Milos Raonic can play the role of Davis Cup clincher when he takes the court against Andreas Seppi on Sunday. Canada is one win away from the semifinals, but the tie could all come down to Fabio Fognini and Vasek Pospisil.
Canada leads Italy 2-1 in their Davis Cup quarterfinal tie after Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil outlasted Fabio Fognini and Daniele Bracciali 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 15-13 in a thrilling doubles rubber on Saturday afternoon in Vancouver. The home team’s victory means Milos Raonic can clinch the tie against Andreas Seppi in Sunday’s opening singles match. Somewhat surprisingly, this is the first-ever meeting between Raonic and Seppi.
Both men are coming off wins on Friday. Raonic defeated Fognini 6-4, 7-6(4), 7-5 to even the proceedings at 1-1 and improve his 2013 record to 12-4. The world No. 16 reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and won a third consecutive title in San Jose before cooling off. He lost in the Memphis first round and the Indian Wells fourth round then withdrew from a third-round match in Miami due to sickness.
Raonic’s win was preceded by a 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 comeback for Seppi against Pospisil. Seppi played the best tennis of his life last year and he continues to be solid if unspectacular. The world No. 18 is 12-7 for his 2013 campaign, which includes a semifinal in Sydney and fourth-round showings at the Australian Open and in Miami.
Seppi is a tough opponent for a big hitter like Raonic who likes to keep points short, but the crowd favorite should still be in good shape. Canada has all the momentum after what happened on Saturday and fast conditions on a indoor hard court will only help Raonic.
Pick: Raonic in 4
Fognini will contest a fifth singles rubber if the tie is still live after four. He will hope to get a chance for redemption having compiled an 0-2 record so far this weekend. The world No. 31 contested Friday’s second singles rubber as a heavy underdog against Raonic and lost 6-4, 7-6(4), 7-5. Still, Fognini is a decent 9-9 for the season and he has heated up following a dismal January.
On the other side of the net will be either Pospisil or Jesse Levine; neither one has ever faced Fognini. Pospisil is on the schedule, but the 22-year-old has already played 10 sets this weekend (he lost a five-setter to Seppi in the tie’s opening rubber). Levine, ranked 96th, was a late replacement on the roster for an injured Frank Dancevic. The 25-year-old is 4-6 at the ATP level in 2013 after losing a heartbreaker to Italy’s Simone Bolelli in the Miami first round.
The chances of this tie going five are slim, because Raonic is a considerable favorite against Seppi on an indoor hard court. Should a decider be necessary, Pospisil would have the edge over Fognini on a fast indoor hard court while Fognini would be the pick against an inexperienced Levine.
I like Raonic as well, and sure wish I could have seen that 15-13 5th set, instead of suffering thru Bryan Bros agonizing loss!