2014 DAVIS CUP AWARDS – MVP

Written by: Staff on 10th December 2014

2014 DAVIS CUP AWARDS – MVP

epa04498614 Gael Monfils of France returns the ball to Roger Federer of Switzerland during the first day's single match of the Davis Cup World Final between France and Switzerland at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France, 21 November 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

(Courtesy of the ITF and Original Link: http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/194107.aspx )

In the first instalment of our unofficial 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Awards, we look at the players who have made the biggest contribution to their nations in 2014. We will select a Top 5 but also have a few honourable mentions.

5 – Radu Albot (Moldova)

Radu Albot won all 6 of the singles rubbers he contested in 2014

the joint-most of any player in Davis Cup action this year. Albot was ever-present for Moldova in this year’s Europe/Africa Zone Group II and played a huge part in them almost being promoted to Zone Group I, but unfortunately they were unable to overcome a strong Denmark side in the promotional play-off, losing 3-2 in the fifth set of the deciding fifth rubber.

4 – Marin Cilic (Croatia)

Marin Cilic went through the year undefeated in Davis Cup action, winning 3 singles rubbers and a doubles rubber as Croatia earned promotion to next year’s World Group. More than that, however, Cilic showed true Davis Cup spirit when, less than a week after winning his first Grand Slam at the US Open, he flew to Amsterdam to win a crucial doubles rubber and the deciding fifth rubber of Croatia’s 3-2 World Group play-off victory over Netherlands.

Marin Cilic of Croatia returns the ball to Dutch Thiemo de Bakker during their match of Tennis Davis Cup World Group tie between the Netherlands and Croatia at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 14 September 2014. EPA/BAS CZERWINSKI

3 – Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania)

Ricardas Berankis was instrumental as Lithuania earned promotion to Europe/Africa Zone Group I for the first time in its history. Berankis won all five of his Davis Cup singles rubbers in 2014, including fighting back from 0-2 down against Mirza Basic in the opening rubber of Lithuania’s promotional play-off against Bosnia/Herzegovina. As well as creating history for his nation, Berankis’ achievement stands out for two more reasons – every singles rubber he contested in 2014 was live, and they were all in away ties.

2 – Darian King (Barbados)

Darian King joins Albot as one of only 3 players to have won 6 singles rubbers in 2014, and he also added two doubles rubber victories as well. King guided Barbados to Americas Zone Group I for the first time in its history. Like Berankis, each of King’s victories came in a live rubber, and the only rubber he dropped all season was a 5-set doubles match in Barbados’ promotion play-off against Mexico. The only set that King dropped in a singles rubber in the year was the very first one he contested, against Chile’s Christian Garin.

1 – Fedrinka (Switzerland)

It has been said time and again that you need more than one top player to win the Davis Cup title. Fortunately for Switzerland, it is blessed with two. Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka contested every tie that Switzerland played in 2014, and it was acknowledged by both that one would not have been able to win the title without the other. In the quarterfinals against Kazakhstan, when Wawrinka faltered in the opening rubber, Federer was there to keep Swiss hopes alive, and in the Final, when Roger was injured, Stan stepped up and earned a famous win. The two also teamed up to win the doubles rubber in the final to give the Swiss the advantage before Federer clinched the title with his 6th singles victory of the year.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a ball to Gael Monfils of France during the second single match of the Davis Cup Final match between France and Switzerland at the Stadium Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France, 21 November 2014. EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland returns the ball to Fabio Fognini of Italy during the second single match of the Davis Cup World Group Semifinal match between Switzerland and Italy, at Palexpo, in Geneva, Switzerland, 12 September 2014. EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

Honourable Mentions

Jabor Mohammed Ali Mutawa won all five of his singles rubbers for Qatar as it was promoted to Asia/Oceania Zone Group III.

Alvaro Daniel Riveros and Julian Saborio teamed up to win all five of Costa Rica’s doubles rubber in 2014, helping their nation clinch promotion to Americas Zone Group II.

Gael Monfils won all four of his singles rubbers for France in 2014, including a deciding fifth rubber in the quarterfinal against Germany and a victory against Roger Federer to level the Final on the opening day. He also hit, quite possibly, the Shot of the Year.

Marton Fucsovics went through 2014 undefeated for Hungary, winning 3 singles rubbers and a doubles rubber as it was promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group II.

Marsel Ilhan won all four of the rubbers he contested in 2014. He claimed 3 singles victories and a doubles win as Turkey was promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group II.

Takanyi Garanganga led Zimbabwe to promotion from Africa Zone Group III, winning all 3 singles rubbers and the only doubles rubber he contested.

Topics: 2014 Davis Cup, Darian King, Davis Cup, Fedrinka, Gael Monfils, Marin Cilic, Radu Albot, Ricardas Berankis, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, tennis mvp, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

December 10, 2014 at 11:07 am

2014 @DavisCup AWARDS – #MVP- http://t.co/H7NNQUNjEL @rogerfederer @stanwawrinka @cilic_marin #tennis #DavisCup #daviscupfinal