Davis Cup Update – Serbia Keeps Same Players

Written by: Staff on 5th July 2011

Davis Cup Update - Serbia Keeps Same Players

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Rafael Nadal of Spain during the men's singles final of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2011. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

Courtesy of ITF

Serbia have named the same four players that were responsible for winning the nation’s first Davis Cup title in 2010 for its Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal tie against Sweden in Halmstad on 8-10 July.

Spearheaded by new world No. 1 and Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, the quartet faces a depleted Swedish side who, in the absence of Robin Soderling, have turned to the debut pairing of Michael Ryderstedt and Ervin Eleskovic, both ranked in the 300s, to lead the singles line-up. Robert Lindstedt, who reached the final of the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, and Simon Aspelin are the team’s doubles specialists.

Argentina welcome back Juan Martin del Potro after an injury-enforced absence of two years for their tie against Kazakhstan in Buenos Aires, but will be missing stalwart David Nalbandian, who was forced to withdraw this week with an adductor injury.

Andrey Golubev and Mikhail Kukushkin will need to produce their best form if Kazakhstan have any chance of an upset. Golubev was the key player against Czech Republic in the first round, winning both his singles rubbers including a victory over Tomas Berdych.

Andy Roddick has long campaigned for a Davis Cup tie to be held in his hometown of Austin, so he’ll be keen to impress when USA take on Spain. Mardy Fish takes his place as the team’s top player, having recently leapfrogged Roddick to become American No. 1, and the Bryan brothers bring the doubles expertise fresh from their record-equalling 11th Grand Slam men’s doubles title at Wimbledon.

Spain are without Rafael Nadal, but Albert Costa still has a wealth of talent to pick from. All four selected players are ranked in the Top 50, led by world No. 6 David Ferrer and will be looking to recreate the kind of form which saw them claim the title in 2008 and 2009.

The Germans will fancy their chances on home soil of upsetting their European neighbours for the first time since 1938 when they meet France in Stuttgart. Florian Mayer, the world No. 18, leads the challenge for the hosts alongside Philipp Kohlschreiber.

French captain Guy Forget has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal and has rung in the changes from France’s first round clash with Austria. There are recalls for Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, while Michael Llodra remains. The visitors are looking to reach the semifinals for the second straight year.

Alongside the four quarterfinal ties on 8-10 July, there are 24 zone group ties taking place.

World No. 3 Roger Federer plays for Switzerland as they look to regain a place in the World Group for 2012, while Wimbledon semifinalist Andy Murray pulls on the Great Britain kit to face Luxembourg in the Europe/Africa Zone Group II tie in Glasgow. For further information, news, reports and images from all the ties, visit

www.daviscup.com or www.copadavis.com.