Today’s Men’s Feature (4/4)

Written by: Staff on 4th April 2013

Today's Men's Feature (4/4)

epa03542029 Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic plays a forehand return during his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia, in round three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2013. EPA/MARK DADSWELL AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Men’s Look Forward: Davis Cup

As is so often the case, the key to this year’s Davis Cup ties may be health. Canada relies on Milos Raonic, who last week had to pull out of Miami with strep throat. The Czechs lean on Tomas Berdych, who is out with shoulder problems, and Radek Stepanek, who is just starting to come back from surgery. Serbia lacks Janko Tipsarevic, who tends to play himself into a frazzle. Argentina knew from the start that it wouldn’t have Juan Martin del Potro (although that wasn’t exactly a matter of health). And Italy’s Simone Bolelli is hurting, although that’s certainly not as deadly as if they lacked, say, Andreas Seppi.

It’s fascinating to learn that the Americans, who are hosting Serbia, picked a high altitude in Boise, which speeds up the ball — but then chose a medium-slow indoor hardcourt as their surface. After all, they’re relying on fireballers Sam Querrey and John Isner for singles. The Bryans, naturally, are the pick for doubles. Serbia lacks Tipsarevic, but it has Novak Djokovic, with Viktor Troicki the #2 singles player. Nenad Zimonjic will play doubles with someone; that decision probably won’t be made until the last minute. It seems extremely unlikely that it will be Ilija Bozoljac, who is listed in the spot.

It’s an interesting tie. Djokovic didn’t have a great month on spring hardcourts, but still, he’s Novak Djokovic. He really ought to win both his points. The Bryans ought to win the doubles. Based on current form, Querrey should have no trouble with Troicki. So that’s two relatively safe points for both sides — and one very hard-to-predict match in Troicki versus Isner. Isner is much higher ranked, but that’s old points; neither one is in good form right now….

The good news for the weak Czech team is that they’re facing Kazakhstan, which continues to field a borrowed team — and a team that is now in very poor shape, with Mikhail Kukushkin, Evgeny Korolev, Andrey Golubev, and Yuriy Schukin. Even with Berdych unavailable, the Czechs still have Lukas Rosol for singles, and while Stepanek is out of the singles, he is expected to play doubles. In singles, the announced lineup is Rosol and Jan Hajek for the Czechs, Kukushkin and Golubev for the hosts. Other than Stepanek, we wouldn’t bet anything on who plays doubles for either team.

The health of Milos Raonic will probably decide whether the Italy versus Canada tie is at all interesting. Italy has two strong singles players in Andreas Seppi and Fabio Fognini (although they prefer traditional sufaces and they will be asked to play on a medium-fast indoor court). Canada has Raonic and not much else (they had to choose between Vasek Pospisil and Frank Dancevic for #2 singles; they picked Pospisil). The Canadian doubles team of Nestor/Pospisil has a decent chance, but the hosts still need two singles points. Hard to believe they can score them without Raonic.

The Argentines believe that the French team, consisting of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon for singles and Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra for doubles, will have the edge over the hosts. It was supposed to be Tsonga and Richard Gasquet for France in singles, but Gasquet pulled out at the last minute due to an ankle problem and Simon was brought in. To make things even better for France, Argentina’s top available player Juan Monaco is in a slump. And Argentina decided to play their #3, Carlos Berlocq, rather than their #2, Horacio Zeballos, at #2 singles. This would look like a blowout on a hardcourt. But Tsonga hates clay (although Simon likes it), and the hosts have chosen a clay surface. The French still look like the favorites, but maybe not the overwhelming favorites.

It was fascinating to notice a Syrian team contesting a zonal (against Kuwait). But we’ve never heard of any of the players. There are some pretty interesting players in the zonals (e.g. Alexandr Dolgopolov, Jerzy Janowicz, Marcos Baghdatis, Bernard Tomic), but no ties which made us stand up an take notice — the teams with top players generally are up against much weaker opponents.

Syria isn’t the only nation with security issues. See yesterday’s World News for a report on the requirement that Pakistan play outside their home nation.

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