Davis Cup 2007 - The Journey Begins

The journey for the 2007 Davis Cup begins on Friday with eight first round world group matches. The opening round sees the 2006 finalists, Russia and Argentina, facing tricky away ties.

Chile v Russia

The Davis Cup holders travel to South America without their number one ranked player, Nikolay Davydenko. However, the Russians still boast a strong squad including Marat Safin, Igor Andreev and Dmitry Tursunov. Looking to knock out the holders early is a Chile team that have won their last nine home ties. Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu have proven themselves many times over when playing in international team competition. Massu won Olympic gold in singles during Athens 2004, and partnered Gonzalez in picking up another gold medal in the doubles at those same Olympics. Playing infront of what will be a vociferous home crowd, Chile goes into the tie on clay as favourites. However, Russia will be looking to feast on Massu as the Chilean has not been at his best of late. Despite making the final of Vina Del Mar, Massu looked far from unbeatable and both Safin and Andreev will be confident of securing victories against him. Fernando Gonzalez will have to carry Chile in this tie; Chile’s number one has just broken into the world’s top 5 after reaching the final of the Australian Open.

Verdict – Home advantage to squeeze Chile through.

France v Romania

France should have little trouble moving onto the quarter-finals after being drawn at home to Romania. Aside from coming into the tie with a squad not as strong as the French (Richard Gasquet, Sebastien Grosjean, Arnaud Clement, Michael Llodra), Romania will have to achieve something they have yet to do so in their history; win a world group tie away from home. That record is unlikely to be broken here. The French have chosen to play indoors on hard court, and may well win the tie before Sunday’s matches.

Verdict – France ensure Sunday’s matches are dead rubbers.

Germany v Croatia

Without the services of Nicolas Keifer due to injury, Germany will be relying on Tommy Haas against Croatia’s two man team of Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic. Earlier this week the Croatian team were the subject of some controversy as Ivo Karlovic withdrew from the squad over an apparent pay dispute. Ljubicic and Ancic will be hoping to earn their money this time by winning away from home. Haas will be supported by the man who ended the career of Andre Agassi, Benjamin Becker. Haas has even head to head records with Ljubicic and Ancic, if Germany are to prevail he will need to have leading head to heads over them by the end of the weekend.

Verdict – Expect a long weekend.

Belgium v Australia

An even contest to determine which nation moves forward to the quarter-finals. Belgium has opted for clay in order to dispose of their Australian opponents. This time last year Australia also went away on clay, on that occasion the destination was Switzerland and were successful after a 5th rubber in which Chris Guccione hit an extraordinary amount of aces in a straight sets victory over George Bastl. Australia will have their star, Lleyton Hewitt, leading them into battle but without a couple of players who have often been by his side in recent years, Wayne Arthurs and Mark Philippoussis. Belgium are without the services of Xavier Malisse, who has already won two titles this season, due to an internal conflict which is not uncommon amongst some nations in Davis Cup play. Belgium will be hoping for their first world group victory since a 1999 win against Switzerland.

Verdict – Hewitt to be the difference.

Czech Republic v USA

When the draw was made this match up was seen as one of if not the tie of the round. Yet another internal dispute is the reason that the Czechs will play without the services of Radek Stepanek, recently in the news for his engagement to Martina Hingis. The relationship between Stepanek and his national federation has been unequivocally destroyed, with the Czech federation releasing a statement that surely severs ties for good; “he is completely indifferent to playing for the Czech Republic and that he despises Czech tennis, his team mates, officials, and Czech tennis fans” were their exact words. The burden of responsibility falls on Tomas Berdych, a talented young player but one who still produces performances that reek of immaturity. Berdych will need to produce the kind of mental strength and concentration that saw him defeat Rafael Nadal in last year’s Madrid Masters. The challenge facing the Czechs comes in the form of a now very settled American side. Ranking wise the American side is impressive, consisting of two top 10 players in Andy Roddick and James Blake and the number one ranked doubles team and recently crowned Australian Open champions, Bob and Mike Bryan. With the Bryans almost certain to win their doubles rubber, it means that if the Czechs are to prevail they will need more than just Tomas Berdych. Had Stepanek been available they would have been favourites, but without him the balance of power falls marginally with the Americans.

Verdict – The Czech federation to be left wishing Radek Stepanek was not so indifferent towards representing his nation.

Switzerland v Spain

Had Roger Federer committed himself to Davis Cup this year, the tie versus Spain would have produced a great deal of publicity due to an impending match up against Rafael Nadal. However, once more Federer has decided to prioritise his battle with the history books on an individual level, thus leaving the Swiss with little chance in this tie. Federer will most likely be winning Switzerland a world group playoff match later in the year, but without him, Spain should have little trouble moving on in the competition. Swiss hopes will lie with Stanislas Wawrinka, but opposition led by Rafael Nadal and backed up by David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez will be far too much for a Federer-less Switzerland to contend with.

Verdict – The easiest away win of the weekend.

Belarus v Sweden

Belarus has claimed some notable scalps at home in recent years against sides such as Spain, Argentina and Russia. Once more they will hope to achieve that on what will be the fastest playing court of the weekend. The Belarus side will be led by Max Mirnyi and his doubles partner Jonas Bjorkman will this time be on the opposite side of the net to him. Mirnyi holds the key to a Belarus win but history is against him with a combined head to head record against the current Swedish squad of 3-18. However, he and Vladimir Voltchkov will be banking on gaining some early momentum and carrying it through the weekend. Sweden, captained by Mats Wilander will be able to call on Robin Soderling, Thomas Johansson, Jonas Bjorkman and Simon Aspelin. Bjorkman owns a 10-1 record versus Mirnyi and it will be interesting to see whether he is used against his doubles partner in singles action.

Verdict – The record suggests Sweden have to be favourites, but Belarus are 3-0 at home in world group ties.

Austria v Argentina

2006 finalists Argentina travel to Austria without their ace in the pack, David Nalbandian. Argentina’s strength in depth is the reason they go to Austria with at least a fighting chance despite being unable to call on Nalbandian, Agustin Calleri, Juan Ignacio Chela, Gaston Gaudio and Guillermo Coria. All of these players absent for reasons ranging from injury, personal choice and poor or no form at all. Argentina captain Alberto Mancini has called on Jose Acasuso, the returning Guillermo Canas, the next big thing of Argentine tennis Juan Martin Del Potro and veteran doubles specialist Sebastian Prieto. Acasuso is the only player in this squad who played Davis Cup in 2006. An Austrian win may be considered by some as an upset, but in truth Austria must come into the tie as slight favourites. Austria have decided to play indoor on carpet and will be hoping to expose the lack of experience (Del Potro) and/or the lack of playing time at this level (Canas and Prieto). Canas has recently returned from a suspension and has excelled on the Challenger circuit but Davis Cup will be an altogether different proposition. Prieto is expected to partner Acasuso in Saturday’s doubles and has only once played a Davis Cup match, way back in 1999. Stefan Koubek and Jurgen Melzer will lead the Austrian side and will be playing to give Austria their first world group victory since 1995.

Verdict – Argentina to extend Austria’s drought at world group level (just).

Let Sports Magician know how you see this weekend's ties developing and vote in the poll in the side bar as to who will be winning the Davis Cup this year.