World’s top five in Davis Cup action!

Written by: Staff on 12th September 2011

World’s top five in Davis Cup action!

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland during their Semifinal round match on the thirteenth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 10 September 2011. The US Open has been extended due to weather for the fourth year in a row and the men's final will now be played on 12 September 2011. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

The best players in the world are all on duty for their country this weekend as the focus turns towards Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.

Flushing Meadows finalists Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal lead their teams into battle in the World Group semifinals against Argentina and France respectively, while Roger Federer is hoping to help Switzerland earn promotion back into the top tier next year. Andy Murray is in action for Great Britain in their quest to get back into Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2012.

Defending champions Serbia will be looking to continue their dominance on home soil when they play host to Argentina. The Serbians are returning to the scene of their Davis Cup triumph for the first time since last year’s final against France and they have never been defeated there in five previous ties.

Argentina have enjoyed similar success this year in their own fortress – Parque Roca in Buenos Aires – but now the South American side must bring to an end a worrying run of World Group semifinal losses on foreign territory. The Argentines have lost all six of the Davis Cup semifinals they have contested away from home.

With world No. 1 Djokovic and US Open quarterfinalist Janko Tipsarevic in fine form, the Serbians have an excellent chance of reaching back-to-back finals in the competition. Argentina will not lie down without a fight, however, and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and Davis Cup stalwart David Nalbandian will give their all in the name of their country.

The other semifinal is an equally mouthwatering prospect. France must travel to Cordoba to take on Spain in a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal which saw the French overcome an 87-year drought to whitewash their neighbours 5-0.

Both teams have an abundance of talent from which to choose and captains Albert Costa and Guy Forget have named their strongest possible line-ups. Gael Monfils is the only high-profile absentee, with the Frenchman missing in action due to a right knee injury.

Even without Monfils, Forget is able to name three Top 15 singles players in the shape of Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The visitors will have to be at their best if they are to overcome a Spanish outfit that includes David Ferrer and Nadal.

The hosts have won their last 19 home ties and their last 21 on clay. Not since Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten put on a one-man show to win all three points in a World Group first round clash in1999 have the Spanish come undone at home.

Elsewhere in the competition, 16 teams are in action in the World Group play-offs battling for the right to compete in the Davis Cup top tier next year and there are also eight zone ties.

(Courtesy of ITF)