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2012-02-09 21:21:52
“Approach Shots” is Ricky’s weekly look at what’s ahead on the ATP Tour.
There may be a ton of ATP tournaments in February, but they are taking a break this week to give Davis Cup center stage. Eight first-round ties will be taking place around the world, with winners moving on to the quarterfinals and losers being relegated to World Group playoffs later in the season.
It's an interesting year for the Davis Cup, with the Olympics adding another huge event to an already-packed schedule. Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer are staying on the sidelines for defending champ Spain and Novak Djokovic is out for at least Serbia's first-round tie against Sweden. Roger Federer, though? He is making a rare main-draw World Group appearance for Switzerland against the United States.
United States vs. Switzerland
Where: Fribourg, Switzerland
Surface: Clay
United States: Mardy Fish, John Isner, Ryan Harrison, Mike Bryan
Switzerland: Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, Marco Chiudinelli, Michael Lammer
All three previous ties between the United States and Switzerland have gone in favor of the home team (twice for the Americans, once for the Swiss), and this one should be no different. Team USA will be without Andy Roddick (not a huge loss at this point) and Bob Bryan (a huge loss for doubles, as Bob is at home following the birth of his first child). Switzerland, on the other hand, will have its top two players in Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka. With home-court advantage on clay to boot, the Swiss should be able to take care of business without too much trouble.
Prediction: Switzerland 3, United States 0
France vs. Canada
Where: Vancouver, Canada
Surface: Indoor hard
France: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Julien Benneteau, Michael Llodra
Canada: Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil, Frank Dancevic, Daniel Nestor
One of the deepest teams in tennis, France would be sitting pretty if Davis Cup ties (especially this one against Canada) involved more than three or four players and more than three, four, or five rubbers. As it stands, however, the visiting French squad will be in for a dogfight in Canada. The Canadians are fielding one of their best teams in years, with a stellar No. 1 singles player in Milos Raonic along with their long-time doubles specialist in Daniel Nestor. Still, Raonic will likely have to win both of his rubbers (against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils) and needless to say that is a tall order. Vasek Pospisil is on the rise but he will be an underdog in both of his singles matches.
Prediction: France 3, Canada 2
Argentina vs. Germany
Where: Bamberg, Germany
Surface: Clay
Argentina: Juan Monaco, David Nalbandian, Juan Ignacio Chela, Eduardo Schwank
Germany: Florian Mayer, Philipp Petzschner, Tommy Haas, Cedrik-Marcel Stebe
Nobody wants the 2012 Davis Cup title more than David Nalbandian and the Argentines, who have never won it and suffered yet another runner-up finish last season in Spain. They have a tough first-round draw just a few months later, on the road in Germany. Both teams are down one man; Argentina is without a resting Juan Martin Del Potro and Philipp Kohlschreiber was a late scratch for Germany due to illness. The major players in the tie will be Nalbandian and Juan Monaco for Argentina to go along with Florian Mayer and Philipp Petzschner for Germany. A tie that looks just about even on paper could virtually be decided by the doubles rubber.
Prediction: Argentina 3, Germany 2
Croatia vs. Japan
Where: Hyogo, Japan
Surface: Indoor hard
Croatia: Ivo Karlovic, Ivan Dodig, Lovro Zovko, Antonio Veic
Japan: Kei Nishikori, Go Soeda, Tatsuma Ito, Yuichi Sugita
Croatia at Japan may not generate a whole lot of publicity, but this should be one of the more competitive ties of the weekend. The Japanese team is firmly on the rise with a trio of in-form players; Kei Nishikori, Go Soeda, and Yuichi Sugita. Nishikori (an Australian Open quarterfinalist) and Soeda will lead the way in singles while Sugita is likely to make an appearance on Saturday for doubles. Croatia does not have Marin Cilic and Ivan Ljubicic at its disposal, but Ivo Karlovic and Ivan Dodig are on board. Japan is hosting this tie on an indoor hard court, and those two Croats won't be complaining one bit. Both countries will rely heavily on their top players to win a pair of singles rubbers, which means the first-day tie between Nishikori and Karlovic will be critical.
Prediction: Croatia 3, Japan 2
In other ties, Spain hosts Kazakhstan, Austria hosts Russia, the Czech Republic hosts Italy, and Serbia hosts Sweden.
Predictions: Spain 3, Kazakhstan 0 – Russia 3, Austria 2 – Czech Republic 3, Italy 0 – Serbia 3, Sweden 0
Comments and your own predictions are appreciated!
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Following the Wawrinka Fish game 2-6; I predict Wawrinka will win the next 3 sets 6-4, 7-6, 6-3
MAGICJOHNSON76 , 2/10/12 2:12 PM
Fed out in 4 to Isner. Swiss miss for the day at 0-2.
Go Canada!
Conspirator , 2/10/12 9:24 PM
Can't believe Switzerland went with clay over a WTF like indoor fast hard court. Fed is unbeatable on that stuff (re: last winning streak).
Conspirator , 2/10/12 9:50 PM
On fast HC HE WOULDN't be able to see Isner service...and les able to return it.
Swiss were simply scared...they have chossen...and have made big mistake.
zare , 2/10/12 10:50 PM
Do hope TMF isn't going to turn into one of those "Don't want him in my favourite's side of the draw, but won't win tournament" players. So sad :(
deuce , 2/11/12 9:21 AM
The Swiss thought they would be facing Roddick and Fish not Isner that's probably why Federer decided to play because he thought playing Roddick was a given win but unfortunately they had to contend with Isner whose matches at best are a lottery, although yesterday he won on far more than just his serve.
Luckily I was able to watch the match on MOTD on Brit Eurosport and Federer seemed cluless as to what to do. I'm sure he's now thinking, why didn't I just stick to my opt out of the 1st round of DC as I always do.
nadline , 2/11/12 9:44 AM
Switzerland assumed Federer would win both of his singles matches regardless of surface, and Wawrinka's best surface (especially against Americans) is clay. Thus they chose clay in hopes of getting one singles win out of Wawrinka.
RickyDimon , 2/11/12 2:57 PM
USA gets a clean sweep against Switzerland. 3-0.
nadline , 2/11/12 4:57 PM
Sun 20/05 03:13
Rome final expert picks: Djokovic vs. Nadal
Mon 14/05 03:45
Approach Shots: Djokovic, Nadal look to rebound on red clay
Sun 06/05 03:03
Approach Shots: Tangled up in blue at Madrid Masters
Mon 30/04 05:57
Approach Shots: Djokovic out, Del Potro starts French Open prep
Mon 23/04 05:29
Approach Shots: Nadal, Murray return to action in Barcelona
Sat 21/04 19:01
Monte Carlo final expert picks: Djokovic vs. Nadal
Mon 16/04 02:46
Approach Shots: Djokovic, Nadal begin clay season in Monte Carlo
Tue 10/04 15:48
Approach Shots: Houston, Casablanca begin clay-court swing
Thu 05/04 18:40
Approach Shots: Davis Cup precedes clay-court swing
Tue 27/03 16:14
John Isner Top 10 tribute
Wed 21/03 05:08
Approach shots: On-fire Federer can pass Nadal in Miami
Thu 08/03 07:03
Approach shots: First Masters event of the year in Indian Wells
Tue 28/02 18:41
Approach Shots: Federer, Djokovic back in action
Mon 20/02 05:10
Approach Shots: Ferrer, Tsonga, Del Potro headline busy week
Sun 12/02 15:44
Approach Shots: Federer looks to rebound in Rotterdam
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Prediction
Soeda to beat Dodig (occurred); 6-7,3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5; Karlovic beat Nishikori 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 (I initially though it will be 2-0)- now I expect Japan to win doubles and win tie 3-1 with Nishikori clinching it against Dodig
Davis Cup 1. round Men's Singles
10:48 GMT February 10
Fin. G. Soeda 6 3 6 6 7
I. Dodig 7 6 4 3 5
Fin. K. Nishikori 4 4 3
I. Karlovic 6 6 6
12:00 S. Wawrinka 7 6 6
M. Fish 6 3 2
(maybe 4 but Wawrinka to get his first win against Fish)
13:00 J. Ferrero 6 7 6
M. Kukushkin 3 6 2
(maybe 4 but unlikely, Ferrero to surely win)
13:00 J. Melzer 6 6 7
I. Kunitsyn 3 3 5
(maybe 4 but Melzer to get his first win)
13:00 J. Tipsarevic 6 6 6
F. Prpic 2 2 1
(maybe 4 but very unlikely)
13:00 P. Petzschner 3 2 4
J. Monaco 6 6 6
14:00 R. Federer 6 6 6
J. Isner 3 4 4
15:00 A. Haider-Maurer 6 4 3 6
A. Jr. 4 6 6 7
15:00 F. Mayer 6 4 6 7
D. Nalbandian 4 6 3 6
(maybe 5 setter here but I expect Nalbandian to win and lead 3-1)
15:00 N. Almagro 6 4 6 6
A. Golubev 4 6 3 4
(maybe a 5 setter but unlikely and Almagro to win)
15:00 R. Stepanek 7 6 6
A. Seppi 5 4 3
15:00 V. Troicki 6 7 6
M. Ryderstedt 3 5 4
(maybe 4 but unlikely)
17:00 T. Berdych 6 6 7
S. Bolelli 3 3 6
(maybe 4)
22:00 V. Pospisil 3 3 4
J. Tsonga 6 6 6
I reckon Switzerland will win 3-1, (doubles going to US); Canada will lose 3-1 (due to Monfils being out); Argentina 3-0; Japan 3-1 (as explained above); Spain 3-0; Austria to cause a minor upset with Russia;Serbia to win 3-0 and Czech Republic to win 3-0
MAGICJOHNSON76 , 2/10/12 12:33 PM