Ricky Dimon

• Approach Shots: Djokovic back in action for Davis Cup semis

  2010-09-16 20:17:31
  

  “Approach Shots” is Ricky’s weekly look at what’s ahead (or “approaching”) on the ATP Tour. Every Sunday he previews all the tournaments scheduled for the upcoming week.

   

  The Grand Slam season is over and before the ATP calendar resumes next week, Davis Cup takes center stages. Spots in the 2010 final will be at stake as the Czech Republic visits Serbia and Argentina travels to France.
  
  Czech Republic vs. Serbia

   

  Where: Belgrade, Serbia

  Surface: Indoor Hard

   

  Czech Republic: Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Jan Hajek, Ivo Minar

  Serbia: Novak Djokovic, Viktor Troicki, Janko Tipsarevic, Nenad Zimonjic

   

  The Serbs have everything working for them at the moment. Their players are in fine form and—perhaps most importantly—they have home-court advantage. Djokovic just finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the U.S. Open, Tipsarevic upset Andy Roddick en route to the third round, and Troicki took Djokovic to five sets in round one. Zimonjic, of course, is one of the best doubles players in the world and certainly the best doubles player involved in this tie.
  
  Still, the Czech Republic cannot be discounted. Berdych lost early in New York, but his performances at the French Open (semifinalist) and Wimbledon (runner-up) will not soon be forgotten. Stepanek has been close to non-existent this season, but he encouragingly reached the quarterfinals in New Haven before a first-round loss at the U.S. Open. Hajek and Minar are currently listed for doubles, but the more talented team of Berdych and Stepanek is expected to take the court.

   

  Prediction: Serbia 3, Czech Republic 1 (fifth rubber dead)

   

  ***note: Davis Cup ties are best three out of five matches (called “rubbers”) with two singles matches on both Friday and Sunday and a doubles rubber on Saturday. When a team wins three matches (earns three “points”), the tie is clinched and any remaining rubbers are referred to as “dead” rubbers. Prior to a team winning three points, all rubbers are “live.” All live rubbers are three out of five sets; dead singles rubbers are two out of three.***

   

  Argentina vs. France

   

  Where: Lyon, France

  Surface: Indoor Hard

   

  Argentina: David Nalbandian, Juan Monaco, Horacio Zeballos, Eduardo Schwank

  France: Gael Monfils, Michael Llodra, Arnaud Clement, Gilles Simon

   

  The French have the good fortune of home-court advantage and they just might need it, because going up against Argentine on clay would not be a fun proposition. Monfils is a force on all surfaces, but Llodra is the essence of an indoor hard-court specialist. Llodra would be a heavy underdog on clay against any Argentine; on indoor hards he has a good chance against any opponent—even Nalbandian. Both Monfils and Llodra are coming off strong U.S. Open showings; Monfils reached the quarterfinals and Llodra stunned Berdych on his way to the third round.
  
  Like Monfils, Nalbandian can get the job done. He has actually done his best work on indoor hard courts (in addition to a 2002 runner-up finish at Wimbledon), but Monaco could be out of his league on fast hards. Monaco would almost certainly wipe out Llodra on clay, but he would do well just to take a set against Llodra on this surface. The doubles point could go either way this weekend, but Llodra—formerly more of a doubles specialist rather than a singles player—should prove to be the ultimate difference.

   

  Prediction: France 3, Argentina 0 (fourth and fifth rubbers dead)

   

  World Group Playoffs predictions
  
  United States at Columbia: USA 3, COL 2
  
  Austria at Israel: ISR 3, AUT 2
  
  South Africa at Germany: GER 3, RSA 1
  
  Italy at Sweden: SWE 3, ITA 0

   

  Brazil at India: IND 3, BRA 2
  
  Belgium at Australia: AUS 3, BEL 1
  
  Switzerland at Kazakhstan: SUI 3, KAZ 2
  
  Ecuador at Romania: ROU 3, ECU 1

   

  Comments and your own predictions are appreciated!

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