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.

Only the first two match-ups in each tie are locked in, the rest are subject to change(*).


USA @ SERBIA
Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia (Indoor Clay)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)
Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA)*
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)*
Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)*

Let's cut to the chase: The Americans have no chance in either singles match against Djokovic, so they have to sweep the other three rubbers.  Which is actually doable.  Querrey and Isner have both been playing real well this year, each with a title to his name already, and an additional doubles title they paired to win together.  The Bryans should win the doubles pretty easily, though Nenad Zimonjic is no pushover.  But can they run the table on a bad surface in hostile territory? I hope so, but I think it unlikely.
Prediction: Serbia 3-2

 
SWITZERLAND @ SPAIN
Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera, Logrono, Spain (Indoor Clay)

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)
Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) v Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)*
David Ferrer (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)*
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)*

Those flags side-by-side should get any tennis fan excited.  Nadal-Federer in Davis Cup for the first time? Awesome! Sadly, neither Nadal nor Federer will be present, nor will Spanish top-tenner Fernando Verdasco nor Juan Carlos Ferrero be playing.  The Spanish absences should make this somewhat more competitive, but not all that interesting I don't think.  Wawrinka may beat Almagro, but that's probably the only win for the visitors.
Prediction: Spain 4-1

CZECH REPUBLIC @ BELGIUM

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

The Czechs were surprise finalists last year, but they will be unsurprising quarterfinalists with this draw, as the Belgians shouldn't prove to be much of a speed bump.  I'm not too invested in this one, I just really hope Radek Stepanek's Czech Flag outfit makes an appearance. It's always a highlight of any Davis Cup weekend for me.
Prediction: Czech Republic 5-0

ISRAEL @ CHILE
Venue: Nokia Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel (Indoor Hard)

Draw TBA Later Friday*

For everything Chile has been through recently, it's amazing that this tie is going to happen at all.  I know everyone has understandable catastrophe philanthropy fatigue by now, but if you're on the fence about giving to Chile, watch Fernando Gonzalez's emotional video plea for help for his country.  Chile might take Davis Cup more seriously than any other country (if past riots are any indication), so you can bet that this will be one emotional event.
Prediction: Chile 4-1

 
GERMANY @ FRANCE

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

Gael Monfils (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)
Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Christopher Kas/Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)*
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)*
Gael Monfils (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)*

Monfils is a bafflingly bad Davis Cup player in my experience watching him, which is bizarre for someone who feeds so greatly off crowd energy.  It's not his best surface, either.  But Tsonga and vastly superior doubles should be enough for the French to fend off a German team without two of it's biggest names (Haas and Kiefer).

Prediction: France 3-2

 
INDIA @ RUSSIA

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

Igor Andreev (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)
Teimuraz Gabashvili/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND)*
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)*
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)*

Russia suffered a shock defeat in last year's quarterfinals against Israel, but don't expect a repeat of that against a decidedly weaker Indian team.  India shouldn't have a prayer in any of the singles matches, but it's entirely possible that a boneheaded Andreev could lose to Devvarman if Andreev is as messy as he can be.  India should get a point in the doubles, at least.

Prediction: Russia 4-1

 
ARGENTINA @ SWEDEN

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

Robin Soderling (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Robert Lindstedt/Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer/Horacio Zeballos (ARG)*
Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)*
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)*

This would be a pretty awesome tie if Juan Martin del Potro was healthy enough to be there.  But without him, or even Juan Monaco or Jose Acasuso, the Swedes may well run the table.  Sweden has been in the upper echelon of Davis Cup for almost longer than any other country, a phenomenon that is now more explicable with the emergence of Robin Soderling as an elite player.

Prediction: Sweden 4-1

ECUADOR @ CROATIA

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

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)
Ivan Dodig/Antonio Veic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)*
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)*
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)*

Thanks to the emergence of Nicolas' younger brother, the Ecuadorians may well be the first Davis Cup team to have a lineup entirely of siblings.  The Maleevas, Williamses, and Bondarenkos have achieved the feat in Fed Cup, but I can't think of a pair of brothers who were ever their country's two best at a World Group level before.  That bit of trivia aside, the Brothers Lapentti will be lucky to win a match.  Croatia was smart to pick hard courts this time, which is their best surface despite their inexplicable decision to pick clay against the Czechs in last year's semifinals.

Prediction: Croatia 5-0

Tennis Channel will have coverage of the Americans, and the rest of the ties should be streamable online.  Here's to a good weekend of tennis to get everybody pumped for the spring American hard court swing.