2015 DAVIS CUP: BNP PARIBAS WORLD GROUP TENNIS NEWS

Written by: Staff on 14th July 2015

2015 DAVIS CUP: BNP PARIBAS WORLD GROUP TENNIS NEWS |

2015 DAVIS CUP BY BNP PARIBAS

WORLD GROUP QUARTERFINALS

17-19 JULY – TIE NOTES

Great Britain v (s) France – London, GBR – grass (outdoors)

Australia v Kazakhstan – Darwin, AUS – grass (outdoors)

(s) Argentina v (s) Serbia – Buenos Aires, ARG – clay (indoors)

Belgium v (s) Canada – Middelkerke (Ostend), BEL – clay (outdoors)

(s) = seed

– Great Britain hosts France at The Queen’s Club in the 21st meeting between the two nations, but their first since 1992. Great Britain is bidding to defeat France for the first time in 37 years, having not won against this weekend’s opponents since John Lloyd and Buster Mottram combined to seal a 3-2 victory at Roland Garros in 1978.

– Australia is hoping to continue its best Davis Cup run in 9 years when it takes on Kazakhstan on home soil in Darwin. The host nation is looking to secure a place in its first World Group semifinal since 2006, but it will have to overcome a dangerous Kazakh team more than capable of an upset. The visiting nation, who defeated last year’s semifinalist Italy in the first round, is hoping to record another shock win and reach the semifinals for the first time in history.

– Argentina plays host to 2010 champion Serbia on indoor clay in Buenos Aires. Argentina won their most recent meeting in 2011 – when Novak Djokovic retired with a back injury while trailing Juan Martin del Potro in the ultimately decisive fourth rubber. The hosts know that another victory would see them through to a remarkable 10th World Group semifinal since 2002. Serbia would also be in familiar territory with a win, having reached the last 4 on 3 occasions in the last 5 years.

– Belgium and Canada go head-to-head in Middelkerke (Ostend) in the first meeting between the two nations since 1913. Belgium has waited 102 years to avenge its 4-0 defeat to Canada on neutral soil in Folkestone, England, and has the added boost of playing for a place in the semifinals for the first time since 1999. Canada, meanwhile, is looking to reach its second World Group semifinal, having first achieved the feat in 2013.

CHOICE OF GROUND – WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS…

The winners of this weekend’s quarterfinal ties advance to the semifinals on 18-20 September. Below is the choice of ground for all potential semifinal match-ups. The venue details are due to be submitted to the ITF by 7 August.

*Choice of ground decided by lot

HARD COURT FREE ZONE… For the first time since 2012, all 4 quarterfinals are being played on a surface other than hard courts. It is the first time since 1987, when Australia defeated Mexico in Brisbane and India defeated Israel in New Delhi, that as many as 2 of the 4 quarterfinals have been played on grass.

PAST CHAMPIONS

In total, 14 nations have won the Davis Cup.

USA 32

Australia 28

France, Great Britain 9

Sweden 7

Spain 5

Germany 3

Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic 3

Russia 2

Croatia, Italy, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland 1

ALL FIVE TO FIVE…

Only twice have all 5 rubbers of a Davis Cup tie gone to 5 sets: 1946 European Zone semifinal, Yugoslavia defeated France 3-2 and 2003 World Group play-off, Romania defeated Ecuador 3-2.

COMEBACKS FROM 0-2 DOWN…

There have been just 8 comebacks from 0-2 down in World Group ties. Sweden has produced 4 of these comebacks. France recorded the most recent one in 2014 (France d. Germany 3-2, quarterfinals). In the Davis Cup overall there have been 51 since the competition began in 1900.

TOP TIEBREAKS…

The highest number of tiebreaks in a Davis Cup tie is 11 (Croatia d. Brazil 4-1, 2008 World Group play-off).

PARTICIPATING NATIONS…

126 nations have entered the 2015 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.

DAVIS CUP NATIONS RANKING…

The ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking was launched at the end of 2001. It is published following every tie weekend and measures success over the preceding 4-year period, with recent performances weighted more heavily. It is the sole criteria for seeding at all levels of Davis Cup competition.

Latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking (9 March 2015)

1 Czech Republic 11 USA

2 Switzerland 12 Kazakhstan

3 France 13 Belgium

4 Serbia 14 Japan

5 Argentina 15 Croatia

6 Spain 16 Brazil

7 Canada 17 Germany

8 Italy 18 Colombia

9 Australia 19 Ukraine

10 Great Britain 20 Slovakia

DAVIS CUP RECORDS^

*the tiebreak was introduced in Davis Cup in 1989; ^for further details see the Statistics page on DavisCup.com

Great Britain v France – London, GBR – grass (outdoors)

Head-to-head: Great Britain leads 11-9

This is the 21st meeting between Great Britain and France, 103 years after Great Britain won their first Davis Cup meeting 4-1 on grass in Folkestone in 1912.

While Great Britain leads the head-to-head 11-9, the hosts have not defeated France since 1978 when Buster Mottram and John Lloyd helped Great Britain to a 3-2 victory on clay at Roland Garros.

This is the 2nd time Great Britain and France have played at The Queen’s Club, with Guy Forget and Henri Leconte leading France to a 5-0 victory in the World Group Qualifying Round at Queen’s in September 1990.

Forget and Leconte also won all 5 rubbers between them in the last meeting between the two nations – in the World Group first round in Bayonne in 1992.

None of the nominated French team have played a Davis Cup tie on grass before, but Dominic Inglot is the only player in the British team who has not played a Davis Cup tie on grass.

GREAT BRITAIN	v	FRANCE

10	Current DC Nations Ranking	3
Champion 9 times	Best Result	Champion 9 times
1900	First year played	1904
104	Years played (incl 2015)	96
14	Years in World Group (incl 2015)	33
240	Ties played	246
146-94	Ties Win-Loss	160-86
2	Comebacks from 0-2 down	4

- GREAT BRITAIN is bidding to reach the World Group semifinals for the first time since 1981. That year, it defeated Italy and New Zealand before losing to Argentina 5-0 in the last 4.

– Earlier this year, Great Britain defeated USA in the first round in Glasgow to reach the quarterfinals for the 2nd year in a row. James Ward recorded a five-set victory over John Isner that finished 15-13 in the 5th set and Andy Murray won both of his singles rubbers to secure the triumph. Bob/Mike Bryan recorded the only live rubber victory for the visitors, winning the doubles rubber against Dominic Inglot/Jamie Murray 9-7 in the 5th set.

- Last year, Great Britain reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1986 after defeating USA 3-1 in the first round in San Diego before falling to Italy 3-2 in the quarterfinals in Naples.

– Great Britain is playing in the World Group in back-to-back years for the first time since 2002-2003.

– Great Britain has been crowned Davis Cup champion 9 times. Its last title came in 1936 when it defeated Australia in the Challenge Round Final. Fred Perry is Great Britain’s most successful player, with a 45-7 win-loss record.

– If Great Britain wins this weekend, it will host either Australia or Kazakhstan in September’s semifinals.

– Great Britain is the only nation that has competed in all the editions of the Davis Cup since 1900.

– Great Britain is ranked No. 10 on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking – its highest ranking since the Davis Cup Nations Ranking was introduced in 2001.

– Andy Murray has never lost a Davis Cup singles rubber on a grass court. He has a 5-0 singles win-loss record on grass courts in Davis Cup and a 21-2 singles win-loss record overall. His only 2 singles losses have come on clay – against Stan Wawrinka in the 2005 World Group play-off defeat to Switzerland and Fabio Fognini in last year’s quarterfinal loss against Italy.

– Andy Murray lost the only grass court doubles rubber he has contested in Davis Cup – falling to Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram in 5-sets alongside Jamie Delgado in the Europe/Africa Relegation play-off in Eastbourne in 2006.

– James Ward has a 4-1 win-loss record in 5-set matches in Davis Cup. His only 5-set defeat in Davis Cup came against Evgeny Donskoy in Great Britain’s comeback from 0-2 down against Russia in Europe/Africa Group I in 2013.

- FRANCE is bidding to reach the World Group semifinals for the 4th time in 6 years.

– France is through to the quarterfinals for a 6th consecutive year. Since 2001, France has only failed to reach the quarterfinals once, losing to Czech Republic in the first round in 2009. This is its 17th consecutive World Group appearance.

– France defeated Germany 3-2 in an away first round tie in Frankfurt. Gilles Simon defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 10-8 in the 5th set in the opening rubber, before Gael Monfils defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber in the 2nd singles rubber. Julien Benneteau and Davis Cup debutant Nicolas Mahut completed the victory by winning the doubles in straight sets.

- Last year, France reached its 17th Davis Cup Final – and it’s first since 2010. It defeated Australia 5-0 in the first round in La Roche sur Yon, Germany 3-2 in Nancy and Czech Republic 4-1 at Roland Garros before falling to Switzerland 3-1 in the Final in Lille.

– France has been crowned Davis Cup champion 9 times and is joint-third (with this weekend’s opponent) on the list of all-time champions, behind USA and Australia. France has also reached the Final a further 8 times. Its last title win came in 2001 when it defeated Australia 3-2 on grass in Melbourne.

– Only France and USA have won a Davis Cup Final on all four surfaces (grass, clay, hard and carpet).

– France is one of 6 nations to have held the No. 1 ranking, alongside Australia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Russia and Spain. France held the top spot between February 2002 and September 2003 and again from April 2004 to July 2004. The Davis Cup Nations Ranking was introduced in 2001 and is updated after each round. France is currently ranked No. 3.

– France has only twice been absent from the World Group since its inception in 1981. Its 33 years in the World Group is second only to Czech Republic (34 years) and USA (34).

– Gilles Simon is bidding to win just his 3rd live Davis Cup rubber for France. His second rubber victory over Austria’s Stefan Koubek in the World Group first round in 2011 and his opening rubber win over Struff in Frankfurt in March are his only live rubber victories in Davis Cup.

– Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has a 5-0 win-loss record in Davis Cup doubles rubbers. He is the most successful player in the French team, with a 21-5 win-loss record overall in Davis Cup.

– If France wins this weekend, it will either travel to Australia or host Kazakhstan in September’s semifinals.

Australia v Kazakhstan – Darwin, AUS – grass (outdoors)

Head-to-head: first meeting

AUSTRALIA	v	KAZAKHSTAN

9	Current DC Nations Ranking	12
Champion 28 times (most recent 2003)	Best Result	Quarterfinals 2011, 2013-15
1905	First Year Played	1995
91	Years Played (inc 2015)	21
28	Years in World Group (inc 2015)	5
234	Ties Played	64
171-63	Ties Win-Loss	39-25
1	Comebacks from 0-2 down	0

- AUSTRALIA is through to the World Group quarterfinals for the first time since 2006. That year it defeated Switzerland and Belarus before losing 5-0 to Argentina in the semifinals.

– Australia defeated 3-time Davis Cup champion Czech Republic 3-2 in the World Group first round in Ostrava. Thanasi Kokkinakis recorded his first career comeback from 0-2 down to defeat Lukas Rosol in the opening rubber, while Bernard Tomic won both of his singles rubbers, either side of a doubles defeat for Sam Groth/Lleyton Hewitt, to complete the victory.

- Last year, Australia fell to France 5-0 in La Roche sur Yon in its first World Group appearance since 2007, but retained its place in the elite tier with a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Perth.

– Australia has been crowned Davis Cup champion 28 times, second only to USA (32) on the all-time list of Davis Cup champions. Lleyton Hewitt is the nation’s most successful player, with a total win-loss record of 56-19 and a singles win-loss record of 41-14. Hewitt has also played the most ties for Australia, with 39 (prior to this one) over 17 years.

– Hewitt has a 17-7 overall win-loss record for Australia in Davis Cup ties on grass. He has a 14-5 win-loss record in singles and 3-2 win-loss record in doubles on the surface in Davis Cup.

– Nick Kyrgios and Sam Groth are undefeated in Davis Cup ties on grass. Kyrgios has a 2-0 win-loss record in Davis Cup ties on grass, while Groth recorded his only Davis Cup rubber victory to date on the surface – in a dead rubber in Australia’s 5-0 World Group play-off victory over Uzbekistan in Perth.

– If Australia wins this weekend, it will either host France or travel to Great Britain in September’s semifinals.

– Australia is ranked No. 9 on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking, its highest ranking since November 2008, when it was also ranked No. 9.

- KAZAKHSTAN is bidding to reach the World Group semifinals for the first time. This is their 5th consecutive year in the World Group.

– Kazakhstan is through to its 3rd straight World Group quarterfinal – and 4th overall after defeating Italy 3-2 in the first round in Astana. Mikhail Kukushkin won both of his singles rubbers and Alexandr Nedovyesov won the first 5-set match of his career in the decisive 5th rubber against Fabio Fognini to help the Kazakhs recover from 2-1 down and seal a shock victory.

– Last year Kazakhstan equalled its best Davis Cup result by defeating Belgium 3-2 in the first round in Astana before losing to Switzerland 3-2 in Geneva in the quarterfinals. Kazakhstan also reached the quarterfinals in 2011 (l. Argentina) and 2013 (l. Czech Republic).

– Prior to 1995, players from Kazakhstan represented the Soviet Union.

- If Kazakhstan wins this weekend, it will either travel to France or Great Britain in the semifinals.

– Kazakhstan is ranked No. 12 on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking. Its highest ranking is No. 7 – achieved in February 2014.

– None of the Kazakh team have played a Davis Cup tie on grass before. Mikhail Kukushkin is the only player in the Kazakh team to have won multiple matches on grass at Tour-level. Kukushkin has a 4-13 win-loss record on grass at Tour-level, ahead of Andrey Golubev (1-10) and Alexandr Nedovyesov (0-3). Dmitry Popko has never played a Tour-level match on any surface.

– Aleksandr Nedovyesov has played 2 Davis Cup singles rubbers – for 2 different nations. His 5-set win over Fognini in the decisive rubber in the first round in Italy was his first live Davis Cup singles rubber. He lost against Hungary’s Sebo Kiss in a dead rubber on his Davis Cup debut for Ukraine in 2005 on his only other singles appearance.

Argentina v Serbia – Buenos Aires, ARG – clay (indoors)

Head-to-head: tied 1-1

A 3rd meeting between these 2 nations in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, who first met when Serbia, playing under the flag of Yugoslavia, won 5-0 in Belgrade in 1964.

Argentina won their most recent meeting 3-2 in the 2011 World Group semifinals when Novak Djokovic retired with a back injury while trailing Juan Martin del Potro 76(5) 3-0 in the decisive 4th rubber.

ARGENTINA	v	SERBIA

5	Current DC Nations Ranking	4
Runner-up 4 times	Best Result	Champion 2010
1923	First Year Played	1995
61	Years Played (inc 2015)	21
23	Years in World Group (inc 2015)	8
145	Ties Played	55
83-62	Ties Win-Loss	39-16
0	Comebacks from 0-2 down	0

- ARGENTINA is bidding to reach its 10th World Group semifinal since 2002. The nation is playing in the World Group for the 14th consecutive year.

– Argentina recovered from 2-1 down to defeat Brazil 3-2 in the World Group first round in Buenos Aires. The tie was notable for the 4th rubber, which saw Leonardo Mayer defeat Joao Souza in 5-sets in the longest singles rubber in Davis Cup history at 6 hours 43 minutes. Federico Delbonis sealed victory for the hosts after defeating Thomaz Bellucci in the decisive fifth rubber.

- Last year, Argentina lost to Italy 3-1 in the 1st round in Mar del Plata. It was the first time in 13 years it had failed to make the quarterfinals or better. Argentina defeated Israel 3-2 on neutral soil in Florida to retain its World Group status.

– Argentina is a 4-time runner-up in Davis Cup: in 1981 (l. USA), 2006 (l. Russia), 2008 (l. Spain) and 2011 (l. Spain). Argentina is the only nation to have lost 4 Davis Cup Finals without winning the title.

– The doubles rubber in the World Group semifinal between Russia and Argentina in 2002, featuring Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin against Lucas Arnold-Ker and David Nalbandian, is the second longest recorded men’s doubles match in Davis Cup, at 6 hours, 20 minutes. The tie was surpassed by the 7 hour, 1 minute clash between Stan Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli and Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol in the first round in 2013.

– If Argentina wins this weekend it will travel to either Canada or Belgium in September’s semifinals.

– Diego Sebastian Schwartzman could make his Davis Cup singles debut this weekend. He made his Davis Cup debut for Argentina in their first round victory over Brazil in Buenos Aires in March, losing the doubles rubber with Carlos Berlocq to Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares.

- SERBIA is bidding to reach the World Group semifinals for the 4th time in 6 years.

– Serbia is through to the quarterfinals for the 5th time in 6 years. It defeated Croatia 5-0 in the World Group first round in Kraljevo. Novak Djokovic won a singles rubber and the decisive doubles alongside Nenad Zimonjic, while Viktor Troicki came back from 0-2 down to defeat Borna Coric in the 2nd singles rubber.

- Last year, Serbia lost to eventual champion Switzerland 3-2 in the World Group first round in Novi Sad. It avoided dropping into Europe/Africa Zone Group I for the first time since 2007 after defeating India 3-2 in the World Group play-offs in Bangalore.

– Serbia won its maiden Davis Cup title in 2010, defeating France 3-2 having trailed 2-1 going into the final day.

– Serbia first competed in Davis Cup in 1995 under the Yugoslav flag. Yugoslavia was renamed Serbia & Montenegro in 2004 before Serbia became an independent nation in 2007. Before 1995, Serbian players represented former Yugoslavia, which reached the World Group semifinals three times in 1988-89 and 1991.

– If Serbia wins this weekend it will either travel to Canada or host Belgium in the semfinals.

– Nenad Zimonjic holds the record for most Davis Cup wins by a Serbian player with a 41-25 win-loss record. Janko Tipsarevic (40-17) could equal Zimonjic if he wins one more rubber than Zimonjic this weekend. Zimonjic is the most experienced Davis Cup player on the Serbian team, having played 49 ties. He has a win-loss record of 28-15 in Davis Cup doubles rubbers.

– Viktor Troicki has been extended to 5-sets in 3 of his last 4 Davis Cup singles rubbers. He has a 4-2 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles matches that have been extended to 5-sets.

– Serbia is currently ranked at No. 4 in the Davis Cup Nations Ranking. Its highest-ever ranking is No. 2, attained after winning the title in 2010.

Belgium v Canada – Middelkerke (Ostend), Belgium – clay (outdoors)

Head-to-head: Canada leads 1-0

Canada and Belgium meet in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas for only the 2nd time, with Belgium looking to avenge its 4-0 defeat to Canada on neutral soil in Folkestone, England in their only previous meeting – 102 years ago.

BELGIUM	v	CANADA

13	Current DC Nations Ranking	7
Runner-up 1904	Best Result	Semifinalist 1913, 2013
1904	First year played	1913
93	Years played (incl 2015)	86
17	Years in World Group (incl 2015)	7
180	Ties played	147
90-90	Ties Win-Loss	63-84
0	Comebacks from 0-2 down	1

- BELGIUM is bidding to reach the World Group semifinals for the first time since 1999. That year it lost to France in the last 4 – its best result since the inception of the World Group in 1981.

– Belgium is through to the World Group quarterfinals for the first time since 2007 after defeating defending champion Switzerland 3-2 in the World Group first round. David Goffin clinched the decisive 5th rubber for the hosts, despite having not played in the rest of the tie due to injury.

- Last year, Belgium lost to Kazakhstan 3-2 in the first round, before defeating Ukraine 3-2 in the World Group play-offs.

- If Belgium wins this weekend, it will either host Argentina or travel to Serbia in the semifinals.

- Goffin has an 8-2 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles rubbers. He has a 3-1 win-loss record on clay courts in the competition, with his only loss coming in 5-sets against Viktor Troicki in the World Group first round in 2013.

– Kimmer Coppejans, the 2012 Junior Roland Garros champion, could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend. This is his 2nd nomination for Belgium.

- CANADA is bidding to reach its 2nd World Group semifinal.

– Canada reached its first World Group semifinal in 2013, defeating five-time champions Spain 3-2 in the first round in Vancouver for its first ever World Group win, and Italy 3-1 in the quarterfinals in Vancouver. It then lost to Serbia 3-2 in the semifinals in Belgrade.

– Canada advanced to its 2nd World Group quarterfinal after defeating Japan 3-2 in the first round in Vancouver in March. Vasek Pospisil won the decisive 5th rubber for the hosts against Go Soeda after Kei Nishikori had kept Japan’s hopes alive with 2 singles wins. Pospisil also won the doubles in 5 sets alongside Daniel Nestor, after Milos Raonic had won the opening singles rubber.

– Canada is bidding to win just its fourth World Group tie. The nation is making its 4th straight appearance in the World Group this year – and its 7th World Group appearance overall.

- Last year, Canada lost 4-1 to Japan in the first round in Tokyo. It retained its World Group status by defeating Colombia 3-2 in the World Group play-offs in Halifax.

– Canada is playing just its 7th World Group tie since 2004.

– Daniel Nestor is the most successful player in Canadian Davis Cup history in terms of total wins (47-24), doubles wins (32-9), ties played (48) and years played (23).

– Filip Peliwo and Adil Shamasdin could make their Davis Cup debuts this weekend after being nominated for Canada for the first time.

– Peliwo is a former ITF Junior World Champion – becoming the 2nd Canadian after Nestor to be crowned an ITF World Champion after winning the boys’ singles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2012 and finishing runner-up at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. He was the first player since Mark Kratzmann in 1984 to reach all 4 junior Grand Slam finals in a calendar year. Peliwo also reached the Junior Davis Cup Final with Canada in 2010, losing 2-0 to Japan in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

– Shamasdin, 33, reached a career-best doubles ranking of No. 55 in April after winning his 2nd Tour-level doubles title at Casablanca with Rameez Junaid. He has been a hitting partner of the Davis Cup squad for several years.

– If Canada wins this weekend, it will host either Argentina or Serbia in the semifinals.

– Canada goes into this weekend’s tie at No. 7 in the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking. It reached a nation-best No. 6 in February 2014.

Topics: 2015 Davis Cup, BNP Paribas World Group, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

July 14, 2015 at 6:31 pm

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nancykhale says:

July 14, 2015 at 8:52 pm

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ElenaFoundation says:

July 15, 2015 at 4:05 am

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