Davis Cup quarterfinals are this weekend, July 17-19, and every team is hoping for the chance to win the coveted cup for their country. So, who is playing whom, what are the pros and cons for each team, and who are our predicted winners?
GREAT BRITAIN VS FRANCE
Queen’s Club, London, Great Britain
Team Great Britain hasn’t made it to the semifinals in 34 years, but this year Andy Murray is feeling confident against the very strong Team France. Team France has a deep bench with all of their top players on this weekend’s roster: Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, and Richard Gasquet. While Great Britain has the world #3 player, France has versatility and options on their side with 3 players all within the top 15 in the world. Great Britain has a leg up in the venue choice. When looking at their head-to-heads on grass, Murray is miles ahead of all of the Frenchmen. The singles will be tough for both teams, and there is a good chance that the doubles will decide the match. This is looking will be the most exciting matchup of the weekend.
Great Britain
- Pros: Andy Murray, home court advantage, grass courts
- Cons: weaker rest of the bench
France
- Pros: deep bench, solid grass players
- Cons: away team, no Grand Slam winners
Predicted Winner: France – bench strength goes a long way in team tennis
AUSTRALIA VS KAZAKHSTAN
Marrara Sporting Complex, Darwin, Australia
After all of the Tennis Australia drama throughout Wimbledon, Team Australia can’t seem to catch a break. This Davis Cup team was already forced to do a little shuffling when Bernard Tomic was suspended after accusing Tennis Australia for abandonment. If that wasn’t enough, earlier this week, the loud-mouthed rising star Nick Kyrgios had an injury scare and cut his training session short due to thigh tightness. Captain Wally Masur reassures the media that it was nothing to worry about and that Kyrgios will be in good form for this weekend. Australia will face Kazakhstan this weekend, a team who has had a decently strong presence in the Davis Cup over the past few years.
Australia
- Pros: depth, rising stars Kokkinakis and Kyrgios will open the match, older team members Groth and Hewitt will be taking care of the doubles, home match
- Cons: drama-filled team, are they focused?
Kazakhstan
- Pros: have been in the quarterfinals ⅘ of the last years, no known team drama
- Cons: have yet to get past the quarterfinals, they lack big names, away match
Predicted Winner: Australia – they will be very tough to beat in both singles and doubles
SERBIA VS ARGENTINA
Tecnopolis, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Without Novak Djokovic in the lineup this weekend, Viktor Troicki is the top player for Team Serbia. Argentina came out victorious in the last meeting between these two teams in 2011. Troicki is playing well, but Team Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer is right there with him. Team Serbia had to scramble last minute when Tipsarevic withdrew due to injury. They added Filip Krajinovic to their roster. With both teams being fairly evenly matched, this should be a close quarterfinal.
Serbia
- Pros: Troicki is playing well this year, doubles-star Nenad Zimonjic might come in clutch
- Cons: world #1 isn’t making an appearance, last minute scrambles never help
Argentina
- Pros: Djokovic isn’t playing, home court advantage
- Cons: weaker doubles team
Predicted Winner: Serbia, but it will be a tough one
BELGIUM VS CANADA
Sportpark Krokodiel, Middelkerke (Ostend), Belgium
With both Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil out due to injuries, Team Belgium is sitting pretty this weekend. David Goffin and Steve Darcis will lead Team Belgium to what they hope will be their first semifinal appearance in 16 years. It doesn’t hurt them either that the match will be held in Belgium.
Belgium
- Pros: avoid facing both of Canada’s top players, home court advantage
- Cons: pressure not to let this opportunity go
Canada
- Pros: can’t think of any at this time
- Cons: no top players, away match
Predicted Winner: Belgium, no doubt about it
