Davis Cup Round 1 Update Heading Into Sunday

A couple of the first round ties were done after three rubbers, but the majority still have live rubbers going into Sunday.  Always a risk buying those Sunday Davis Cup tickets.  You either get the best of the best, or totally meaningless exhibition.

SERBIA LEADS USA 2-1
Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia (Indoor Clay)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) def. John Isner (USA) 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4
Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Sam Querrey (USA) 6-2, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3
Bob Bryan/John Isner (USA) def Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) 7-6(8), 5-7, 7-6(8), 6-3
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)*

The two singles matches were both incredibly roller-coastery, with wild momentum swings several times per set.  Unfortunately for the rookie American team, the Serbians wound up on the winning end of the roller coaster each time.  Things really looked bad for the Americans on Saturday when Mike Bryan went down with food poisoning (because he was dumb enough to order curry in Belgrade), but John Isner stepped in admirably to keep the US hopes alive.  At least until they face Djokovic again.

 
SPAIN LEADS SWITZERLAND 2-1
Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera, Logrono, Spain (Indoor Clay)
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
David Ferrer (ESP) def. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-1
Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)* 7-6(8), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
David Ferrer (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)*
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)*

It's managed to be some fairly exciting stuff, even without the big names.  But Marco Chiudinelli and Yves Allegro really aren't in the same league as the rest of these guys, which ultimately has (and will continue to) seal Switzerland's fate.

CZECH REPUBLIC LEADS BELGIUM 3-0

Venue: Expodroom, Bree, Belgium (clay – indoors)

One of the most lopsided ties on the card has lived up to expectations, with the Czechs outclassing the Belgians at every stage.  Belgium may have a decent future ahead if Steve Darcis lives up to his hype, but for now they're just not competitive at this level.

CHILE LEADS ISRAEL 2-0
Venue: Enjoy Tennis Center, Coquimbo, Chile (Outdoor Clay)

Nicolas Massu (CHI) def. Dudi Sela (ISR) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4
Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Harel Levy (ISR) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Nicolas Massu/Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram (ISR)
Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Dudi Sela (ISR)*
Nicolas Massu (CHI) vs. Harel Levy (ISR)*

Real good story for Chile here, playing through their country's turmoil and destruction admirably so far.  If there's one team that's easy to root for no matter what this weekend, the Chiileans are certainly that team.

FRANCE LEADS GERMANY 3-0

Venue: Palais des Sports, Toulon, France (Indoor Hard)

Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(5)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Benjamin Becker (GER) 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-3
Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Christopher Kas/Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-1, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5

Gael Monfils notched his first ever win in Davis Cup to open up this tie, and it was all France from there on.  Without Tommy Haas it was always going to be tough for Germany, but I don't know that I ever expected a sweep.  France is the deeper, better tennis country, so having them in the next round certainly makes sense to me.

RUSSIA LEADS INDIA 2-1

Venue: Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow, Russia (Indoor Hard)

Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) def. Somdev Devvarman (IND) 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Rohan Bopanna (IND) 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)*

A late substitution in the Igor slot of Kunitsyn for Andreev paid off for Russia, who looks to be firmly in control even after dropping the doubles tie as they were expected to do.  Russia is a country who could use some redemption in this contest, and when they get Youzhny and Davydenko together at full strength, they should be able to get it.

 
ARGENTINA LEADS SWEDEN 2-1

Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm, Sweden (hard – indoors)

Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 6-1, 7-6(0), 7-5
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) def. Joachim Johansson (SWE) 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
David Nalbandian/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) def. Robert Lindstedt/Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-2, 7-6(4), 7-6(5)
Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)*

David Nalbandian made a surprise appearance in the doubles to help the Argentines grab the lead.  Things have gone a lot better for the Argentines than I expected, both with Nalbandian's cameo and Mayer's fairly surprising win over Johansson in the second singles rubber.  Expect Nalbandian to make an appearance for Schwank in the final singles as well if it comes down to that.

CROATIA LEADS ECUADOR 3-0

Venue: Gradska Sportska Dvorana, Varazdin, Croatia (Indoor Hard)

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
Ivo Karlovic/Marin Cilic (CRO) def, Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)  7-6(3), 6-3, 7-5

This was the match-up that made  Czech Republic-Belgium look competitive, but the elder Lapentti acquitted himself fairly well against Karlovic, pushing him to five sets.  At least the Ecuadorians had the luck to be swept away from the majority of their fans, which should make this sting somewhat less, I suppose.

Tennis Channel will have coverage of the Americans Sunday, and a lot of the rest of the ties should be streamable at the official Davis Cup site.