Cup finals places up for grabs
September 17th 2009 11:26
THE ATP Tour takes a break this week as the four remaining Davis Cup contestants fight for a place in December’s final.
Israel and defending champion Spain meet in a David-and-Goliath clash in Spain in one semi-final, while Croatia hosts Czech Republic in an intriguing encounter on the other side of the draw.
Giant-killing Israel will go into battle with world No.29 Dudi Sela and former top-30 player Harel Levy, who is now languishing at No.140 and failed to qualify for the US Open.
Levy seems to lift for Davis Cup matches and boasts victories over quality opposition, including Russians Igor Andreev and Igor Kunitsyn and Swede Andreas Vinciguerra, who is on the comeback trail, this year.
Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich form Israel’s star doubles pairing and will play a major role if their country is to cause a boilover.
Spain has an embarrassment of riches at its disposal despite Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco not making themselves available.
Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero will duke it out for the two singles places, with the latter two favoured to earn the honour.
Robredo sports a mediocre Davis Cup record of 6-11 (5-7 in singles) and has hardly set the men’s tour alight in recent months – although he did reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
Feliciano Lopez and Robredo will most likely be Spain’s doubles combination.
The claycourt tie is unlikely to require a fifth rubber, with Israel’s only chance of victory coming in the doubles rubber.
Croatia is a warm favourite against the Czech Republic after star player Marin Cilic’s strong US Open display that saw him upset then world No.2 Andy Murray en route to the quarter-finals.
Cilic and fellow big server Ivo Karlovic are a fearsome duo, but will find stiff opposition in the form of wily veteran Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych on the indoor clay surface.
Cilic is 1-1 with Stepanek and is yet to meet Berdych, while Karlovic is 0-2 against Stepanek and 2-1 over Berdych.
Berdych and Stepanek have also played doubles in their opening two ties – winning both – but surely US Open doubles champion Lukas Dlouhy will see court time this time around.
Stepanek is Dlouhy’s likely partner and could give the Czech Republic the edge considering Croatia lacks a genuine doubles team.
I am tipping a 3-2 win to the Czech Republic.
There is little to report on the WTA Tour this week.
There are two tournaments underway, but the top-line talent are still in hibernation after the year’s final grand slam.
Russian Nadia Petrova headlines the Bell Challenge in Quebec City, but German Sabine Lisicki’s withdrawal due to an ankle injury has further weakened a lacklustre event.
Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak is the next-highest ranked player behind Petrova, but the Muscovite’s biggest challenge is likely to come from Czech left-hander Lucie Safarova.
American Vania King could also make a deep run after reaching the third round of the US Open that included success over Australian Sam Stosur.
The Guangzhou International also lost its potential second seed in local player Jie Zheng, who pulled out because of a wrist complaint.
Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues is the top seed, with China’s Peng Shuai and Israel’s Shahar Peer the other major contenders in a draw full of Asian competitors.
Israel and defending champion Spain meet in a David-and-Goliath clash in Spain in one semi-final, while Croatia hosts Czech Republic in an intriguing encounter on the other side of the draw.
Giant-killing Israel will go into battle with world No.29 Dudi Sela and former top-30 player Harel Levy, who is now languishing at No.140 and failed to qualify for the US Open.
Levy seems to lift for Davis Cup matches and boasts victories over quality opposition, including Russians Igor Andreev and Igor Kunitsyn and Swede Andreas Vinciguerra, who is on the comeback trail, this year.
Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich form Israel’s star doubles pairing and will play a major role if their country is to cause a boilover.
Spain has an embarrassment of riches at its disposal despite Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco not making themselves available.
Juan Carlos Ferrero's strong recent form should see him play a pivotal role in Spain's semi-final against Israel.
Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero will duke it out for the two singles places, with the latter two favoured to earn the honour.
Robredo sports a mediocre Davis Cup record of 6-11 (5-7 in singles) and has hardly set the men’s tour alight in recent months – although he did reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
Feliciano Lopez and Robredo will most likely be Spain’s doubles combination.
The claycourt tie is unlikely to require a fifth rubber, with Israel’s only chance of victory coming in the doubles rubber.
Croatia is a warm favourite against the Czech Republic after star player Marin Cilic’s strong US Open display that saw him upset then world No.2 Andy Murray en route to the quarter-finals.
Cilic and fellow big server Ivo Karlovic are a fearsome duo, but will find stiff opposition in the form of wily veteran Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych on the indoor clay surface.
Cilic is 1-1 with Stepanek and is yet to meet Berdych, while Karlovic is 0-2 against Stepanek and 2-1 over Berdych.
Berdych and Stepanek have also played doubles in their opening two ties – winning both – but surely US Open doubles champion Lukas Dlouhy will see court time this time around.
Stepanek is Dlouhy’s likely partner and could give the Czech Republic the edge considering Croatia lacks a genuine doubles team.
I am tipping a 3-2 win to the Czech Republic.
Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues is the top seed in this week's WTA Tour event in China.
There is little to report on the WTA Tour this week.
There are two tournaments underway, but the top-line talent are still in hibernation after the year’s final grand slam.
Russian Nadia Petrova headlines the Bell Challenge in Quebec City, but German Sabine Lisicki’s withdrawal due to an ankle injury has further weakened a lacklustre event.
Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak is the next-highest ranked player behind Petrova, but the Muscovite’s biggest challenge is likely to come from Czech left-hander Lucie Safarova.
American Vania King could also make a deep run after reaching the third round of the US Open that included success over Australian Sam Stosur.
The Guangzhou International also lost its potential second seed in local player Jie Zheng, who pulled out because of a wrist complaint.
Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues is the top seed, with China’s Peng Shuai and Israel’s Shahar Peer the other major contenders in a draw full of Asian competitors.
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