, no higher spin, no tactical slice. All is predictable. He is not involved in the match, not able to analyse within the match. I saw about 10 his game on live and all were absolutely the same. The difference only was, that sometimes he hit better than in others. Rosol is real case of the apathetic approach.

Berd is the same height as Rosol and his move is not better, but their approach to tennis is quite different.

And Serbia clinches thw win against Belgium in "straights" 3:0
On course to play USA in the States next.

Also through to the next round is France, to play, as things stand - Argentina.

Tough battle going on in Geneva where Stan/Chiudinelli are battling it against Berd/Rosol in the 5th set 3all a the moment.

Come on Czechs !

paulcz wrote: I have read a lot said by Rosol in this DC, but I am quite sceptical about his performance for today´s double and possible his fifth match with Laaksonen tomorrow. He speaks and behaves as a Maestro, yes he beat Nadal in Wimbledon, but that is all in his career. He should start to work harder and concentrate on his game to go up at the ranking, but instead of that he just babbles about no pressure from the double match to him and how he is experienced and that he will not have to play the fifth match tomorrow. That is not going to end up well for Czech.
Rosol is a typical player where you can see a good potential, but due to his dull head, he can not go any further

Let's not be hard on Rosol The Great!
What happened on Wimbledon Centre Court on the 28th of June was nothing but pure magic. The kind of thing that happens only there.
That match and the way Rosol played his 5th set was something that will never happen again. It was a one-off, a heroic act, a central, pinnacle moment of his tennis career he will remember all his life.
I bet he dreams about that match at least once every two weeks.
Even if he doesn't win another match in his life, even if he begs for bread in the street, he will have that memory, that gift from God to warm him on the inside all his life.
It's that kind of moment. A truly Special one.
Most players better ranked than him, more successful don't have it. Berdych doesn't. Stepanek doesn't.

I remember when I played volleyball years ago, and one magic point I scored at the net, when I managed to leap into the air and time it so well, I still don't know how I did it, because there was a tall guy on the other side and I managed to tip the ball over the net almost with my fingernails, over him, right down his face and body, I can still recall the trance I felt as I pulled it off and the cheering I got from my team.
I can still remember it very fondly now and then.

So Lukas can walk on air and look at that win with rose-tinted glasses knowing he did it and thinking he can do it again.

I hope he has a reasonable career and manages to earn enough to be able to afford a house and a fireplace next to which he can talk to his children and grandchildren about that special, special day.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18636437

paulcz wrote: It is really a big truth that the greatest players differ from the good by
intelligence and concentration. Some can take a lesson, but it is not
case for all. Rosol is unfortunately the second case. Fortunately the
dull head could beat the dulliest head ever.

Brilliant drama in Sui-CZ match 7 all in the 5th!

Rosol being utterly shocking at the net

He is a complete opposite from Stepanek in every possible way.
Still, holds serve, 9:7.

Rosol struggling even with his ground-strokes, can't handle lower balls, I can see now why he was able to demolish Nadal....

With Lukas it really is all or nothing. Scary!

10:9.

14 all. 5th set passed its 2 hour mark long ago....

Epic fight with some really rubbish doubles tennis

noleisthebest wrote:Rosol struggling even with his ground-strokes, can't handle lower balls, I can see now why he was able to demolish Nadal....

With Lukas it really is all or nothing. Scary!

10:9.

That is exactly what I thought a while ago.

I know what he did, thanks God for him, but this is only his excuse

Great fight.

who is going to crack first Marco or Lukas?

15 all.

Tomas probably wanted to kill Lukas badly million times by now....

Whatever happens in this doubles match, tomorrow's singles in this tie are going to be brilliant, esp Stan Berd. Are playing their match first or second?
All players will be dead tired, playing three matches in three days.

noleisthebest wrote:who is going to crack first Marco or Lukas?

15 all.

Marco has not played yesterday, so I hope that he has still something in the tank. But Stan with Berd will play tomorrow and that will be pretty tough. It can be 40:38 looking at them

I've been making pancakes in between the points. One burnt already

noleisthebest wrote:Tomas probably wanted to kill Lukas badly million times by now....

I also thought about it. Even coach complained about Lukas approach, so it depends, oh two match points

wow, match points....saved!!!