Davis Cup semifinal previews and predictions

Four Davis Cup powers will battle in semifinal action this week, as players get right back in action following the U.S. Open. Three of the four remaining nations have won the Davis Cup at least five times and the other, Croatia, triumphed in 2005 and finished runner-up in 2016. The Croats will host the United States (32 titles) from Friday through Sunday, while defending champion France (10 titles) welcomes Spain (five titles) to Lille.

Spain vs. France

Where: Lille, France
Surface: Indoor hard
Spain: Pablo Carreno Busta, Roberto Bautista Agut, Feliciano Lopez, Marc Lopez, Albert Ramos-Vinolas
France: Lucas Pouille, Benoit Paire, Julien Benneteau, Nicolas Mahut, Richard Gasquet

Spain is back where it belongs, at the business ended of the Davis Cup competition, after missing the World Group in 2017. Taking another step into the final, however, may be a tough proposition. The visitors are not armed with their best squad, as Rafael Nadal is sidelined by a knee injury and Roberto Bautista Agut has played only five matches since the start of July due to injury. Pablo Carreno Busta is in decent form but retired from second-round U.S. Open contest against Joao Sousa.

Although the days of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils being reliable Davis Cup performers are surely over, France remains loaded. Lucas Pouille won the cup clincher last year and has been leading the way once again in 2018. Saturday’s doubles rubber could be crucial, and it should be a good one featuring veterans Feliciano Lopez, Marc Lopez, Julien Benneteau, and Nicolas Mahut. The French side is favored, but it better hope the tie does not come down to a fifth rubber between Paire and Bautista Agut–because the latter leads the head-to-head series by a ridiculous 6-0 margin and 15-3 in total sets.

Pick: France 3, Spain 1

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United States vs. Croatia

Where: Zadar, Croatia
Surface: Clay
United States: Steve Johnson, Frances Tiafoe, Ryan Harrison, Mike Bryan, Sam Querrey
Croatia: Marin Cilic, Borna Coric, Ivan Dodig, Mate Pavic, Franko Skugor

Like Spain, the United States faces a daunting task on the road with a depleted team. John Isner is sidelined as he awaits the birth of his first child and reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open doubles champ Jack Sock is also out. Thus Mike Bryan, whose brother is on the shelf following hip surgery, will team up with yet another different partner (Ryan Harrison this time around). The result is Steve Johnson leading the way in singles and Frances Tiafoe set to make his Davis Cup debut.

There are no such problems for the host nation, as Croatia boasts top two singles players Marin Cilic and Borna Coric along with No. 4 doubles player in the world Mate Pavic. The Americans may do well just to take this tie to Sunday, as the Croats are favored in Friday’s two singles rubbers and Pavic-Ivan Dodig is a formidable doubles pairing. An upset would be borderline shocking…but if Davis Cup has taught us anything it is to expect the unexpected.

Pick: Croatia 3, United States 1

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