Davis Cup kicks off with an unusually early start in 2013. First-round action typically takes place in between the furious February slate of tournament action and the two hard-court Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami. This time around, however, the openers are sandwiched between the Australian Open and the February swing.
As such, Serbia may have been fearful that another deep run Down Under could leave Novak Djokovic out of commission. Not so. The world No. 1 will be on hand this weekend in Charleroi, Belgium to help kick-start the Serbs’ campaign for a second title in four seasons. As for a country that has never won it all, Argentina faces a tough first-rounder against Germany. The host Argentines do not have Juan Martin Del Potro, but a strong duo of Juan Monaco and David Nalbandian is leading the way.
Brazil vs. United States
Where: Jacksonville, Florida
Surface: Indoor hard
Brazil: Thomaz Bellucci, Thiago Alves, Marcelo Melo, Bruno Soares
United States: John Isner, Sam Querrey, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan
Facing against an inferior opponent on a fast indoor court, there is only one way the United States could lose to clay-loving Brazil: injury. Which is why John Isner must be 100 percent—maybe even more than 100 percent—if he is suiting up for this weekend’s first-round tie. Isner lost his Sydney opener and was forced out of the Australian Open due to knee trouble. After a few days of practice in Jacksonville, however, he declared himself good to go.
A team of Sam Querrey, the Bryan Brothers, and a healthy Isner will be tough to beat. Still, it is not beyond the realm of imagination to see Thomaz Bellucci winning a pair of singles rubbers and the stellar doubles duo of Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares upsetting the Bryans. Still, it would take a massive letdown from Querrey in the first rubber and Isner in the fourth rubber to lose to Bellucci. Playing at home, the Americans should sweep.
Prediction: United States 3, Brazil 0 (last two rubbers dead)
Spain vs. Canada
Where: Vancouver, Canada
Surface: Indoor hard
Spain: Albert Ramos, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Marcel Granollers, Marc Lopez
Canada: Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil, Frank Dancevic, Daniel Nestor
Not many countries can play with their “D” team and still contend in a Davis Cup tie. To be exact, “not many” means “one.” And that one is Spain. There’s no Rafael Nadal this time. No David Ferrer. No Nicolas Almagro. Can Juan Carlos Ferrero come out of retirement for a rare Davis Cup performance? Well, he may not need to. Spain is so deep that it is still in with a chance sporting the likes of Marcel Granollers and Albert Ramos in singles.
Host Canada, however, will have other ideas. The Canadians have one of their strongest teams in years thanks to the emergences of Milos Raonic and–to a much lesser extent–Vasek Pospisil. Frank Dancevic is currently nominated for singles, but Pospisil is waiting in the wings–quite possibly for a decisive fifth rubber that would likely come against Ramos. The doubles in this tie could be both critical and electrifying, with a scheduled battle between World Tour Finals champs Granollers and Marc Lopez against one of the best in the sport, Daniel Nestor.
Prediction: Canada 3, Spain 2
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Serbia vs. Belgium
Where: Charleroi, Belgium
Surface: Clay
Serbia: Novak Djokovic, Viktor Troicki, Nenad Zimonjic, Boris Pashanski
Belgium: David Goffin, Steve Darcis, Ruben Bemelmans, Olivier Rochus
Without Djokovic, the outcome of this tie would be in doubt. Without Janko Tipsarevic, however, Serbia should be just fine. The only way the 2010 champions would be in trouble is if Djokovic experience some kind of “sudden fatigue” in the aftermath of his fourth Australian Open title and is unable to play, for example, a reverse singles match on Sunday against David Goffin.
Goffin has a good chance of kicking off the tie with w in over a slumping Viktor Troicki, but every other rubber will pit the host Belgians as huge underdogs. Even in doubles, Serbia boasts one of the best players in the world in Nenad Zimonjic. If the visitors take care of business on the middle day, two singles victories by Djokovic will be enough.
Prediction: Serbia 3, Belgium 1
Germany vs. Argentina
Where: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Surface: Clay
Germany: Philipp Kohlschreiber, Florian Mayer, Christopher Kas, Tobias Kamke
Argentina: Juan Monaco, David Nalbandian, Carlos Berlocq, Horacio Zeballos
With a full squad from start to finish, Argentina would have a very real chance of finally securing its first Davis Cup title in 2013. To say it does not have a full squad for its first-round tie against Germany, however, would be a gross understatement. Juan Martin Del Potro is the only significant piece missing from this one, but neither Monaco nor Nalbandian is 100 percent. Monaco has been dealing with various injuries and Nalbandian has not yet played a match this season.
In terms of entertainment value, Germany vs. Argentina could be the best of the weekend. After all, a fully-loaded German team is just about on par with a watered-down Argentine foursome. Florian Mayer is not playing well, but Philipp Kohlschreiber is in fine form and will have a great shot at winning both of his singles rubbers. Christopher Kas is the doubles specialist of the lot and has plenty of experience teaming up with Kohlschreiber. With a doubles victory and two wins by Kohlschreiber, the visitors would prevent this tie from going the distance.
Prediction: Germany 3, Argentina 1
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In other ties, Italy hosts Croatia, France hosts Israel, Kazakhstan hosts Austria, and Switzerland hosts the Czech Republic.
Predictions: Italy 3, Croatia 1 – France 3, Israel 0 – Austria 3, Kazakhstan 1 – Switzerland 3, Czech Republic 2
Comments and your own predictions are appreciated!
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