2013/06/20

Davis Cup Results for April 7, 2013

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(April 7, 2013) The ITF has announced the results of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group quarterfinals and zone group ties taking place April 5-7.

The World Group semifinals will take place on 13-15 September, when Czech Republic will host Argentina, and Serbia will host Canada. The World Group play-offs, Zone Group I relegation play-offs and Zone Group II promotion play-offs will also take place over the same weekend.

The draw for the World Group play-offs will be held in London on Wednesday 10 April at 11:00 (BST). The seeds for the draw will be announced on Monday 8 April by 16:00 (BST). The nations competing in the World Group play-offs are:

- World Group first round losing nations: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, Israel, Spain and Switzerland.

- Zone Group I winning nations: Australia, Colombia, Ecuador, Great Britain, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, and Ukraine.

In Asia/Oceania Zone Group II, host nation Pakistan was forced to concede its second round tie in Myanmar after the ITF referee awarded the tie to New Zealand due to an unplayable court.

 

WORLD GROUP QUARTERFINALS

CANADA defeated ITALY 3-1
Venue: Thunderbird Sports Centre, Vancouver, CAN (hard – indoor)

Andreas Seppi (ITA) d. Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 57 46 64 63 63
Milos Raonic (CAN) d. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 64 76(4) 75
Daniel Nestor/Vasek Pospisil (CAN) d. Daniele Bracciali/Fabio Fognini (ITA) 63 64 36 36 1513
Milos Raonic (CAN) d. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 64 64 36 75
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Fabio Fognini (ITA) not played

SERBIA defeated USA 3-1
Venue: Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID, USA (hard – indoor)

Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. John Isner (USA) 76(5) 62 75
Sam Querrey (USA) d. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 76(1) 36 46 61 64
Ilija Bozoljac/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) d. Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) 76(5) 76(1) 57 46 1513
Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Sam Querrey (USA) 75 67(4) 61 60
John Isner (USA) v Viktor Troicki (SRB) not played

ARGENTINA defeated FRANCE 3-2
Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoor)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) d. Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 46 62 63 57 62
Juan Monaco (ARG) d. Gilles Simon (FRA) 76(2) 62 64
David Nalbandian/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) d. Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) 36 76(3) 75 63

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) d. Juan Monaco (ARG) 63 63 60
Carlos Berlocq (ARG) d. Gilles Simon (FRA) 64 57 64 64

CZECH REPUBLIC defeated KAZAKHSTAN 3-1
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Astana, KAZ (clay – indoor)

Jan Hajek (CZE) d. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 63 62 64
Lukas Rosol (CZE) d. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 46 64 62 76(6)
Andrey Golubev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) d. Jan Hajek/Radek Stepanek (CZE) 76(2) 64 63
Lukas Rosol (CZE) d. Evgeny Korolev (KAZ) 76(5) 67(2) 76(5) 62
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Jan Hajek (CZE) not played

AMERICAS GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

Colombia and Ecuador will contest the World Group play-offs on 13-15 September 2013. Chile will travel to Dominican Republic in a relegation play-off on 13-15 September 2013.

ECUADOR defeated CHILE 3-2
Venue: Umiña Tennis Club, Manta, ECU (hard – outdoor)

Julio-Cesar Campozano (ECU) d. Christian Garin (CHI) 46 62 46 62 97
Paul Capdeville (CHI) d. Emilio Gomez (ECU) 75 61 75
Jorge Aguilar/Paul Capdeville (CHI) d. Emilio Gomez/Roberto Quiroz (ECU) 46 76(5) 63 75
Julio-Cesar Campozano (ECU) d. Paul Capdeville (CHI) 46 76(5) 62 41 ret. (physical exhaustion)
Emilio Gomez (ECU) d. Christian Garin (CHI) 64 46 63 76(1)

COLOMBIA defeated URUGUAY 5-0
Venue: Complejo Tenístico Fabiola Zuluaga, Cúcuta, COL (hard – outdoor)

Santiago Giraldo (COL) d. Marcel Felder (URU) 62 36 61 62
Alejandro Falla (COL) d. Ariel Behar (URU) 62 60 62
Juan-Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah (COL) d. Ariel Behar/Marcel Felder (URU) 64 36 63 57 64
Alejandro Falla (COL) d. Rodrigo Senattore (URU) 60 61
Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) d. Santiago Maresca (URU) 61 60

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

Australia and Japan will contest the World Group play-offs on 13-15 September 2013

AUSTRALIA defeated UZBEKISTAN 3-1
Venue: Sport Complex Pahlavon, Namangan, UZB (clay – indoor)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) d. Farrukh Dustov (UZB) 76(6) 64 64

Denis Istomin (UZB) d. Marinko Matosevic (AUS) 64 76(1) 36 64

Matthew Ebden/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d. Farrukh Dustov/Denis Istomin (UZB) 75 67(4) 64 36 63

Bernard Tomic (AUS) d. Denis Istomin (UZB) 46 62 62 63

Farrukh Dustov (UZB) v Marinko Matosevic (AUS) not played

JAPAN defeated KOREA, REPUBLIC 3-2
Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, JPN (hard – indoor)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) d. Jeong Suk-Young (KOR) 61 64 64

Go Soeda (JPN) d. Cho Min Hyeok (KOR) 57 26 64 64 62

Lim Yong-Kyu/Nam Ji Sung (KOR) d. Hiroki Moriya/Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) 75 61 64

Lim Yong-Kyu (KOR) d. Go Soeda (JPN) 57 76(5) 64 63

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) d. Cho Min Hyeok (KOR) 63 63 60

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP I – FIRST ROUND PLAY-OFF

Chinese Taipei will host Indonesia in the Asia/Oceania Group I relegation play-off on 13-15 September 2013

CHINA, P.R. defeated CHINESE TAIPEI 5-0
Venue: Tianjin Tennis Center, Tianjin, CHN (hard – outdoor)

Wu Di (CHN) d. Ti Chen (TPE) 16 60 61 64

Ze Zhang (CHN) d. Yang Tsung-Hua (TPE) 75 61 61

Gong Mao-Xin/Li Zhe (CHN) d. Yang Tsung-Hua/Huang Liang-Chi (TPE) 63 63 46 63

Ze Zhang (CHN) d. Ti Chen (TPE) 76(7) 61

Wu Di (CHN) d. Huang Liang-Chi (TPE) 67(5) 64 61

INDIA defeated INDONESIA 5-0
Venue: KSLTA Tennis Stadium, Bangalore, IND (hard – outdoor)

Somdev Devvarman (IND) d. Wisnu Adi Nugroho (INA) 61 62 62
Yuki Bhambri (IND) d. Christopher Rungkat (INA) 63 62 62
Leander Paes/Sanam Singh (IND) d. Elbert Sie/David Agung Susanto (INA) 62 61 64
Somdev Devvarman (IND) d. David Agung Susanto (INA) 63 61

Yuki Bhambri (IND) d. Wisnu Adi Nugroho (INA) 60 61

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

Great Britain, Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine will contest the World Group play-offs on 13-15 September 2013

GREAT BRITAIN defeated RUSSIA 3-2
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, GBR (hard – indoor)

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) d. Dan Evans (GBR) 64 67(5) 64 57 64
Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) d. James Ward (GBR) 46 46 75 63 86

Colin Fleming/Jonathan Marray (GBR) d. Victor Baluda/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 61 64 62

James Ward (GBR) d. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 64 57 57 64 64

Dan Evans (GBR) d. Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) 64 64 61

POLAND defeated SOUTH AFRICA 3-1
Venue: Centrum Rekreacyjno-Sportowe, Zielona Góra, POL (hard – indoor)

Jerzy Janowicz (POL) d. Jean Andersen (RSA) 64 63 63
Rik de Voest (RSA) d. Lukasz Kubot (POL) 63 67(3) 75 64
Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) d. Jean Andersen/Rik de Voest (RSA) 75 76(2) 75

Jerzy Janowicz (POL) d. Ruan Roelofse (RSA) 46 63 61 61

Lukasz Kubot (POL) v Jean Andersen (RSA) not played

NETHERLANDS defeated ROMANIA 5-0
Venue: Sala Sporturilor Dumitru Popescu Colibasi, Brasov, ROU (hard – indoor)

Robin Haase (NED) d. Adrian Ungur (ROU) 64 64 36 63

Igor Sijsling (NED) d. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 64 76(5) 26 67(5) 62
Robin Haase/Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) d. Marius Copil/Victor Hanescu (ROU) 64 75 64

Thiemo de Bakker (NED) d. Marius Copil (ROU) 76(4) 76(2)

Igor Sijsling (NED) d. Adrian Ungur (ROU) 16 63 64

UKRAINE defeated SWEDEN 3-2
Venue: Megaron Tennis Club, Dnipropetrovsk, UKR (hard – indoor)

Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) d. Isak Arvidsson (SWE) 62 60 76(5)

Markus Eriksson (SWE) d. Denys Molchanov (UKR) 75 46 64 64
Johan Brunstrom/Robert Lindstedt (SWE) d. Denys Molchanov/Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 64 63 36 67(3) 64
Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) d. Markus Eriksson (SWE) 36 61 64 63

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) d. Isak Arvidsson (SWE) 62 63 75

AMERICAS GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

El Salvador will host Venezuela in the Americas Group II promotion play-off on 13-15 September 2013

EL SALVADOR defeated MEXICO 3-2
Venue: Federacion Salvadoreña de Tenis, Ciudad Merliot, ESA (hard – outdoor)

Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) d. Daniel Garza (MEX) 64 64 67(7) 62
Rafael Arevalo (ESA) d. Miguel Gallardo-Valles (MEX) 62 63 75
Marcelo Arevalo/Rafael Arevalo (ESA) d. Daniel Garza/Miguel-Angel Reyes-Varela (MEX) 67(4) 64 46 62 62
Miguel Gallardo-Valles (MEX) d. Alejandro Gonzalez (ESA) 60 63
Rogelio Siller (MEX) d. Andres Weisskopf (ESA) 62 64

VENEZUELA defeated PERU 4-1
Venue: Estadio Alejandro Olmedo, Arequipa, PER (clay – outdoor)

Ricardo Rodriguez (VEN) d. Duilio Beretta (PER) 75 62 62
David Souto (VEN) d. Mauricio Echazu (PER) 46 62 64 75
Luis David Martinez/David Souto (VEN) d. Duilio Beretta/ Sergio Galdos (PER) 63 67(3) 63 76(5)
Luis David Martinez (VEN) d. Jorge Brian Panta (PER) 36 76(4) 63
Mauricio Echazu (PER) d. Piero Luisi (VEN) 62 75

AMERICAS GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

Haiti and Puerto Rico relegated to Americas Group III in 2014

BARBADOS defeated PUERTO RICO 3-1
Venue: National Tennis Centre, St Michael, BAR (hard – outdoor)

Darian King (BAR) d. Christian Garay (PUR) 62 61 60

Alex Llompart (PUR) d. Seanon Williams (BAR) 62 63 61

Darian King/Haydn Lewis (BAR) d. Gilberto Alvarez/Alex Llompart (PUR) 63 64 61

Darian King (BAR) d. Alex Llompart (PUR) 57 63 64 63

Haydn Lewis (BAR) v Christian Garay (PUR) not played

GUATEMALA defeated HAITI 4-1
Venue: Centre Court, Guatemala, GUA (hard – outdoor)

Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA) d. Hillel Rousseau (HAI) 63 61 61
Olivier Sajous (HAI) d. Sebastien Vidal (GUA) 76(5) 75 61
Christopher Diaz-Figueroa/Sebastien Vidal (GUA) d. Joel Allen/Olivier Sajous (HAI) 63 67(5) 46 63 64
Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA) v Olivier Sajous (HAI) 62 61 64
Luciano Ramazzini (GUA) v Hillel Rousseau (HAI) 60 61

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

Philippines will host New Zealand in the Asia/Oceania Group II promotion play-off on 13-15 September 2013

NEW ZEALAND defeated PAKISTAN 4-1 The tie has been awarded to New Zealand due to an unplayable court

Venue: Pun Hlaing Golf & Country Club, Yangon, MYA (grass – outdoor)

Aqeel Khan (PAK) d. Artem Sitak (NZL) 75 36 62 75
Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Aisam Qureshi (PAK) 26 63 03 def.

Marcus Daniell/Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Aqeel Khan/Aisam Qureshi (PAK) w/o

Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Aqeel Khan (PAK) w/o

Artem Sitak (NZL) d. Aisam Qureshi (PAK) w/o

PHILIPPINES defeated THAILAND 4-1
Venue: Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Lapu-Lapu, PHI (clay – outdoor)

Ruben Gonzales (PHI) d. Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul (THA) 67(6) 64 30 ret. (cramp)
Danai Udomchoke (THA) d. Johnny Arcilla (PHI) 63 62 16 62
Francis Casey Alcantara/Treat Huey (PHI) d. Pruchya Isarow/Nuttanon Kadchapanan (THA) 63 63 76(4)
Ruben Gonzalez (PHI) d. Danai Udomchoke (THA) 64 63 62

Francis Casey Alcantara (PHI) d. Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul (THA) 64 46 60

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

Lebanon and Syria are relegated to Asia/Oceania Group III in 2014

SRI LANKA defeated LEBANON 3-2
Venue: Automobile et Touring Club du Liban, Jounieh, LIB (clay – outdoor)

Bassam Beidas (LIB) d. Dineshkanthan Thangarajah (SRI) 61 62 61
Harshana Godamanna (SRI) d. Karim Alayli (LIB) 63 63 62

Harshana Godamanna/Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) d. Bassam Beidas/Patrick Chucri (LIB) 67(6) 76(3) 63 64

Bassam Beidas (LIB) d. Harshana Godamanna (SRI) 64 67(5) 63 63

Dineshkanthan Thangarajah (SRI) d. Karim Alayli (LIB) 62 64 61

KUWAIT defeated SYRIA 3-2
Venue: Kuwait Tennis Federation Center, Mishref, KUW (hard – outdoor)

Issam Haitham Taweel (SYR) d. Naser Al Obaidly (KUW) 61 75 60

Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) d. Marc Abdelnour (SYR) 64 63 64

Hassan Al Mousa/Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) d. Marc Abdelnour/Majdi Salim (SYR) 61 63 62

Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) d. Issam Haitham Taweel (SYR) 67(4) 63 62 63

Marc Abdelnour (SYR) d. Naser Al Obaidly (KUW) 63 64

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

Finland will host Latvia, and Moldova hosts Portugal in the Europe/Africa Group II promotion play-off on 13-15 September 2013.

FINLAND defeated IRELAND 3-2
Venue: Castleknock Tennis Club, Dublin, IRL (hard – indoor)

Harri Heliovaara (FIN) d. James McGee (IRL) 46 64 76(1) 67(4) 64

Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. Colin O’Brien (IRL) 61 62 60

Henri Kontinen/Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. Sam Barry/Colin O’Brien (IRL) 62 61 64

Daniel Glancy (IRL) d. Micke Kontinen (FIN) 62 26 62

Colin O’Brien (IRL) d. Harri Heliovaara (FIN) w/o

LATVIA defeated MONACO 3-2
Venue: Monte Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, FRA (clay – outdoor)

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Jean-Rene Lisnard (MON) 62 63 63
Benjamin Balleret (MON) d. Andis Juska (LAT) 36 62 64 63
Benjamin Balleret/Guillaume Couillard (MON) d. Ernests Gulbis/Andis Juska (LAT) 64 64 62

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Benjamin Balleret (MON) 62 60 61

Andis Juska (LAT) d. Jean-Rene Lisnard (MON) 26 64 61 31 ret (left thigh injury)

MOLDOVA defeated BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA 3-1
Venue: Teniski Klub Mostar, Mostar, BIH (clay – outdoor)

Radu Albot (MDA) d. Tomislav Brkic (BIH) 63 76(3) 63
Damir Dzumhur (BIH) d. Maxim Dubarenco (MDA) 63 26 57 63 64

Radu Albot/Andrei Ciumac (MDA) d. Damir Dzumhur/Ismar Gorcic (BIH) 75 64 63

Radu Albot (MDA) d. Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 67(4) 46 64 63 63
Tomislav Brkic (BIH) v Maxim Dubarenco (MDA) not played

PORTUGAL defeated LITHUANIA 5-0
Venue: Club Internacional de Football, Lisbon, POR (clay – outdoor)

Gastao Elias (POR) d. Lukas Mugevicius (LTU) 60 61 62

Pedro Sousa (POR) d. Dovydas Sakinis (LTU) 62 64 60

Gastao Elias/Rui Machado (POR) d. Mantas Bugailiskis/Lukas Mugevicius (LTU) 63 60 62

Frederico Gil (POR) d. Kasparas Zemaitelis (LTU) 61 63

Rui Machado (POR) d. Lukas Mugevicius (LTU) 62 60

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

Benin, Estonia, Hungary and Tunisia are relegated to Europe Group III in 2014

BULGARIA defeated ESTONIA 3-0
Venue: TC Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Plovdiv, BUL (clay – outdoor)

Tihomir Grozdanov (BUL) d. Vladimir Ivanov (EST) 64 61 63
Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL) d. Markus Kerner (EST) 62 61 62
Tihomir Grozdanov/Alexander Lazov (BUL) d. Mikk Irdoja/Vladimir Ivanov (EST) 46 67(4) 76(2) 64 63
Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL) v Vladimir Ivanov (EST) cancelled due to rain
Tihomir Grozdanov (BUL) v Markus Kerner (EST) cancelled due to rain

BELARUS defeated TUNISIA 3-2
Venue: Tennis Club de Tunis, Tunis, TUN (clay – outdoor)

Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) d. Mohamed Haythem Abid (TUN) 63 63 75
Malek Jaziri (TUN) d. Egor Gerasimov (BLR) 75 36 60 63
Alexander Bury/Max Mirnyi (BLR) d. Mohamed Haythem Abid/Malek Jaziri (TUN) 63 61 75
Malek Jaziri (TUN) d. Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) 64 61 61

Mohamed Haythem Abid (TUN) d. Egor Gerasimov (BLR) 67(5) 64 61 57 64

LUXEMBOURG defeated HUNGARY 4-1
Venue: Budapesti Elektromos Sportegyesület Sportcsarnoka, Budapest, HUN (hard – indoor)

Attila Balazs (HUN) d. Ugo Nastasi (LUX) 64 76(3) 61

Gilles Muller (LUX) d. Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 63 64 60

Gilles Muller/Mike Scheidweiler (LUX) d. Marton Fucsovics/Levente Godry (HUN) 46 62 63 60

Gilles Muller (LUX) d. Attila Balazs (HUN) 67(1) 62 63 46 97

Gilles Kremer (LUX) d. Viktor Filipenko (HUN) 67(7) 64 76(5)

CYPRUS defeated BENIN 3-2
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Nicosia, CYP (hard – outdoor)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) d. Jean Segodo (BEN) 61 61 61
Alexis Klegou (BEN) d. Petros Chrysochos (CYP) 46 61 64 62

Marcos Baghdatis/Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) d. Alexis Klegou/Magloire Yakpa (BEN) 62 75 61

Alexis Klegou (BEN) d. Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) 62 46 63 62

Petros Chrysochos (CYP) d. Magloire Yakpa (BEN) 61 61 60

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Great Britain Stuns Russia to Reach Davis Cup World Group Play-offs

 

By Ros Satar

 

Dan Evans [GBR] def. Evgeny Donskoy [RUS] 6-4, 6-4, 6-1

 

(April 7, 2013) COVENTRY, England – After three epic five-setters, it felt almost like short-change when Dan Evans clinched the Group I  second round tie 3-2 against Russia in straight sets.

 

Having finished the first day 0-2 down, and only being ranked as favorites to win the doubles, it was all to play for with two live rubbers on the Sunday.

 

It was key for Evans to capitalize on Ward’s earlier three-and-a-half hour win over Dmitry Tursunov, which he did so with a single break to take the first set 6-4.

 

Evans started in much the same way, breaking again to lead Russia 3-1, but lost the advantage when Donskoy broke to level at 3-3.

 

Donskoy was moving better, and dialing back into the match, but another consolidated break for Evans put Great Britain two sets up.

 

Evans was inspired as he broke the Russian twice in the first three games, and again to build up a 4-0 lead in the third set.

 

Donskoy got a game back on the board, and saved one match point in the final game, but pushed a forehand wide to complete a remarkable day for the British team.

 

There may have been some who questioned Leon Smith’s decision to replace Jamie Baker at such a late stage with Dan Evans, but it most certainly paid off.

 

And on Friday, where Evans admitted he know he did not do enough hard work or practice to move on, it was a more positive sounding young man in press.

 

His aim is to continue to work on his ranking to earn a place as the British No. 2 to Andy Murray.

 

He said: “I am so grateful for the opportunity to play.”

 

Leon Smith now has competition for places, regardless of whether Andy Murray is playing.

 

There was vindication for the difficult decision to replace Jamie Baker with Evans, based on the courts and also the results of the players before hand.

 

He said: “There wasn’t an obvious choice to start with. At the end of the day it was the right choice.”

 

Great Britain will now go on to play in the World Group play-offs in September.

 

Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT journalist by day, and a sports journalist in all the gaps in between. She is the co-founder of Britwatch Sports (britwatchsports.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 second round result:

Great Britain defeated Russia 3-2

Rubber 1 – D. Tursunov (RUS) d. D. Evans (GBR) 64 67(5) 64 57 64

Rubber 2 – E. Donskoy (RUS) d. J. Ward (GBR) 46 46 75 64 86

Rubber 3 – C.Fleming/J.Marray (GBR) d. V.Baluda/I.Kunitsyn (RUS) 61 64 62

Rubber 4 – J. Ward (GBR) d. D. Tursunov (RUS) 64 57 57 64 64

Rubber 5 – D. Evans (GBR) d. E. Donskoy (RUS) 64 64 61

 

 

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Czech Republic to Take Over No. 1 position on ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking

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(April 7, 2013) Czech Republic will become only the sixth nation to hold the No. 1 position on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking after completing a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas in Astana on Saturday. Lukas Rosol won the decisive point with a 76(5), 67(2), 76(5), 62 victory over Evgeny Korolev.

 

The new rankings will be issued on Monday 8 April, with Czech Republic climbing one place from its current position of No. 2. Spain, which has held the top spot for almost four years, will drop to No. 2.

The ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking was launched in December 2001 and is used for seeding at all levels of the competition. It measures the success of all participating nations over a ‘rolling’ four year period with recent performance weighted more heavily. A new rankings list is published following every World Group round and nations at all levels of the competition have a ranking.

History of the No. 1 ranked nation on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking

 

1: Australia 3 December 2001 – 11 February 2002

2: France 11 February 2002 – 1 December 2003

Australia 1 December 2003 – 12 April 2004

France 12 April 2004 – 27 September 2004

3: Spain 27 September 2004 – 21 November 2005

4: Croatia 21 November 2005 – 4 December 2006

5: Russia 4 December 2006 – 13 July 2009

Spain 13 July 2009 – 8 April 2013

6: Czech Republic 8 April 2013 -

 

Czech Republic also becomes only the third country after France and Russia to top the Davis Cup and Fed Cup Nations Ranking at the same time, having held the Fed Cup No. 1 ranking since 23 April 2012.

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Davis Cup: US, Serbia Deadlocked at 1-1; Djokovic, Querrey Victorious in World Group Quarterfinals

DAVIS CUP: U.S., SERBIA DEADLOCKED AT 1-1

Djokovic, Querrey victorious in World Group Quarterfinals

By Junior Williams

Sam Querrey

Sam Querrey

(April 5, 2013) BOISE, Idaho – Sam Querrey rebounded from a two sets to one deficit to defeat Viktor Troicki 7-6 (1), 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, drawing the United States even with Serbia at one match apiece in the Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinals at a loud Taco Bell Arena on the Boise State University campus.

In the first match, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic dispatched American John Isner in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-5.

 

Isner got off to a fast start by breaking Djokovic early in the first set, but the Greensboro, North Carolina native failed to hold on to his advantage and went on to lose the first-set tiebreak, courtesy of a Djokovic change-of-pace serve that handcuffed the number 23-ranked player in the world.

 

From then on it was all Djokovic. He did his best impersonation of a backboard, neutralizing Isner’s powerful serves with solid returns and defense. The Serb wrapped up the match in two hours.

 

On court in a post-match interview, Djokovic was asked about how he executed his game plan against Isner.

 

His response: “I executed perfectly.”

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic

 

Djokovic elaborated further in the news conference. “I guess one of the tactics — crucial points — was to get as many balls back on the return games and try to use my serve very efficiently and not give him any opportunities to atack my second serve. So I had a very high percentage of first serves in. That helped my confidence, and I could play with less pressure in his service games.”

 

Isner agreed with Djokovic that the Australian Open champion’s ability to break back in the first set was the turning point the match.

 

“I let him back in it,” said the American. “Granted, he played a good game, but I didn’t make many first serves that game. Doing that against this guy is not a good recipe.

“You want to make first serves, and I didn’t do in that one game in the first set. That was critical because I think he became a lot more comfortable at that point.”

 

Isner had seventeen aces in the match, but his first serve percentage was 54%, compared with 77% for Djokovic.

 

The Serb’s win set up another Davis Cup pressure cooker for Querrey, the top-ranked American and world No. 20. In the World Group First Round back in February, the Californian ousted Brazil’s Thiago Alves in a fifth and deciding rubber to send the U.S. into the quarterfinals.

 

Querrey and Troicki battled for 3 hours and 20 minutes in a match marked by long rallies, powerful serves and lots of unforced errors: Querrey had 82, Troicki 62.  Querrey was going for his shots, while Troicki – like Djokovic – appeared to be returning everything in sight.

crowd

The crowd erupted in the fifth set, when Querrey broke the world’s 44th-ranked player to go up 5-4, on a Troicki shot that hit the net cord but stayed on the Serbian’s side of the court. The American went on to hold serve in the next and final game.

 

Querrey said finding his groove in the fourth set was key: “I stayed positive and kept with the game plan and played aggressive. That fourth set served extremely well and was fortunate to get two breaks and that gave me a lot of momentum going into the fifth set.”

 

Troicki said he began to tire in the fourth set:

 

“I get a bit tired mentally and also physically my legs were not 100 percent and got a little bit slower. I could say fourth set I just like wasn’t there.”

 

But Troicki added both he and Querrey played well in the fifth set, and that it just came down to who seized the opportunities.

 

“I had some chances early in the fifth,” said Troicki. “I had some chances early in the fifth.  I had some break points; didn’t use them.  He used his chances when he had a break point in a crucial moment for me. So I could say I was unlucky to lose this serve and also, yeah, to lose the match.  But that’s tennis.”

 

Next up: A crucial Saturday doubles match with Americans Bob and Mike Bryan — the number one team in the world – scheduled to play Serbian doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac. But Novak Djokovic says he’s “still in the option” for doubles.

 

Whether Djokovic plays or not, U.S. Davis Cup captain Jim Courier says Saturday’s match is “not a must‑win.  We won’t be eliminated, nor will Serbia no matter what happens tomorrow.”

“We certainly want to win.  There is no doubt about that.  It’s an important match for both squads.  We’ll have two singles players ready to fire on Sunday.”

 

Junior Williams is a long-time journalist and tennis fan. At a moment’s notice he can give you a list of all the Davis Cup match-ups that would give the US home ties. He is in Boise, Idaho covering the Davis Cup quarterfinal World Group tie between the United States and Serbia for Tennis Panorama News.

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Davis Cup Results for April 5, 2013

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(April 5, 2013) The ITF has announced the results after day one of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group quarterfinals and zone group ties taking place on April 5-7.

In Asia/Oceania Zone Group II, host nation Pakistan has been forced to concede its second round tie in Myanmar after the ITF referee awarded the tie to New Zealand due to an unplayable court.

 

WORLD GROUP QUARTERFINALS

CANADA level with ITALY 1-1
Venue: Thunderbird Sports Centre, Vancouver, CAN (hard – indoor)

Andreas Seppi (ITA) d. Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 57 46 64 63 63
Milos Raonic (CAN) d. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 64 76(4) 75
Daniel Nestor/Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Daniele Bracciali/Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)
Milos Raonic (CAN) v Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Fabio Fognini (ITA)

USA level with SERBIA 1-1
Venue: Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID, USA (hard – indoor)

Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. John Isner (USA) 76(5) 62 75
Sam Querrey (USA) d. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 76(1) 36 46 61 64
Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) v Ilija Bozoljac/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)
Sam Querrey (USA) v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
John Isner (USA) v Viktor Troicki (SRB)

ARGENTINA level with FRANCE 1-1
Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoor)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) d. Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 46 62 63 57 62
Juan Monaco (ARG) d. Gilles Simon (FRA) 76(2) 62 64
David Nalbandian/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) v Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA)

Juan Monaco (ARG) v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
Carlos Berlocq (ARG) v Gilles Simon (FRA)

CZECH REPUBLIC leads KAZAKHSTAN 2-0
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Astana, KAZ (clay – indoor)

Jan Hajek (CZE) d. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 63 62 64
Lukas Rosol (CZE) d. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 46 64 62 76(6)
Evgeny Korolev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) v Ivo Minar/Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Lukas Rosol (CZE)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Jan Hajek (CZE)

AMERICAS GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

ECUADOR level with CHILE 1-1
Venue: Umiña Tennis Club, Manta, ECU (hard – outdoor)

Julio-Cesar Campozano (ECU) d. Christian Garin (CHI) 46 62 46 62 97
Paul Capdeville (CHI) d. Emilio Gomez (ECU) 75 61 75
Diego Hidalgo/Roberto Quiroz (ECU) v Jorge Aguilar/Paul Capdeville (CHI)
Julio-Cesar Campozano (ECU) v Paul Capdeville (CHI)
Emilio Gomez (ECU) v Christian Garin (CHI)

COLOMBIA leads URUGUAY 2-0
Venue: Complejo Tenístico Fabiola Zuluaga, Cúcuta, COL (hard – outdoor)

Santiago Giraldo (COL) d. Marcel Felder (URU) 62 36 61 62
Alejandro Falla (COL) d. Ariel Behar (URU) 62 60 62
Juan-Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah (COL) v Ariel Behar/Marcel Felder (URU)
Alejandro Falla (COL) v Marcel Felder (URU)
Santiago Giraldo (COL) v Ariel Behar (URU)

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

AUSTRALIA level with UZBEKISTAN 1-1
Venue: Sport Complex Pahlavon, Namangan, UZB (clay – indoor)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) d. Farrukh Dustov (UZB) 76(6) 64 64

Denis Istomin (UZB) d. Marinko Matosevic (AUS) 64 76(1) 36 64

Farrukh Dustov/Denis Istomin (UZB) v Matthew Ebden/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

Denis Istomin (UZB) v Bernard Tomic (AUS)

Farrukh Dustov (UZB) v Marinko Matosevic (AUS)

JAPAN leads KOREA, REPUBLIC 2-0
Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, JPN (hard – indoor)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) d. Jeong Suk-Young (KOR) 61 64 64

Go Soeda (JPN) d. Cho Min Hyeok (KOR) 57 26 64 64 62

Go Soeda/Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) v Lim Yong-Kyu/Nam Ji Sung (KOR)

Go Soeda (JPN) v Jeong Suk-Young (KOR)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Cho Min Hyeok (KOR)

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP I – FIRST ROUND PLAY-OFF

CHINA, P.R. leads CHINESE TAIPEI 2-0
Venue: Tianjin Tennis Center, Tianjin, CHN (hard – outdoor)

Wu Di (CHN) d. Ti Chen (TPE) 16 60 61 64

Ze Zhang (CHN) d. Yang Tsung-Hua (TPE) 75 61 61

Gong Mao-Xin/Li Zhe (CHN) v Chuang Ting Yu/Huang Liang-Chi (TPE)

Ze Zhang (CHN) v Ti Chen (TPE)

Wu Di (CHN) v Yang Tsung-Hua (TPE)

INDIA leads INDONESIA 2-0
Venue: KSLTA Tennis Stadium, Bangalore, IND (hard – outdoor)

Somdev Devvarman (IND) d. Wisnu Adi Nugroho (INA) 61 62 62
Yuki Bhambri (IND) d. Christopher Rungkat (INA) 63 62 62
Leander Paes/Sanam Singh (IND) v Elbert Sie/David Agung Susanto (INA)
Somdev Devvarman (IND) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)

Yuki Bhambri (IND) v Wisnu Adi Nugroho (INA)

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

RUSSIA leads GREAT BRITAIN 2-0
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, GBR (hard – indoor)

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) d. Dan Evans (GBR) 64 67(5) 64 57 64
Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) d. James Ward (GBR) 46 46 75 63 86

Colin Fleming/Jonathan Marray (GBR) v Victor Baluda/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS)

James Ward (GBR) v Dmitry Tursunov (RUS)

Dan Evans (GBR) v Evgeny Donskoy (RUS)

POLAND level with SOUTH AFRICA 1-1
Venue: Centrum Rekreacyjno-Sportowe, Zielona Góra, POL (hard – indoor)

Jerzy Janowicz (POL) d. Jean Andersen (RSA) 64 63 63
Rik de Voest (RSA) d. Lukasz Kubot (POL) 63 67(3) 75 64
Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) v Rik de Voest/Ruan Roelofse (RSA)

Jerzy Janowicz (POL) v Rik de Voest (RSA)

Lukasz Kubot (POL) v Jean Andersen (RSA)

NETHERLANDS leads ROMANIA 2-0
Venue: Sala Sporturilor Dumitru Popescu Colibasi, Brasov, ROU (hard – indoor)

Robin Haase (NED) d. Adrian Ungur (ROU) 64 64 36 63

Igor Sijsling (NED) d. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 64 76(5) 26 67(5) 62
Marius Copil/Horia Tecau (ROU) v Thiemo de Bakker/Jean-Julien Rojer (NED)

Victor Hanescu (ROU) v Robin Haase (NED)

Adrian Ungur (ROU) v Igor Sijsling (NED)

UKRAINE level with SWEDEN 1-1
Venue: Megaron Tennis Club, Dnipropetrovsk, UKR (hard – indoor)

Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) d. Isak Arvidsson (SWE) 62 60 76(5)

Markus Eriksson (SWE) d. Denys Molchanov (UKR) 75 46 64 64
Illya Marchenko/Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Johan Brunstrom/Robert Lindstedt (SWE)
Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) v Markus Eriksson (SWE)

Denys Molchanov (UKR) v Isak Arvidsson (SWE)

AMERICAS GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

EL SALVADOR leads MEXICO 2-0
Venue: Federacion Salvadoreña de Tenis, Ciudad Merliot, ESA (hard – outdoor)

Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) d. Daniel Garza (MEX) 64 64 67(7) 62
Rafael Arevalo (ESA) d. Miguel Gallardo-Valles (MEX) 62 63 75
Marcelo Arevalo/Rafael Arevalo (ESA) v Daniel Garza/Miguel-Angel Reyes-Varela (MEX)
Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) v Miguel Gallardo-Valles (MEX)
Rafael Arevalo (ESA) v Daniel Garza (MEX)

VENEZUELA leads PERU 2-0
Venue: Estadio Alejandro Olmedo, Arequipa, PER (clay – outdoor)

Ricardo Rodriguez (VEN) d. Duilio Beretta (PER) 75 62 62
David Souto (VEN) d. Mauricio Echazu (PER) 46 62 64 75
Duilio Beretta/ Sergio Galdos (PER) v Piero Luisi/Luis David Martinez (VEN)
Duilio Beretta (PER) v David Souto (VEN)
Mauricio Echazu (PER) v Ricardo Rodriguez (VEN)

AMERICAS GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

BARBADOS level with PUERTO RICO 1-1
Venue: National Tennis Centre, St Michael, BAR (hard – outdoor)

Darian King (BAR) d. Christian Garay (PUR) 62 61 60

Alex Llompart (PUR) d. Seanon Williams (BAR) 62 63 61

Darian King/Haydn Lewis (BAR) v Gilberto Alvarez/Alex Llompart (PUR)

Darian King (BAR) v Alex Llompart (PUR)

Seanon Williams (BAR) v Christian Garay (PUR)

GUATEMALA level with HAITI 1-1
Venue: Centre Court, Guatemala, GUA (hard – outdoor)

Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA) d. Hillel Rousseau (HAI) 63 61 61
Olivier Sajous (HAI) d. Sebastien Vidal (GUA) 76(5) 75 61
Christopher Diaz-Figueroa/Sebastien Vidal (GUA) v Joel Allen/Olivier Sajous (HAI)
Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA) v Olivier Sajous (HAI)
Sebastien Vidal (GUA) v Hillel Rousseau (HAI)

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

NEW ZEALAND defeated PAKISTAN 4-1 The tie has been awarded to New Zealand due to an unplayable court

Venue: Pun Hlaing Golf & Country Club, Yangon, MYA (grass – outdoor)

Aqeel Khan (PAK) d. Artem Sitak (NZL) 75 36 62 75
Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Aisam Qureshi (PAK) 26 63 03 def.

Marcus Daniell/Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Aqeel Khan/Aisam Qureshi (PAK) def.

Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Aqeel Khan (PAK) def.

Artem Sitak (NZL) d. Aisam Qureshi (PAK) def.

PHILIPPINES level with THAILAND 1-1
Venue: Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Lapu-Lapu, PHI (clay – outdoor)

Ruben Gonzales (PHI) d. Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul (THA) 67(6) 64 30 ret. (cramp)
Danai Udomchoke (THA) d. Johnny Arcilla (PHI) 63 62 16 62
Francis Casey Alcantara/Treat Huey (PHI) v Pruchya Isarow/Nuttanon Kadchapanan (THA)
Ruben Gonzales (PHI) v Danai Udomchoke (THA)

Johnny Arcilla (PHI) v Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul (THA)

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

LEBANON level with SRI LANKA 1-1
Venue: Automobile et Touring Club du Liban, Jounieh, LIB (clay – outdoor)

Bassam Beidas (LIB) d. Dineshkanthan Thangarajah (SRI) 61 62 61
Harshana Godamanna (SRI) d. Karim Alayli (LIB) 63 63 62

Bassam Beidas/Patrick Chucri (LIB) v Harshana Godamanna/Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI)

Bassam Beidas (LIB) v Harshana Godamanna (SRI)

Karim Alayli (LIB) v Dineshkanthan Thangarajah (SRI)

SYRIA level with KUWAIT 1-1
Venue: Kuwait Tennis Federation Center, Mishref, KUW (hard – outdoor)

Issam Haitham Taweel (SYR) d. Naser Al Obaidly (KUW) 61 75 60

Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) d. Marc Abdelnour (SYR) 64 63 64

Hassan Al Mousa/Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) v Marc Abdelnour/Majdi Salim (SYR)

Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) v Issam Haitham Taweel (SYR)

Naser Al Obaidly (KUW) v Marc Abdelnour (SYR)

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

FINLAND leads IRELAND 2-0
Venue: Castleknock Tennis Club, Dublin, IRL (hard – indoor)

Harri Heliovaara (FIN) d. James McGee (IRL) 46 64 76(1) 67(4) 64

Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. Colin O’Brien (IRL) 61 62 60

Sam Barry/James McGee (IRL) v Henri Kontinen/Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

James McGee (IRL) v Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

Colin O’Brien (IRL) v Harri Heliovaara (FIN)

LATVIA level with MONACO 1-1
Venue: Monte Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, FRA (clay – outdoor)

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Jean-Rene Lisnard (MON) 62 63 63
Benjamin Balleret (MON) d. Andis Juska (LAT) 36 62 64 63
Guillaume Couillard/Thomas Oger (MON) v Ernests Gulbis/Andis Juska (LAT)

Benjamin Balleret (MON) v Ernests Gulbis (LAT)

Jean-Rene Lisnard (MON) v Andis Juska (LAT)

MOLDOVA leads BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA 1-0
Venue: Teniski Klub Mostar, Mostar, BIH (clay – outdoor)

Radu Albot (MDA) d. Tomislav Brkic (BIH) 63 76(3) 63
Damir Dzumhur (BIH) leads Maxim Dubarenco (MDA) 63 (Match suspended due to darkness. Will resume at 10.30 on Saturday)

Tomislav Brkic/Damir Dzumhur (BIH) v Radu Albot/Andrei Ciumac (MDA)

Damir Dzumhur (BIH) v Radu Albot (MDA)
Tomislav Brkic (BIH) v Maxim Dubarenco (MDA)

PORTUGAL leads LITHUANIA 2-0
Venue: Club Internacional de Football, Lisbon, POR (clay – outdoor)

Gastao Elias (POR) d. Lukas Mugevicius (LTU) 60 61 62

Pedro Sousa (POR) d. Dovydas Sakinis (LTU) 62 64 60

Gastao Elias/Rui Machado (POR) v Lukas Mugevicius/Dovydas Sakinis (LTU)

Pedro Sousa (POR) v Lukas Mugevicius (LTU)

Gastao Elias (POR) v Dovydas Sakinis (LTU)

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

BULGARIA leads ESTONIA 2-0
Venue: TC Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Plovdiv, BUL (clay – outdoor)

Tihomir Grozdanov (BUL) d. Vladimir Ivanov (EST) 64 61 63
Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL) d. Markus Kerner (EST) 62 61 62
Valentin Dimov/Alexander Lazov (BUL) v Mikk Irdoja/Vladimir Ivanov (EST)
Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL) v Vladimir Ivanov (EST)
Tihomir Grozdanov (BUL) v Markus Kerner (EST)

BELARUS level with TUNISIA 1-1
Venue: Tennis Club de Tunis, Tunis, TUN (clay – outdoor)

Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) d. Mohamed Haythem Abid (TUN) 63 63 75
Malek Jaziri (TUN) d. Egor Gerasimov (BLR) 75 36 60 63
Mohamed Haythem Abid/Malek Jaziri (TUN) v Alexander Bury/Max Mirnyi (BLR)
Malek Jaziri (TUN) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)

Mohamed Haythem Abid (TUN) v Egor Gerasimov (BLR)

HUNGARY level with LUXEMBOURG 1-1
Venue: Budapesti Elektromos Sportegyesület Sportcsarnoka, Budapest, HUN (hard – indoor)

Attila Balazs (HUN) d. Ugo Nastasi (LUX) 64 76(3) 61

Gilles Muller (LUX) d. Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 63 64 60

Marton Fucsovics/Levente Godry (HUN) v Gilles Muller/Mike Scheidweiler (LUX)

Attila Balazs (HUN) v Gilles Muller (LUX)

Marton Fucsovics (HUN) v Ugo Nastasi (LUX)

CYPRUS level with BENIN 1-1
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Nicosia, CYP (hard – outdoor)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) d. Jean Segodo (BEN) 61 61 61
Alexis Klegou (BEN) d. Petros Chrysochos (CYP) 46 61 64 62

Marcos Baghdatis/Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Alexis Klegou/Magloire Yakpa (BEN)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Alexis Klegou (BEN)

Petros Chrysochos (CYP) v Jean Segodo (BEN)

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Bryan Brothers Among Davis Cup Commitment Award Winners

(April 4, 2013) The ITF, through its National Associations, will present further Davis Cup Commitment Awards during this weekend’s 2013 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and zone group ties on Saturday, April 6.

 

This new award was conceived as part of the ITF’s 2013 Centenary celebrations, and will be presented to Davis Cup players who have shown long-standing dedication to representing their country in this prestigious competition. Each award recipient will have competed in a minimum of 20-home-and-away ties or 50 ties at any level of the competition (including week-long zone group events) over their career.

 

The ITF presented the first seven trophies to players in an on-court presentation at the 100th Davis Cup Final in Prague last November. Among those presented with awards at last year’s final were Italy’s Nicola Pietrangeli, who heads the elite list of players having played 66 home or away ties for his country, and San Marino’s Domenico Vicini, who holds the record for the most ties played in all levels of the competition with a total of 87.

 

This weekend presentations will be made to the following players at their respective Davis Cup home ties before the doubles rubber on Saturday 6 April:

 

Colombia – Mauricio Hadad

Great Britain – Jeremy Bates, Billy Knight, Greg Rusedski, Bobby Wilson

Hungary – Kornel Bardoczky, Gergely Kisgyorgy, Robert Machan, Balasz Taroczy

India – Anand Amritraj, Mahesh Bhupathi, Ramanathan Krishnan, Ramesh Krishnan

Poland – Bartłomiej Dąbrowski (tbc)

Romania – Ilie Nastase, Andrei Pavel, Florin Segarceanu, Ion Tiriac

USA – Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan

Uzbekistan – Vadim Kutsenko, Oleg Ogorodov

 

A total of 300 players have already qualified to receive the award, of whom 253 are still alive. Presentations will be made to award winners at Davis Cup home ties throughout 2013. The Commitment Award trophies are based on the design of the current Davis Cup trophy. All recipients will also be recognised on an honours board at the ITF headquarters in London and in a dedicated section on the official Davis Cup website. A full list of award winners can be viewed here

 

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “The Davis Cup Commitment Award reflects the dedication by players for more than a century to represent their country in this prestigious competition. These players have continued to rise to the unique challenge of competing in a team environment in front of their home fans, and we believe that it is fitting to recognise their efforts in our centenary year.”

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US Plays Host to Serbia in Davis Cup Quarterfinal This Weekend

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Sam Querrey and John Isner

(April 2, 2013) The United States hosts world No. 1 Novak Djokovic this weekend as they take on Serbia in the quarterfinal round of Davis Cup in Boise, Idaho on an indoor hard court at the Taco Bell Arena on the Boise State University campus.

 

The US team will consist of Sam Querrey, John Isner, Bob and Mike Bryan. In addition to Djokovic, Serbia sends Viktor Troicki, Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac.

 

This will be the second time that the US has played Serbia in Davis Cup competition. Serbia topped the US  3-2 in the 2010 first round in Belgrade.

 

“I think we like our chances,“ Querrey said at a a pre-draw news conference on Tuesday. “I think if we play aggressive and play well, we can win this tie.

 

“Sam and I are going to both lay it all out there and see how it goes,” Isner said.
“I think we’re certainly not scared.  We’re going to take the court believing we can win.  I think that’s the most important part more than anything else.  If you take the court with that belief, it could go a long way.”

 

Djokovic said the the tie is not all about him. “Team effort is a priority here, ” he said.  “Even if I win my both matches, it’s not going to be enough to win the tie.  So we need to win the 3 points.
“That’s what we came here for.  We are very glad to be in quarterfinals again.  Of course, USA is the most successful nation in this competition.  They have a lot of good players.  As you mentioned, Sam and John are the leaders of this team.  And, of course, Bryan brothers which are the all‑time best doubles pair.
“They are very strong.  They have chosen these conditions because they believe it’s going to go in their favor.  They have a strong serve.  With this altitude, it helps the serve more.
“But we played in these conditions before.  I played Sam and John, you know, in previous years few times.  I know their styles of the game.  This competition is very unique because you get to rely on the home support.  So it’s going to be quite different.  Obviously we going to have an extra motivation to play and win for our country.”

 

The winner of this tie will face either Canada or Italy in the World Group semifinals. Should the US beat Serbia, it will host Canada or travel to Italy. Although the US hosted the last tie against Canada in 1965, choice of ground was decided by lot if the previous meeting between the two nations was prior to 1970.

 

Schedule

All times Mountain Time

Friday, April 5, 2013 1:30 p.m.

Singles A: U.S. No. 1 vs. SRB No. 2 (or SRB No. 1 vs. U.S. No. 2)

Singles B: Opposite pairing of Singles A

 

Saturday, April 6, 2013 1:00 p.m.

Doubles

 

Sunday, April 7, 2013 12:00 p.m.

Singles C: U.S. No. 1 vs. SRB No. 1

Singles D: U.S. No. 2 vs. SRB No. 2

 

In the United States, the tie will air live on Tennis Channel.

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Davis Cup Nominations Announced for World and Zonal Group Ties

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(March 26, 2013) The ITF has announced the official team nominations for the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group quarterfinals and zone group ties taking place April 5-7.

WORLD GROUP QUARTERFINALS

CANADA v ITALY

Venue: Thunderbird Sports Centre, Vancouver, CAN (hard – indoor)

Canada
Milos Raonic
Vasek Pospisil
Frank Dancevic
Daniel Nestor
Captain: Martin Laurendeau

Italy
Andreas Seppi
Fabio Fognini

Paolo Lorenzi
Simone Bolelli
Captain: Corrado Barazzutti

USA v SERBIA

Venue: Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID, USA (hard – indoor)

USA

Sam Querrey

John Isner

Bob Bryan

Mike Bryan

Captain: Jim Courier

Serbia

Novak Djokovic
Viktor Troicki

Ilija Bozoljac
Nenad Zimonjic
Captain: Bogdan Obradovic

ARGENTINA v FRANCE

Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoor)

Argentina
Juan Monaco

Horacio Zeballos

Carlos Berlocq
David Nalbandian
Captain: Martin Jaite

France
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Richard Gasquet
Julien Benneteau
Michael Llodra
Captain: Arnaud Clement

KAZAKHSTAN v CZECH REPUBLIC

Venue: National Tennis Centre, Astana, KAZ (clay – indoor)

Kazakhstan
Mikhail Kukushkin
Evgeny Korolev

Andrey Golubev
Yuriy Schukin
Captain: Dias Doskarayev

Czech Republic
Tomas Berdych
Radek Stepanek
Lukas Rosol
Jan Hajek
Captain: Jaroslav Navratil

AMERICAS GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

ECUADOR v CHILE

Venue: Umiña Tennis Club, Manta, ECU (hard – outdoor)

Ecuador

Julio-Cesar Campozano

Emilio Gomez

Roberto Quiroz

Juan-Sebastian Vivanco

Captain: Raul Viver

Chile

Paul Capdeville

Jorge Aguilar

Hans Podlipnik

Christian Garin

Captain: Belus Prajoux

COLOMBIA v URUGUAY

Venue: Complejo Tenístico Fabiola Zuluaga, Cúcuta, COL (hard – outdoor)

Colombia

Alejandro Falla

Santiago Giraldo

Robert Farah

Juan Sebastian Cabal

Captain: Mauricio Hadad

Uruguay

tbc

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

UZBEKISTAN v AUSTRALIA

Venue: Sport Complex Pahlavon, Namangan, UZB (clay – indoor)

Uzbekistan

Denis Istomin

Farrukh Dustov

Sarvar Ikramov

Temur Ismailov

Captain: Petr Lebed

Australia

Bernard Tomic

Marinko Matosevic

Lleyton Hewitt

Matthew Ebden

Captain: Patrick Rafter

JAPAN v KOREA REPUBLIC

Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, JPN (hard – indoor)

Japan

Go Soeda

Tatsuma Ito

Hiroki Moriya

Yasutaka Uchiyama

Captain: Minoru Ueda

Korea Republic

Jeong Suk-Young

Sung Nam Ji

Lim Yong-Kyu

Cho Min Hyeok

Captain: Yoon Yong-Il

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP I – FIRST ROUND PLAY-OFF

CHINA P.R. v CHINESE TAIPEI

Venue: Tianjin Tennis Center, Tianjin, CHN (hard – outdoor)

China, P.R.

Zhang Ze

Wu Di

Gong Mao-Xin

Li Zhe

Captain: Shi Hao

Chinese Taipei

Chen Ti

Yang Tsung-Hua

Huang Liang-Chi

Chuang Ting Yu

Captain: Tsai Chia-Yen

INDIA v INDONESIA

Venue: KSLTA Tennis Stadium, Bangalore, IND (hard – outdoor)

India

Somdev Devvarman

Yuki Bhambri

Sanam Singh

Leander Paes

Captain: Shiv Prakash Misra

Indonesia

Christopher Rungkat

Elbert Sie

David Agung Susanto

Wisnu Adi Nugroho

Captain: Hendri Susilo Pramono

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP I – SECOND ROUND

GREAT BRITAIN v RUSSIA

Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, GBR (hard – indoor)

Great Britain

James Ward

Jamie Baker

Colin Fleming

Jonathan Marray

Captain: Leon Smith

Russia

Dmitry Tursunov

Evgeny Donskoy

Igor Kunitsyn

Victor Baluda

Captain: Shamil Tarpischev

POLAND v SOUTH AFRICA
Venue: Centrum Rekreacyjno-Sportowe, Zielona Góra, POL (hard – indoor)

Poland

Jerzy Janowicz

Lukasz Kubot

Marcin Matkowski

Mariusz Fyrstenberg

Captain: Radoslaw Szymanik

South Africa

Rik De Voest

Raven Klaasen

Ruan Roelofse

Jean Andersen

Captain: John Laffnie de Jager

ROMANIA v NETHERLANDS
Venue: Sala Sporturilor Dumitru Popescu Colibasi, Brasov, ROU (hard – indoor)

Romania

Victor Hanescu

Adrian Ungur

Marius Copil

Horia Tecau

Captain: Andrei Pavel

Netherlands

Robin Haase

Igor Sijsling

Thiemo de Bakker

Jean-Julien Rojer

Captain: Jan Siemerink

UKRAINE v SWEDEN
Venue: Megaron Tennis Club, Dnipropetrovsk, UKR (hard – indoor)

Ukraine

Alexandr Dolgopolov

Sergiy Stakhovsky

Illya Marchenko

Denys Molchanov

Captain: Mikhail Filima

Sweden

Christian Lindell

Markus Eriksson

Robert Lindstedt

Johan Brunstrom

Captain: Fredrik Rosengren

AMERICAS GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

EL SALVADOR v MEXICO
Venue: Federacion Salvadoreña de Tenis, Ciudad Merliot, ESA (hard – outdoor)

El Salvador

Marcelo Arevalo

Rafael Arevalo

Alejandro Gonzalez

Andres Weisskopf

Captain: Roberto Salazar

Mexico

Miguel Gallardo-Valles

Daniel Garza

Miguel-Angel Reyes-Varela

Rogelio Siller

Captain: Jorge Lozano

PERU v VENEZUELA
Venue: Estadio Alejandro Olmedo, Arequipa, PER (clay – outdoor)

Peru

Duilio Beretta

Mauricio Echazu

Sergio Galdos

Jorge Brian Panta

Captain: Luis Horna

Venezuela

David Souto

Ricardo Rodriguez

Luis David Martinez

Piero Luisi

Captain: William Campos

AMERICAS GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

BARBADOS v PUERTO RICO
Venue: National Tennis Centre, St Michael, BAR (hard – outdoor)

Barbados

Darian King

Anthony Marshall

Seanon Williams

Russell Moseley

Captain: Kevin Yarde

Puerto Rico

Alex Llompart

Christian Garay

Gilberto Alvarez

Captain: Jorge F. Gonzalez

GUATEMALA v HAITI
Venue: Centre Court, Guatemala, GUA (hard – outdoor)

Guatemala

Christopher Diaz-Figueroa

Sebastien Vidal

Julen Uriguen

Captain: Anthony Vasquez

Haiti

tbc

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

PAKISTAN v NEW ZEALAND
Venue: Pun Hlaing Golf & Country Club, Yangon, MYA (grass – outdoor)

Pakistan

Aqeel Khan

Yasir Khan

Aisam Qureshi

Muhammad Abid

Captain: Muhammad Khalid

New Zealand

Daniel King-Turner

Artem Sitak

Marcus Daniell

Sebastian Lavie

Captain: Alistair Hunt

PHILIPPINES v THAILAND

Venue: Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Lapu-Lapu, PHI (clay – outdoor)

Philippines

Ruben Gonzales

Treat Huey

Johnny Arcilla

Francis Casey Alcantara

Captain: Roland Kraut

Thailand

Danai Udomchoke

Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul

Nuttanon Kadchapanan

Pruchya Isarow

Captain: Tanakorn Srichaphan

ASIA/OCEANIA GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

LEBANON v SRI LANKA

Venue: Automobile et Touring Club du Liban, Jounieh, LIB (clay – outdoor)

Lebanon

Bassam Beidas

Karim Alayli

Patrick Chucri

Jad Karaki

Captain: Hussein Bradreddine

Sri Lanka

Harshana Godamanna

Dineshkanthan Thangarajah

Amresh Jayawickrema

Rajeev Rajapakse

Captain: Rohan De Silva

KUWAIT v THAILAND

Venue: Kuwait Tennis Federation Centre, Meshref, KUW (hard – outdoor)

Kuwait

Abdullah Maqdas

Mohammad Ghareeb

Ali Ghareeb

Naser Al Obaidly

Captain: Abdul Redha Alshatti

Syria

Issam Haitham Taweel

Marc Abdelnour

Majdi Salim

Yacoub Makzoume

Captain: Feras Dahbos

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP II – SECOND ROUND

IRELAND v FINLAND
Venue: Castleknock Tennis Club, Dublin, IRL (hard – indoor)

Ireland

James McGee

Sam Barry

Daniel Glancy

Colin O’Brien

Captain: Garry Cahill

Finland

Timo Nieminen

Harri Heliovaara

Micke Kontinen

Henri Kontinen

Captain: Kim Tiilikainen

MONACO v LATVIA

Venue: Monte Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, MON (clay – outdoor)

Monaco

Benjamin Balleret

Thomas Oger

Jean-Rene Lisnard

Guillaume Couillard

Captain: Christophe Boggetti

Latvia

Ernests Gulbis

Andis Juska

Martins Podzus

Janis Podzus

Captain: Karlis Lejneieks

BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA v MOLDOVA

Venue: Teniski Klub Mostar, Mostar, BIH (clay – outdoor)

Bosnia/Herzegovina

Damir Dzumhur

Aldin Setkic

Tomislav Brkic

Ismar Gorcic

Captain: Daver Vranic

Moldova

Radu Albot

Maxim Dubarenco

Andrei Ciumac

Andrei Gorban

Captain: Iurie Gorban

PORTUGAL v LITHUANIA

Venue: Club Internacional de Football, Lisbon, POR (clay – outdoor)

Portugal

Joao Sousa

Gastao Elias

Pedro Sousa

Rui Machado

Captain: Pedro Cordeiro

Lithuania

Dovydas Sakinis

Lukas Mugevicius

Kasparas Zemaitelis

Mantas Bugailiskis

Captain: Remigijus Balzekas

EUROPE/AFRICA GROUP II – RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

BULGARIA v ESTONIA

Venue: TC Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Plovdiv, BUL (clay – outdoor)

Bulgaria

Alexander Lazov

Dimitar Kuzmanov

Tihomir Grozdanov

Valentin Dimov

Captain: Dimitar Gospodinov

Estonia

tbc

TUNISIA v BELARUS

Venue: Tennis Club de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia (clay – outdoor)

Tunisia

Malek Jaziri

Mohamed Haythem Abid

Skander Mansouri

Mehdi Abid

Captain: Fares Zaier

Belarus

Uladzimir Ignatik

Egor Gerasimov

Alexander Bury

Max Mirnyi

Captain: Aleksandr Vasilevski

HUNGARY v LUXEMBOURG

Venue: Budapesti Elektromos Sportegyesület Sportcsarnoka, Budapest, HUN (hard – indoor)

Hungary

Attila Balazs

Marton Fucsovics

Viktor Filipenko

Levente Godry

Captain: Miklos Hornok

Luxembourg

Gilles Muller

Gilles Kremer

Ugo Nastasi

Mike Scheidweiler

Captain: Jacques Radoux

CYPRUS v BENIN

Venue: National Tennis Centre, Nicosia, CYP (hard – outdoor)

Cyprus

tbc

Benin

Alexis Klegou

Loic Didavi

Tunde Segodo

Theophile Segodo

Captain: Bruno Danhouan

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Filed Under: Davis Cup/Fed Cup, Front Page News, tennis news Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Courier Names Querrey, Isner and Bryan Brothers to US Davis Cup Squad

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From the USTA: WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 26, 2013 – The USTA and U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier announced today that new top-ranked American and world No. 20 Sam Querrey, No. 23 John Isner, and the world’s No. 1 doubles team of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan will represent the United States in the 2013 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Quarterfinal tie against Serbia, April 5-7. The tie will be played on an indoor hard court at the Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho.

 

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was named to the Serbian Davis Cup team today, making this the third time that the U.S. Davis Cup team has faced the No. 1-ranked player in the world since the ATP rankings began in 1974. Djokovic has won six Grand Slam singles titles—the US Open and Wimbledon, both in 2011, as well as four Australian Open titles. He played an instrumental part in Serbia’s only Davis Cup crown in 2010. Also named to the Serbian Davis Cup team is No. 44 Viktor Troicki, No. 338 Ilija Bozoljac and world No. 19 doubles player Nenad Zimonjic were named to the Serbian team.

 

“This team fought hard in the first round against Brazil and we expect a stern challenge when we face the Serbians in the quarterfinals,” said Captain Courier, who is in his third year as U.S. Davis Cup captain. “We are excited to bring the Davis Cup team to Boise for the first time and I expect a full house with enthusiastic crowd support for the home team.”

 

Matches will be telecast live on Tennis Channel and begin at 3:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. MT on Friday, 3:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. MT on Saturday, and 2:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. MT on Sunday. The best-of-five match series begins Friday with two singles matches, featuring each country’s No. 1 player against the other country’s No. 2 player. Saturday’s schedule features the pivotal doubles match. The final day of play on Sunday will feature two “reverse singles” matches, when the No. 1 players square off followed by the No. 2 players meeting each other in the final match. All matches are best-of-five sets until one nation clinches the tie, at which time they become best-of-three sets. A revised schedule for Sunday may take place if a team clinches in the third or fourth match.

 

The winner of this tie will face the winner of Canada and Italy in the semifinal round, September 13-15. Should the U.S. defeat Serbia, it would host Canada in the semifinal or travel to Italy.

 

Idaho is the 34th state to host a U.S. Davis Cup tie. This will be the second consecutive home tie for the U.S. Davis Cup team after defeating Brazil in the 2013 World Group First Round in Jacksonville, Fla. The U.S. is 110-16 all-time in Davis Cup ties played at home.

 

This match will mark just the second meeting between the U.S. and Serbia in Davis Cup competition. Serbia won the only meeting, 3-2, in the 2010 World Group First Round in Belgrade by a Novak Djokovic-led team. Serbia is only one of three countries to have a winning record against the U.S. Davis Cup Team.

 

Querrey, 25, became the No. 1-ranked American male last week and is ranked No. 20 in the world. Querrey, who will be competing in his sixth Davis Cup tie, played in his first Davis Cup tie at home and on a hard court in the 2013 first round in Jacksonville and clinched the tie for the U.S. in the fifth-and-decisive rubber, defeating Thiago Alves, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3). It was the first time a U.S. Davis Cup match came down to the final match since Pete Sampras defeated Slava Doesedel of the Czech Republic in the 2000 quarterfinals in Los Angeles. Querrey had not won a live singles match prior to that weekend and ended up with two wins, also winning the opening rubber. Querrey now holds a 3-5 Davis Cup singles record. He made his Davis Cup debut against then-world No. 1 Rafael Nadal on clay in Madrid in the 2008 World Group Semifinal, losing in four sets. Querrey holds seven career ATP singles titles and has ranked as high as No. 17 in the world.

 

Isner, 27, is ranked No. 23 and will be competing in his eighth Davis Cup tie; he is 6-6 in singles and 2-0 in doubles. In the first round in Jacksonville, Isner also played in his first Davis Cup tie at home and on a hard court. He went 1-1 in singles play in that tie. Isner defeated Roger Federer in the U.S. Davis Cup team’s first round win at Switzerland last year, one of the biggest wins of his career, and he won his fifth career ATP singles title in 2012 at the Winston-Salem Open, an Emirates Airline US Open Series event. The tallest player in U.S. Davis Cup history, at 6-foot-9, Isner made his Davis Cup debut in the 2010 World Group First Round in Serbia, where he became the first U.S. player to compete in three live rubbers in the same tie since James Blake in the 2003 first round. He turned professional after an outstanding four-year career at the University of Georgia, leading the Bulldogs to the 2007 NCAA team title as a senior. Isner is currently No. 23 in the world and represented the U.S. in the 2012 Olympics in London, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Federer.

 

Bob and Mike Bryan, 34, hold a 20-3 doubles record together in U.S. Davis Cup competition. The 20 wins are first all-time in U.S. Davis Cup history for a tandem, and they are the only brothers to pair in victory for the U.S. Bob and Mike also hold the all-time Open era record of most Grand Slam men’s doubles titles (13) and ATP doubles titles (86). In addition, the Bryan brothers won the gold medal in doubles at the 2012 Olympics in London, where they completed a career Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal. The Bryans ended 2012 as the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the world, finishing as the top-ranked doubles team in the world for a record eighth time in 10 years.

 

Bob holds a 21-3 doubles record in Davis Cup competition and is also 4-2 in singles (all in dead rubbers). Bob did not compete in last year’s first round match at Switzerland due to the birth of his daughter, Micaela. Mike holds a 22-3 record in Davis Cup doubles matches, playing without Bob just twice in his Davis Cup career. He last played without Bob in the 2012 first round, teaming with Mardy Fish to defeat 2008 Olympic doubles gold medalists Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka to clinch the tie. Mike also partnered with Fish in the 2008 semifinal against Spain.

 

Courier also announced that the practice partners for the tie will be Tennys Sandgren and Mitchell Krueger. Sandgren, ranked No. 218 in the world, is a former University of Tennessee All-American, who reached the semifinals of the 2011 NCAA tournament, losing to teammate Rhyne Williams in three sets. Sandgren won three USTA Pro Circuit Futures titles (in four finals) in 2012 before transitioning to Challenger-level events for the remainder of the year. Krueger was formerly the top-ranked American boys’ junior, peaking at a career-high No. 5 in the world junior rankings in January 2012 and advancing to the boys’ singles semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2012. Krueger trains at the USTA Training Center – Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla.

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Filed Under: Davis Cup/Fed Cup, Front Page News, tennis news Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Bernard Tomic Excited for Davis Cup Return

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By Amy Fetherolf

(March 23, 2013) MIAMI - I spoke with Bernard Tomic, who recently revealed that Australia’s Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter has asked him to play in their next tie against Uzbekistan, ending a dramatic standoff between Tomic and Tennis Australia.

Amy Fetherolf: Who approached whom during the talks to get you back in the Davis Cup fold? Did you talk to Pat Rafter or did he approach you?

Bernard Tomic: It was a decision we were going to meet at the Australian Open. I said to him very clear I’ll be ready to play and I’ll be available. I was told that I wasn’t going to play the second one. Was a whole lot of nonsense I think, because at the end of the day I said, “Possibly, we’ll see.” When I had a chat with him, everything was fine. The last thing I want do is not play Davis Cup. It’s a huge thing for me, and everybody on the team is ready to go now. Like I said, I’m happy to get this chance to play. Wherever it is, I’m going to try very hard, and hopefully we can win as a team.

AF: What was the rationale behind Rafter inviting you to play again? You’ve talked a lot about working harder lately. Was it a result of your improved work ethic, or was it something else?

BT: I think obviously my results the last two months have been really good. Obviously, Pat had to make a decision whether to pick me, and we had a chat. I’m happy he did pick me, and I’m ready to play. It’s amazing for me to play Davis Cup. In the future, I never want to miss a tie. Davis Cup for me is huge. I’m ready to go and to get back on a roll playing for Australia.

AF: So you and Lleyton are preparing to possibly play doubles in Davis Cup? [The pair is scheduled to play doubles together in Miami.]

BT: Yeah, we are. This is the first time. It was a dream for me growing up to meet Lleyton. Now to play with him for the first time in an actual tournament, today’s a very, very cool day for me. I’m going to use it as much as I can to play Lleyton. I learn so much every time I practice with him and when I’m with him. He’s an amazing guy, hopefully we can win some doubles.

AF: You two have been practicing together a lot lately, and Lleyton said that you spent a great deal of time together during the Olympics. Has the relationship between you two warmed up?

BT: The relationship’s fine. He’s an amazing guy. I’ve come to learn the last few years what impact he’s had for tennis, not just for me, but for a lot of people and kids around the world. To spend time with him and learn a lot from a person like that who was a former champion, if you can learn from that, you only do yourself good.

Amy Fetherolf‏ is covering the Sony Open as media for Tennis Panorama News (@TennisNewsTPN). She is a co-founder of The Changeover. Follow her on Twitter at @AmyFetherolf.

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Filed Under: Contributors, Davis Cup/Fed Cup, Features, Front Page News, interviews, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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