Davis Cup previews and picks: Berdych vs. Kohlschreiber, Rosol vs. Zverev

Tomas Berdych can clinch the Czech Republic’s first-round Davis Cup tie at Germany when he goes up against Philipp Kohlschreiber on Sunday afternoon. A live fifth rubber would pit Lukas Rosol against Alexander Zverev.

Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

Berdych and Kohlschreiber will be squaring off for the 10th time in their careers when they meet in Sunday’s first reverse singles rubber of a Davis Cup opening-round tie between the Czech Republic and host Germany in Hannover. The head-to-head series stands at 8-1 in favor of Berdych, but the two veterans have not faced each other since 2014. Eight consecutive sets have been taken by the Czech at Kohlschreiber’s expense dating back to a 2011 Australian Open showdown. The German’s lone victory came via a 7-6(5), 6-7(9), 6-4 decision on the hard courts of Canada in 2009.

Both players are coming off Friday singles victories, each of which went to five sets. Kohlschreiber held off Lukas Rosol before Berdych outlasted Alexander Zverev in four hours and 20 minutes. They also suited up for doubles, with Berdych and Radek Stepanek rolling over Kohlschreiber and Philipp Petzschner in straights. The world No. 30 is an obvious underdog in this one, but the indoor hard-court surface is not playing too fast and Berdych has played a ton of recent tennis–even before battling for more than four hours against Zverev. A competitive contest could ensure, but Berdych is a borderline Davis Cup legend (29-14 in singles, 21-2 in doubles) and he is likely to play the hero role once again.

Pick: Berdych in 5

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Lukas Rosol (CZE) vs. Alexander Zverev (GER)

If the fifth rubber is live, Rosol and Zverev will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers. Rosol has won both of their previous encounters, but his victories came before Zverev’s rise really took off last fall. The Czech prevailed in a pair of tiebreakers two years ago in Stuttgart before getting the job done 7-6(0), 6-3 last spring in Miami. Rosol is an even 7-7 for his 2016 campaign following his five-set loss to Kohlschreiber on Friday. The world No. 50 has not won back-t0-back matches since the Australian Open.

Zverev is playing the best tennis of his career–albeit a brief career given that he is only 18 years old–in 2016. The German is up to No. 57 in the world thanks in part to a semifinal sowing in Montpellier and a quarterfinal performance in Rotterdam. Zverev may not have won on Friday, but there is no shame in a five-set loss to Berdych–especially in his first-ever Davis Cup appearance. That experience will only help a red-hot Zverev if he gets to contest a decisive battle against Rosol.

Pick: Zverev in 3

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