2014 Davis Cup

[Front242]

^ Well spotted. Didn't cop that first time.

 

[herios]

I see Evans has been added to the British team, the Italian line-up is:
F3, Seppi, Lorenzi and Bolelli.
Berdych is also out from the Czech team, following his Miami injury, they will be represented by:
Stepanek, Rosol, Vesely and Hajek. Nishikori will play.

I thought the Miami thing was a stomach issue with Berdych...what IS the injury?

Sorry. You are right, it was a confusion, did not remember who withdrew for what reason in Miami. I just assumed he was injured, thus the withdrawal from DC.
I found an article stating he wants to focus on the ATP Tour this year. He paid his duties for his country with 2 DC wins me thinks.

 

[Front242]

Nothing to do with injury from what I see.

"With No. 5 Tomas Berdych opting out of Davis Cup duties this round — it’s likely the long flight to Japan played a role in that decision — Japan’s chances of upending the defending champions, who will be led by Lukas Rosol and Radek Stepanek, have improved."

http://tennis.si.com/2014/03/30/watch-list-roger-federer-davis-cup-serena-williams-charleston/

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I see Evans has been added to the British team, the Italian line-up is:
F3, Seppi, Lorenzi and Bolelli.
Berdych is also out from the Czech team, following his Miami injury, they will be represented by:
Stepanek, Rosol, Vesely and Hajek. Nishikori will play.

Berdych not being in the team has nothing to do with injury. In fact he had
announced well before he dropped out of Miami that he will not play in DC QF.
He has said that he wants to concentrate on ATP tournaments this year and
not on DC. Having said that, he agreed to play in any and all home DC ties.
He says he does not want to travel all the way (to Japan in this case) to
play just a couple of matches.

The Czechs are one team that could give the Swiss some fight. With the
abovementioned decision of Berdych, Czech are unlikely to reach finals.
The Swiss will most probably play France in the DC final this year and that
will be a road-kill considering the "excellent form" being displayed by Tsonga
and Gasquet.

Go SWISS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Moxie]

^ I completely approve of Berdych's decision. He's done his bit, and it would be mad to go to Japan just before the clay season. Czech Republic still might upset Japan, anyway. Other than that, I agree with your assessment. And if Roger and Stan are committed to playing all of their ties this year, and I believe they are, I don't see anyone beating the Swiss team.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Does anyone know who has home in the possible Swiss-France or Swiss-Czech Republic ties?

 

[Moxie]

That's a really good question, and I don't understand how to figure that out. As you rightly point out, I think, those are the only potential speed-bumps for Switzerland.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

That's a really good question, and I don't understand how to figure that out. As you rightly point out, I think, those are the only potential speed-bumps for Switzerland.

The way it works, as far as I know, is say last time Switzerland played France it was in France, now it will be in Switzerland. I just don't know their history.

 

[Moxie]

Oh, that's helpful. Maybe I'll try to figure it out. I'm sure you've been here, but all the histories are at daviscup.com.

 

[tennisville]

Away in both for Swiss

http://www.daviscup.com/itf/cup/shared/pdfs/dc/cog_2014_wg.pdf

 

[Moxie]

So helpful, tennisville, thanks! OK, but Czech Rep. and France are in the same half, so it's either/or. Assuming that the Swiss get through…and with Italy, Germany, GB in their half, they have a good shout…CR or France would have to chose indoor HCs, no? My magic 8 ball is saying that all signs point to a Swiss victory. The little engine that could is Great Britain, IMO. By your chart it seems they could choose surface, if they get past Italy and to Switzerland, and that might be grass. That seems the only other potential upset. With Spain and Argentina not even factoring, and Roger and Stan committed, I don't think this will be a nail-biter DC year.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

1. Assuming CZE reaches finals, Berdych would be willing to play in it; Berdych has
announced that he is willing to play in all home ties. That may be difficult for
Swiss.

2. I expect Italy to win against GBR as Italy is not as stupid as USA players.
However, in the outside chance that GBR beats Italy, I think GBR would
give a better fight for Swiss than the Foggy Italians.

3. GBR vs. swiss will be a home time for GBR. Also, GBR has one big four player
and decent doubles team. Watch out for GBR guys.

 

[Iona16]

1. Assuming CZE reaches finals, Berdych would be willing to play in it; Berdych has
announced that he is willing to play in all home ties. That may be difficult for
Swiss.

2. I expect Italy to win against GBR as Italy is not as stupid as USA players.
However, in the outside chance that GBR beats Italy, I think GBR would
give a better fight for Swiss than the Foggy Italians.

3. GBR vs. swiss will be a home time for GBR. Also, GBR has one big four player
and decent doubles team. Watch out for GBR guys.

I don't think the US players were stupid. Andy was always going to be the favourite against any American player - whatever the surface. It still made sense to pick Andy's worst surface. I guess you could argue that they should have just picked their best surface as a win against Andy was unlikely. They were unlucky to lose Isner. James Ward had already beaten Sam at Queen's a few years before. Ward always seem to play above his ranking when he plays Davis Cup. I think the only mistake the US team made was the location. The crowd support wasn't great.

You're giving GB an outside chance against the Italians but you think they could give the Swiss a fight. Where do you see the points coming in the Italy v GB tie?

I see Andy winning against any Italian. When you consider it's best of 5 I think that makes him even more of a favourite. Is Fognini definitely playing? I read they were waiting until Thursday to decide.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Finally, the list of players for all QF ties are announced. At this time it appears that
it will play out as follows.

1. France should have no problem against Germany. Germany has its Z team
playing. France has two (almost top 10) players representing them in
Tsonga and Gasquet.

2. Nishikori is not playing due to injury. So, despite the fact that Berdych is
not travelling to Japan, Czech should win this one. Stepanek and
Rosol are playing against no name Japanese players.

3. Swiss should win this one against Kazakhstan. (be careful though
as Stan had previously lost to Kushkin in previous DC ties).

4. While the above three ties have clear favorites, the tie between
GBR and Italy seems to be the hard to predict. I think this could
go either way. However, if Andy loses one of his two matches,
there is no way that GBR can win this one. Andy losing to Fog
is not unimaginable.

So, at the end of the week, I think SF will be set between

a. France and Czech Republic
b. Switzerland and Italy.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

1. Assuming CZE reaches finals, Berdych would be willing to play in it; Berdych has
announced that he is willing to play in all home ties. That may be difficult for
Swiss.

2. I expect Italy to win against GBR as Italy is not as stupid as USA players.
However, in the outside chance that GBR beats Italy, I think GBR would
give a better fight for Swiss than the Foggy Italians.

3. GBR vs. swiss will be a home time for GBR. Also, GBR has one big four player
and decent doubles team. Watch out for GBR guys.

I don't think the US players were stupid. Andy was always going to be the favourite against any American player - whatever the surface. It still made sense to pick Andy's worst surface. I guess you could argue that they should have just picked their best surface as a win against Andy was unlikely. They were unlucky to lose Isner. James Ward had already beaten Sam at Queen's a few years before. Ward always seem to play above his ranking when he plays Davis Cup. I think the only mistake the US team made was the location. The crowd support wasn't great.

You're giving GB an outside chance against the Italians but you think they could give the Swiss a fight. Where do you see the points coming in the Italy v GB tie?

I see Andy winning against any Italian. When you consider it's best of 5 I think that makes him even more of a favourite. Is Fognini definitely playing? I read they were waiting until Thursday to decide.

Sorry, I did not express myself properly. I was not commenting on the surface choice.
In fact, I think choosing clay was a good strategical move on the part of USA. Instead of
saying stupidity, I should have said "incompetence" of US players.

 

[tented]

1. Assuming CZE reaches finals, Berdych would be willing to play in it; Berdych has
announced that he is willing to play in all home ties. That may be difficult for
Swiss.

2. I expect Italy to win against GBR as Italy is not as stupid as USA players.
However, in the outside chance that GBR beats Italy, I think GBR would
give a better fight for Swiss than the Foggy Italians.

3. GBR vs. swiss will be a home time for GBR. Also, GBR has one big four player
and decent doubles team. Watch out for GBR guys.

I don't think the US players were stupid. Andy was always going to be the favourite against any American player - whatever the surface. It still made sense to pick Andy's worst surface. I guess you could argue that they should have just picked their best surface as a win against Andy was unlikely.

If you're going to be logical about this, then we can't discuss it.

 

[herios]

If Nishi is a no show, then the Czech should prevail against Japan.
Switzerland and France are heavy favorites.
Italy - GB will be interesting, surely.
Iona was questioning if Fabio will play. Indeed, there is a report that he has a recent muscle injury.
A Fognini - Murray encounter should be very interesting.
Their H2H is only 1-1 and last time have played was...2009.

Both times they have met, Fabio was ranked around 100-110 in 2007 first time in Canadian Open on HC and Fabio won it shockingly 6-2, 6-2, then in Monte Carlo on clay Andy won.

 

[Moxie]

Italian press reports that while playing Bautista Agut in Miami, Fabio hit himself in the chest with his racquet while finishing a forehand. (This probably explains lackluster performance against Rafa in the next round, which he caught hell for from the crowd.) Nothing is broken, but there is a "subperiostal?" hematoma on a rib. Sounds painful, but it also sounds like he's going to try to play.

I agree that Italy/GBR is up for grabs.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

murray was 'Captain Vommo' today :gross:..ate something dodgy last night (wed), He missed thurs afternoons function with xyz dignitaries, others in the team were a bit poorly as well, the rice must have been dodgy as that's the only item the gb team had that italy did not, they had more pasta *surprise* ..

did the Italian chefs mess with the food ?..:dodgy::devil:emperor: lets not go there. ..anyhoo, andy got some evening practice in, but *gasp* rain is meant to be in that area tomorrow.

 

[Iona16]

Hoping Andy will be ok for his match.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/apr/03/andy-murray-shrug-off-virus-davis-cup-italy

I think the weather forecast is pretty bad for the next 3 days. Not great news.