Straight after the US Open everyone moves to their respective Davis Cup ties. Here is the first press conference we found and its for the Davis Cup 2011 World Group Playoff between Australia and Switzerland.
p.s. Federer wasnt there, but he is flying in on Wednesday.
Here are the team nominations for the 2011 Davis Cup. The semifinals and world group playoffs will be held September 16-18.
WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS
SERBIA v ARGENTINA
Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, SRB (hard – indoors)
Serbia
Novak Djokovic
Viktor Troicki
Janko Tipsarevic
Nenad Zimonjic
Captain: Bogdan Obradovic
Argentina
Juan Martin del Potro
Juan Ignacio Chela
Juan Monaco
David Nalbandian
Captain: Tito Vazquez
SPAIN v FRANCE
Venue: Plaza de Toros de los Califas, Cordoba, ESP (clay – outdoors)
Spain
Rafael Nadal
David Ferrer
Fernando Verdasco
Feliciano Lopez
Captain: Albert Costa
France
Gael Monfils
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Gilles Simon
Richard Gasquet
Captain: Guy Forget
WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS
ROMANIA v CZECH REPUBLIC
Venue: Centrul National De Tenis, Bucharest, ROU (clay – outdoors)
Romania
Adrian Ungur
Victor Crivoi
Horia Tecau
Marius Copil
Captain: Andrei Pavel
Czech Republic
Tomas Berdych
Radek Stepanek
Lukas Rosol
Jan Hajek
Captain: Jaroslav Navratil
RUSSIA v BRAZIL
Venue: Kazan Tennis Academy, Kazan, RUS (hard – indoors)
Russia
Mikhail Youzhny
Dmitry Tursunov
Igor Kunitsyn
Igor Andreev
Captain: Shamil Tarpischev
Brazil
Thomaz Bellucci
Ricardo Mello
Bruno Soares
Marcelo Melo
Captain: Joao Zwetsch
ISRAEL v CANADA
Venue: Canada Stadium, Ramat Hasharon, ISR (hard – outdoors)
Israel
Dudi Sela
Amir Weintraub
Jonathan Erlich
Andy Ram
Captain: Eyal Ran
Canada
Milos Raonic
Vasek Pospisil
Peter Polansky
Daniel Nestor
Captain: Martin Laurendeau
SOUTH AFRICA v CROATIA
Venue: Fanie Du Toit Sports Stadium, Potchefstroom, RSA (hard – outdoors)
South Africa
Kevin Anderson
Rik de Voest
Izak van der Merwe
Raven Klaasen
Captain: John-Laffnie de Jager
Croatia
Marin Cilic
Ivan Dodig
Antonio Veic
Nikola Mektic
Captain: Goran Prpic
CHILE v ITALY
Venue: Estadio Nacional, Santiago, CHI (hard – outdoors)
Chile
Paul Capdeville
Jorge Aguilar
Fernando Gonzalez
Nicolas Massu
Captain: Hans Gildemeister
Italy
Fabio Fognini
Potito Starace
Simone Bolelli
Daniele Bracciali
Captain: Corrado Barazzutti
JAPAN v INDIA
Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, JPN (hard – outdoors)
Japan
Kei Nishikori
Tatsuma Ito
Go Soeda
Yuichi Sugita
Captain: Eiji Takeuchi
India
Somdev Devvarman
Rohan Bopanna
Leander Paes
Mahesh Bhupathi
Captain: Shiv Prakash Misra
BELGIUM v AUSTRIA
Venue: Lotto Arena, Antwerp, BEL (hard – indoors)
Belgium
Xavier Malisse
Olivier Rochus
Steve Darcis
Ruben Bemelmans
Captain: Johan van Herck
Austria
Jurgen Melzer
Andreas Haider-Maurer
Oliver Marach
Alexander Peya
Captain: Gilbert Schaller
AUSTRALIA v SWITZERLAND
Venue: Royal Sydney Golf Club, Sydney, AUS (grass – outdoors)
Australia
Bernard Tomic
Marinko Matosevic
Lleyton Hewitt
Chris Guccione
Captain: Patrick Rafter
Switzerland
Roger Federer
Stanislas Wawrinka
Stephane Bohli
Marco Chiudinelli
Captain: Severin Luthi
AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND RELEGATION PLAY-OFF
ECUADOR v MEXICO
Venue: Francisco Segura Cano (Guayaquil Tenis Club), Guayaquil, ECU (clay – outdoors)
Ecuador
Julio-Cesar Campozano
Ivan Endara
Roberto Quiroz
Juan-Sebastian Vivanco
Captain: Raul Viver
Mexico
Daniel Garza
Miguel Gallardo
Cesar Ramirez
Santiago Gonzalez
Captain: Jorge Lozano
ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND RELEGATION PLAY-OFF
PHILIPPINES v CHINESE TAIPEI
Venue: Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Lapu-Lapu, PHI (clay – outdoors)
Philippines
Treat Huey
Ruben Gonzales
Jeson Patrombon
Playing captain: Cecil Mamiit
Chinese Taipei
Ti Chen
Yeu-Tzuoo Wang
Hsin-Han Lee
Chu-Huan Yi
Captain: Chia-Yen Tsai
EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND RELEGATION PLAY-OFFS
FINLAND v POLAND
Venue: Barona Arena, Espoo, FIN (hard – indoors)
Finland
Jarkko Nieminen
Henri Kontinen
Harri Heliovaara
Micke Kontinen
Captain: Kim Tiilikainen
Poland
Jerzy Janowicz
Grzegorz Panfil
Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Marcin Matkowski
Captain: Radoslaw Szymanik
SLOVAK REPUBLIC v UKRAINE
Venue: Sibamac Arena, Bratislava, SVK (clay – outdoors)
Slovak Republic
Martin Klizan
Lukas Lacko
Pavol Cervenak
Filip Polasek
Captain: Miloslav Mecir
Ukraine
Sergiy Stakhovsky
Illya Marchenko
Sergei Bubka
Artem Smirnov
Captain: Orest Tereshchuk
AMERICAS ZONE GROUP II THIRD ROUND
PARAGUAY v PERU
Venue: Club Internacional de Tenis CIT, Asuncion, PAR (clay – outdoors)
Paraguay
Daniel Lopez
Diego Galeano
Jose Benitez
Gustavo Ramirez
Captain: Victor Pecci
Peru
Dulio Beretta
Mauricio Echazu
Ivan Miranda
Sergio Galdos
Captain: Luis Horna
ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II THIRD ROUND
KOREA, REP. v THAILAND
Venue: Gimcheon Total Sports Town Tennis Courts, Gimcheon, KOR (hard – outdoors)
Korea, Rep.
Yong-Kyu Lim
Young-Jun Kim
Suk-Young Jeong
Jae-Min Seol
Captain: Yong-Il Yoon
Thailand
Kittiphong Wachiramanowong
Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana
Sonchat Ratiwatana
Sanchai Ratiwatana
Captain: Tanakorn Srichaphan
EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II THIRD ROUND
GREAT BRITAIN v HUNGARY
Venue: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, GBR (hard – indoors)
Great Britain
Andy Murray
James Ward
Colin Fleming
Ross Hutchins
Captain: Leon Smith
Hungary
Adam Kellner
Attila Balazs
Kornel Bardoczky
Gyorgy Balazs
Captain: Miklos Hornok
DENMARK v BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Venue: Hillerod Tennisklub, Hillerod, DEN
Denmark
Frederik Nielsen
Martin Pedersen
Thomas Kromann
Christoffer Konigsfeldt
Captain: Kenneth Carlsen
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Amer Delic
Aldin Setkic
Damir Dzumhur
Ismar Gorcic
Captain: Daver Vranic
For some reason Australia has chosen to play on grass for their upcoming Davis Cup tie with Switzerland in September. This choice seems foolish considering Roger Federer is pretty much unbeatable on grass!
I can only think this is because they are going to play Tomic and Guccione who both have very large serves and their best surface is grass. However, they need to basically win 2 singles and the doubles, because they will lose 2 singles rubbers to Roger Federer.
There has been no official comment from Tennis Australia on why they select grass over the other surfaces.
The Australia-Switzerland winner will advance to the topflight World Group next year.
Andy Murray isnt the most likeable guy in the world and Im wondering if he is trying to gain public sympathy. Andy cried at the recently British Davis Cup even, but to me it seemed to be put on a little bit. What do you think?
The Davis Cup 2011 World Group Play-offs are here and they will happen on September 16-18.
(s) denotes seeded nation
(*) denotes choice of ground determined by lot
Kei Nishikori has defeated Denis Istomin to get Japan in the Davis Cup World Group playoffs. Nishikori defeated Istomin 6-7 7-5 6-4 6-3 to give Japan a 3-1 win.
This win has given Japan a chance to make the World Group in the Davis Cup for the first time since 1985.
In case you missed the results from the Davis Cup this weekend here they all are. This is of course the 2011 World Group.
Serbia def. Sweden = 4-1
V. Troicki (SRB) def. M. Ryderstedt (SWE) = 6-3 6-1 6-7 7-5
J. Tipsarevic (SRB) def. E. Eleskovic (SWE) = 6-2 1-0. def.
S. Aspelin and R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. N. Djokovic and N. Zimonjic (SRB) = 6-4 7-6 7-5
J. Tipsarevic (SRB) def. M. Ryderstedt (SWE) = 6-2 7-5 6-3
V. Troicki (SRB) def. R. Linstedt (SWE) = 3-6 6-4 0-0
Argentina def. Kazakhstan = 5-0
J. Monaco (ARG) def. A. Golubev (KAZ) = 6-3 6-0 6-4
J. Del Potro (ARG) def. M. Kukushikin (KAZ) = 6-2 6-1 6-2
J. Chela and E. Schwank (ARG) def. E. Korolev and Y. Schukin (KAZ) = 6-3 6-2 7-5
J. Chela (ARG) def. E. Korolev (KAZ) = 2-6 6-2 6-0
J. Monaco (ARG) def. M. Kukushkin (KAZ) = 6-4 6-1
Spain def. USA = 3-1
F. Lopez (ESP) def. M. Fish (USA) = 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-7 8-6
D. Ferrer (ESP) def. A. Roddick (USA) = 7-6 7-5 6-3
B. Bryan and M. Bryan (USA) def. M. Granollers and F. Verdasco (ESP) = 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4
D. Ferrer (ESP) def. M. Fish (USA) = 7-5 7-6 5-7 7-6
France def. Germany = 4-1
R. Gasquet (FRA) def. F. Mayer (GER) = 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-3
G. Monfils (FRA) def. P. Kohlschreiber (GER) = 7-6 7-6 6-4
M. Llodra and J. Tsonga (FRA) def. C. Kas and P. Petzchner (GER) = 7-6 6-4 6-4
P. Petzchner (GER) def. M. Llodra (FRA) 6-3 6-4
J. Tsonga (FRA) def. P. Kohlschreiber (GER) 7-6 7-6
A weird little video of Roger Federer and Marco Chiudinelli promoting the Davis Cup in Switzerland.
Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione have been able to push Australia ahead in their Davis Cup tie against China. The pair defeated Maoxin Gong and Zhe Li 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Australia now lead the tie 2-1.
Friday’s Results:
Bernard Tomic d Zhang Ze 6-3 5-7 6-4 6-4.
Di Wu d Marinko Matosevic 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-4
In a bit of a shock, Lleyton Hewitt has been left out of Australia’s Davis Cup tie with China. Hewitt has been saved for the doubles match while Bernard Tomic and Marinko Matosevic will play the single rubbers.
Tomic (71) and Matosevic (141) are still heavy favourites against the Chinese players Wu (404) and Zhang Ze (382).
Hewitt and Chris Guccione will contest the doubles rubber against Mao-Xin Gong and and Li Zhe.
This seems to be how the Swiss David Cup team practice their serve. Not sure I would want Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka serving at my ass!
Roger Federer has been practicing with his Swiss teammates, getting ready for their upcoming Davis Cup tie against Portugal.
Here are some photos from their practice session.
It has been reported by La Marca that Rafael Nadal wont be playing the Davis Cup quarterfinal against the USA in Austin July 8-10. It seems as though Nadal expects to make the Wimbledon final and then doesnt want to jump on a plane the next day to travel to Texas. Dont blame him really!
It seems that Fila is starting to grow their official collection of Davis Cup themed tennis shirts. Now you can purchase your Australian Davis Cup themed shirt from Tennis Warehouse.
Above left to right are Australia (which has not been played in yet), Croatia (made to look like a soccer shirt for huge fan Marin Cilic), Israel for Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, and Serbia (originally made for Janko Tipsarevic in 2010). Each runs $59 USD. No word on what country is next.
Find them exclusively at Tennis Warehouse.
I just came across this video of a point in the Davis Cup between France and Croatia. Is this the point of the year? Well it has to be close. Im sure all the French players will say it is!
Ivo Karlovic has just set the world record for the fastest serve and none of the players even noticed. Karlovic dropped a 156 mph bomb which was nearly returned nicely.
The serve speed record is a big deal. It gives the 32-year-old Karlovic a spot in tennis history beyond his record-breaking height and the four titles he has already won.
Viktor Troicki was an amazingly player last year and increased his ranking to the number 28 spot in the world. Troicki also became a hero when his country won the Davis Cup for the very first time. Viktor Troicki has announced that he has signed a new clothing sponsorship deal with Adidas for the 2011 season.
This is a great achievement for Troicki who is now sponsored by what I think as the top tennis clothing brand at the moment.
According to a Swedish newspaper (Svenska Dagbladet) Thomas Johansson has been asked to come out of retirement to play Sweden’s Davis Cup playoffs against Italy in September.
“It’s tempting, but I don’t know if my body can go five sets,” said Johansson, but did add he was “training hard.”
Injuries and retirements have led Sweden to make a habit of luring back former players. Both Joachim Johansson and Andrea Vinciguerra have recently served on the squad, and former captain Mats Wilander even made an unsuccessful pitch to long-retired Stefan Edberg a couple of years ago.
There was a bit of trouble this weekend at the Davis Cup match between Serbia and Croatia. Novak Djokovic and Ivan Ljubicic are great friends on tour and they werent expecting the crowd to react the way they did!
According to the AP,
Croatia’s fans booed and jeered and refused to stand when Serbia’s national anthem was played, and some chanted “Kill the Serb” and other abuse at Djokovic.
“We had expected the heated atmosphere before we came here, but I’m sorry that some fans behaved the way they did at the start of the match,” Djokovic said. “As the match progressed, things got a bit cooler probably because I was leading.”
Ljubicic, a good friend of Djokovic, said he was also annoyed by the chants from the crowd. “They affected my concentration just as they did his,” he said.
On the back of making the Wimbledon final, Tomas Berdych has decided to take a little break and ruled himself out of the Czech Republic’s Davis Cup quarterfinal against Chile because of an abdominal muscle injury.
“If I have a problem, it’s this muscle,” Berdych told Czech public radio on Sunday just hours after losing the Wimbledon final to Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
“The windy conditions [in the match] contributed to it,” Berdych said. “There are so many matches but I have just one body. Nobody’s a machine to cope with everything.”
On Facebook, the Czech team said that Berdych will take a three-week rest after his first Grand Slam final.
The Czech team will now consist of Jan Hajek and Ivo Minar, with Lukas Dlouhy and Frantisek Cermak teaming up for the doubles.
