RICKY’S PREVIEW AND PICKS FOR THE DAVIS CUP TENNIS FIRST ROUND MATCHES

Written by: on 3rd March 2016
CcJCntSUEAE_z2A.jpg-large
RICKY'S PREVIEW AND PICKS FOR THE DAVIS CUP TENNIS FIRST ROUND MATCHES  |
Photo by @DavisCup via Twitter.

 

Great Britain just lifted the Davis Cup trophy in late November. Fast forward barely more than three months and first-round action is already getting underway in 2016. Andy Murray and company will begin their title defense against Japan, which is led by Kei Nishikori but has to go on the road to face the Brits in Birmingham. Among the other first-round ties are the United States vs. Australia, the Czech Republic vs. Germany, and Croatia vs. Belgium.

 

United States vs. Australia

 

Where: Melbourne, Australia

Surface: Grass

United States: John Isner, Jack Sock, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan

Australia: Bernard Tomic, Sam Groth, John Peers, Lleyton Hewitt

 

Nick Kyrgios is out; Lleyton Hewitt is in. That’s right; Kyrgios’ absence stemming from both injury and illness leaves the door open for Hewitt to become a player-captain. Although the recently-retired Hewitt is now an official member of the team in addition to his captaincy, the more likely scenario is that Sam Groth will play both singles and doubles for the Australians. No. 1 singles player Bernard Tomic is in fine form and generally fares well on grass, but he is making a quick turnaround following a runner-up showing on the hard courts of Acapulco.

NOMINATION CHANGE: Lleyton Hewitt replaces Nick Kyrgios and will be playing captain in the #DavisCup tie against USA – Photo by @DavisCup via Twitter.

 

Nobody on the American side is in particularly great form at the moment. Aside from a fourth-round performance at the Australian Open, John Isner has won only a single match in three events. Jack Sock has not picked up a victory since the opening round in Melbourne. Bob and Mike Bryan are without a title in four tournaments this season and have lost their first match at two of the four. On an unfavorable surface away from home, Team USA will have its hands full.

Prediction: Australia 3, United States

 

Czech Republic vs. Germany

 

Where: Hannover, Germany

Surface: Indoor hard

Czech Republic: Tomas Berdych, Lukas Rosol, Radek Stepanek, Jiri Vesely

Germany: Philipp Kohlschreiber, Alexander Zverev, Dustin Brown, Philipp Petzschner

 

Both nations have all of their top players on board. Germany has home-court advantage, but the Czech Republic owns a clear edge in experience. This tie has a little bit of everything: a 37-year-old (Radek Stepanek), an 18-year-old (Alexander Zverev), someone who is generally considered a villain (Lukas Rosol), and someone who appears to have the makings of a fan favorite (Zverev). It also has Dustin Brown. The result should be an entertaining and competitive tie—perhaps the best of the weekend.

 

Berdych and Stepanek led their country to Davis Cup glory in both 2012 and 2013, but it is Rosol who will be joining Berdych in singles duty this week. Rosol will be an underdog in each of his rubbers, so Berdych may have to account for all three points if the visitors want to prevail. The world No. 7 is 28-14 lifetime in Davis Cup singles and 20-2 in doubles. Zverev, meanwhile, has never played a match in this competition.

Prediction: Germany 3, Czech Republic 2

 

Croatia vs. Belgium

 

Where: Liege, Belgium

Surface: Indoor clay

Serbia: Marin Cilic, Borna Coric, Ivan Dodig, Franko Skugor

Belgium: David Goffin, Ruben Bemelmans, Kimmer Coppejans, Arthur De Greef

 

Like Great Britain in 2015, Belgium benefited from playing a bunch of home ties to reach the final last fall. The Belgians even enjoyed home-court advantage in the championship tie, but Murray and the visiting Brits proved to be too much. David Goffin and company are back at home in the 2016 first round (as is Great Britain, for that matter), but they face a difficult test in the form of Croatia.

(L-R) Arthur De Greef, David Goffin, Ruben Bemelmans, Kimmer Coppejans, and team captain Johan Van Herck of Belgium with team captain Zeljko Krajan, Marin Cilic, Borna Coric, Ivan Dodig and Franko Skugor of Croatia during the draw of the Davis Cup World Group first round tie between Belgium and Croatia, in Liege, Belgium March 03, 2016. The Davis Cup World Group first round match Belgium vs Croatia will take place from 04 to 06 March 2016. EPA/PHILIPPE BUISSIN/POOL

 

The question is where will the home team pick up a point aside from Goffin’s two singles matches. Based on current form and the clay surface, Goffin may be able to beat both Borna Coric and Marin Cilic. Croatia, however, will be favored in doubles thanks mostly to Ivan Dodig—one of the best doubles players on tour. Can either Ruben Bemelmans or Kimmer Coppejans manage to score a singles win if Belgium loses the doubles match? It’s possible, but not likely.

Prediction: Croatia 3, Belgium 2

 

Japan vs. Great Britain

 

Where: Birmingham, Great Britain

Surface: Indoor hard

Japan: Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund, Jamie Murray, Dominic Inglot

Great Britain: Kei Nishikori, Yoshihito Nishioka, Taro Daniel, Yasutaka Uchiyama

 

Interest in this tie is generated by a potential fourth live rubber between Murray and Kei Nishikori. Everything else should be straightforward–including on day one. Murray will certainly coast past Taro Daniel in the opening rubber before Nishikori likely makes quick work of Daniel Evans. Either the Murray brothers or Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot will be tipped to dominate Saturday’s doubles rubber to give the host country a 2-1 lead.

 

That would set the stage for a Murray-Nishikori battle on Sunday, with Murray likely having a chance to send his team to the quarterfinals. The world No. 2 went an incredible 11-0 in total rubbers last year and he is 34-7 lifetime in Davis Cup—including 27-2 in singles. His match against Daniel on Friday will help Murray shake off the rust after taking paternity leave throughout February.

Prediction: Great Britain 3, Japan 1

 

Other ties

Kazakhstan at Serbia: Serbia 3-0

Switzerland at Italy: Italy 3-0

Argentina at Poland: Argentina 3-2

Canada at France: France 3-0

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.