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3/4/10 2:09 PM | Johan Lindahl
This weekend's Davis Cup ties will largely be without the world's top 10 players.
Davis Cup first-round ties will be short on star power, as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Juan Del Potro, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco, and Nikolay Davydenko are missing from
their respective teams either by choice or through injury.
Davydenko faces a late fitness test for Russia on his February wrist injury. "I don't know if I will go to Moscow. I'm not sure if I will be much good to the team," said the Russian.
World No. 2 Novak Djokovic will stay the course for Serbia against the US which is missing Roddick, Swedish world No. 9 Robin Soderling plays against an Argentine team missing injury victim Del Potro,and tenth-ranked Croatian Marin Cilic will lead the way against Ecuador.
Four-time champion Spain will take to the covered indoor clay on a bullring without Nadal, who has been resting an injured knee and plans a return next week at the Indian Wells Masters.
Switzerland, as usual, is without Federer in the opening round. The world No. 1 is hoping to play at Indian Wells. For Swiss Marco Chiudinelli, ranked 52nd, the situation looks dire.
"I'm hoping I will be back on track so that I can play a few good matches there. The experience of playing on clay especially against the best players of Spain will be like a preparation for the clay court season that will come later in the year.
"It will be a good chance to wait and test your game and see what's missing. Obviously, our chances at winning are close to zero."
The 32-time champion US come in as a more humbled nation for the first meeting with the Serbs.
The Belgrade tie on indoor clay should leave the hosts well within their comfort zone with Djokovic in devastating touch and US captain Patrick McEnroe forced to experiment with John Isner and Sam Querrey as his singles hopes along with the evergreen Bryan brothers in doubles.
Isner will be making his team debut, while Querrey is on his second participation.
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arailic, yes...Just like logo on his new ST shirts: "Serbia in Heart" :) Ajde, Nolee! Every country would be very proud to have sportsman like him! See you in Arena, falcon!
OllyK , 3/4/10 5:05 PM
Tsonga: "I don't understand why people don't play this competition, for me it's the best in tennis."
RickyDimon , 3/4/10 5:32 PM
As Soderling suggested it should be played once in two or four years. All top players might take it seriously then.
vmm , 3/4/10 5:46 PM
As Djokovic is playing the Davis cup he will be praised now but if he exits early in IW or Miami due to tiredness his fans and others will forget his Davis cup effort and blame him for not putting up enough fight or something. He already played too much tennis in Dubai and going to play at least two five set matches this weekend, I doubt if he will be fresh enough going into masters tourneys.
vmm , 3/4/10 5:53 PM
I'm his fan, vmm, and believe me, I won't forget.. And why do you think he would play 5 set matches this weekend?! On clay against Isner and Querrey?! We'll see...
OllyK , 3/4/10 6:04 PM
I don't usually agree with Soderling, but the man has a point. Holding it every year dilutes its meaning a bit. Ought to be like World Cup. Except not the same year, probably.
cherylmurray , 3/4/10 8:55 PM
pathetic that federer never plays and now also delpotro. djoko has some heart at aleast.
trixxyfest , 3/4/10 9:04 PM
ITF President Wants Shorter Sets for Tennis in General
March 4, 2010 · Print This Article
The president of the International Tennis Federation, Francesco Ricci-Bitti, reiterated his comments of earlier in the week when he suggested that tennis should go to shorter sets for Davis Cup.
Ricci-Bitti told L?Equipe that he believes tennis in ?general? should go to shorter sets.
?Personally I think that tennis would gain something by switching to short sets with a tie-breaker at 4-4,? he said. ?But we can not change basic rules without the approval of the players.?
Ricci-Bitti?s comments came to the surface after a slew of Davis Cup withdrawals this weekend which included Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray.
carrie , 3/4/10 9:32 PM
shorter sets! now there's a good solution to the problem! even 5-5 would save at least 1/2 an hour per match. that would really add up over 1 year!
stu , 3/4/10 9:42 PM
"pathetic that federer never plays and now also delpotro."
To be fair, Del Potro has just withdrawn from Indian Wells, so this time he was indeed unable to play in DC.
And I don't think that in this matter we can put Murray in the same league with the other top-players who would have played in the World Group and not in a lower tier.
Raven , 3/4/10 11:26 PM
The ATP should reduce the number of tournaments not change the scoring system, if they want to reduce injuries to the players.
carrie , 3/5/10 12:38 AM
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Not all the stars are away!!!! Novak is making his apearance. It may cost him in the long run considering IW and Miami are around the corner, but kudos to him for for standing tall and proud in the tie with the USA.
arailic , 3/4/10 4:34 PM