TENNIS NEWS – CILIC, ISNER HEADLINE CROATIA VS. USA AS DAVIS CUP QUARTERFINALS GET UNDERWAY

Written by: Staff on 15th July 2016

TENNIS NEWS - CILIC, ISNER HEADLINE CROATIA VS. USA AS DAVIS CUP QUARTERFINALS GET UNDERWAY

epa05193404 John Isner of the United States plays a shot to Sam Groth of Australia during round one of the Davis Cup at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne, Australia, 04 March 2016. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Cilic, Isner headline Croatia vs. USA as Davis Cup quarterfinals get underway

By Ricky Dimon

The Davis Cup World Group quarterfinals will take place at four spots around the globe this weekend. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are out as Serbia hosts Great Britain, but Marin Cilic–who also made plenty of noise at Wimbledon–is taking the court for Croatia’s road tie at the United States. Additionally, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Argentina are also hoping to snag spots in the semis.

Ricky previews the action and makes his predictions.

Croatia vs. United States

Where: Portland, Oregon

Surface: Outdoor hard

Even though Bob and Mike Bryan no longer dominate the tour, they remain one of the best doubles duos on tour and can be counted on to pick up a point for the United States in Davis Cup competition. If that turns out to be the case again versus Croatia, the host nation must simply split the four singles rubbers.

A split may be what the Americans get, too, because Cilic has owned them throughout his career. He once won 26 such matches in a row and he is currently 29-1 in his last 30 efforts against Americans. Up first for the world No. 12 on Friday is Jack Sock, whom Cilic has never faced. Isner and Borna Coric are also going head-to-head for the first time in his career. The 6’10” American generally does his best work in the following two situations: either playing in the United States, or playing for the United States. He will enjoy both of those advantages during this tie, in addition to the fact that an outdoor hard court has always been his favorite setting. Thanks to both Isner and Sock, a split of the singles–at the very worst–should be enough.

Pick: United States 3, Croatia 1

Great Britain vs. Serbia

Where: Belgrade, Serbia

Surface: Clay

Murray and Djokovic are on the sidelines, but this tie still holds plenty of intrigue–especially given that the winning team could get its best player back for the semis and final and be a real Davis Cup title contender. With Djokovic and also Viktor Troicki out, Janko Tipsarevic may be ready just in time to rescue Serbia. The veteran is finally back from multiple foot surgeries and while his results have been modest, they have also been relatively encouraging. Great Britain boasts Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot in doubles, but its singles lineup may not be impressive enough to survive a road tie.

Kyle Edmund of Great Britain in action against Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia during their match for the Davis Cup tie between Serbia and Great Britain, in Belgrade, Serbia, 15 July 2016. EPA/KOCA SULEJMANOVIC

Pick: Serbia 3, Great Britain 2

France vs. Czech Republic

Where: Trinec, Czech Republic

Surface: Indoor hard

France enjoys more depth than any other nation in the entire realm of men’s tennis. The Czech Republic, meanwhile, has basically been a two-man show run by Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek for the last decade. Unfortunately for the Frenchmen, the Davis Cup is not always about depth; you can triumph with only two players–which is pretty much what the Czechs did in 2012 and 2013. But with Berdych not playing, depth will most certainly be a factor this time around. France is simply too good thanks to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Lucas Pouille, and by far the best doubles team in the world in Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Pick: France 3, Czech Republic 1

Argentina vs. Italy

Where: Pesaro, Italy

Surface: Clay

Although no nation is a sure thing to win any of these ties, if one of the four is completely up in the air, it is Argentina vs. Italy. The Italians have to be favored at home, but you never know what Fabio Fognini will offer on any given day and even Andreas Seppi is unreliable. Argentina is not as potent as it could be since Juan Martin Del Potro and Juan Monaco have been depleted by injuries, but Guido Pella is more than capable of winning a rubber or two. The fact that Fognini and Seppi are also strong at doubles may tip the scale in Italy’s favor.

Pick: Italy 3, Argentina 1