Davis Cup 2011 Round 1 Day 1 Recap

Sixteen matches in the books, but only two real upsets to speak of so far in the first round of Davis Cup 2011 World Group action.

Catching up on each tie as it goes into Saturday’s doubles rubber, in the same unparticular order as last time:

Romania at Argentina (Parque Roca, Buenos Aires) (Argentina Leads 2-0) - What I expected to be the most straightforward of the eight ties has had the winners expected, even if the matches have taken a little longer than expected. David Nalbandian opened the tie with a 6-3. 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Adrian Ungur, and Juan Monaco put Argentina a win from advancing with a 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Victor Hanescu.  Horia Tecau is a solid doubles player, but I still expect the Gauchos to close it out in the doubles.

Spain at Belgium (Spiroudome, Charleroi) (Spain Leads 2-0) - Fernando Verdasco was a late substitution for David Ferrer, but the Spain train rolled on as expected, winning all six sets contested on Friday. Verdasco rolled over Xavier Malisse 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 to open the tie, and Rafael Nadal rolled in the second with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Ruben Bemelmans. Spain didn't need Nadal to beat Belgium, but that his decision to return from injury at the competition shows the Spanish commitment to Davis Cup that has kept Spain's Armada sailing so flawlessly in recent years. And in 2011, there's absolutely no indication that the ship will sink in Charleroi.

Kazakhstan at Czech Republic (CEZ Arena, Ostrava) (Tied 1-1) - Rankings held in the first two rubbers of this tie, with Andrey Golubev besting Jan Hajek in a surprisingly tight 6-7(4) 7-6(3) 6-1 6-7(4) 3-6 marathon, then Tomas Berdych surviving several first set deficits en route to a 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-3 win over Mikhail Kukushkin. Kukushkin-Hajek is tough to predict, but it seems like the Czechs should be the favorites in the other two ties. Still a whole lot to sort out in Ostrava.

United States at Chile (Estadio Nacional, Santiago) (Tied 1-1) - The biggest surprise of the day came in its final match.  After Andy Roddick got through in a predictably grindy four setter against Nicolas Massu, ATP #165 ranked Paul Capdeville came back from down two sets to upset #32 John Isner 6-4 in the fifth set.  Isner's year has been entirely disappointing, with about ten fewer wins so far in 2011 than he had at this point in 2010. It's an interesting trial for new captain Jim Courier in his first tie, especially since with both Bryan brothers on the team he has no flexibility in his singles lineup.  But the Bryans will win, and it's tough to see Roddick losing to Capdeville as well.

France at Austria (Vienna Airport Hangar 3, Vienna) (France Leads 2-0) - What was always going to be a tough tie for Austria to win became completely impossible when Jeremy Chardy beat Jurgen Melzer in straight sets in the opening rubber. A routine straight-sets victory by Gilles Simon over Stefan Koubek (he's still playing?) in the second rubber puts the French in position to close it out on Saturday at the airport. Maybe the Austrians will let them catch an early flight home.

Russia at Sweden (Borashallen, Boras) (Sweden Leads 2-0) - Sweden is a deceptively tough team, but this result will be completely about the decimation of the Russian team.  Teymuraz Gabashvili and Igor Andreev are not strong options for any tie, much less one on an indoor hard court. Russia will be facing relegation in the playoffs this year, and if they come up against a team like Switzerland they could easily be demoted for the first time over a decade.

India at Serbia (Spens Sports Center, Novi Sad) (Tied 1-1) - I mentioned in my preview of this tie what a thoroughly annoying opponent Somdev Devvarman can be, and he completely lived up to that reputation on Friday.  Hitting 81 winners in three sets, Janko Tipsarevic lacked the patience and shot selection to even win a single set in front of the Serbian crowd in Novi Sad. It's still tough to see Serbia losing this tie, but it's now far more interesting than it needed to be.

Germany at Croatia (Dom Sportova, Zagreb) (Tied 1-1) - The tie I expected to be closest has completely lived up to that billing, with each side winning a five setter in Zagreb Friday. Marin Cilic and Philipp Kohlschreiber each came down from two sets to one against Florian Mayer and Ivan Dodig, respectively. Croatia should be able to serve its way to a victory in doubles, but it's still far too early to predict much in this tie.