Davis Cup Semis, Playoff Round This WeekendPosted on September 18, 2006 No ATP events this week as many of the top players huddle with their countrymen to defend the home turf, or take away their opponent's, at the Davis Cup World Group semifinals and the World Group playoffs.
Australia travels to Argentina for a contentious claycourt semifinal, while Russia likewise put the U.S. team on clay in an attempt to reach the championship tie. David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri or Juan Ignacio Chela will square off for Argentina against the clay-challenged duo of Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Phillipoussis. The U.S. will have it's hands full against Marat Safin and French Open semifinalist Nikolay Davydenko, with Andy Roddick and James Blake fronting in singles for the Americans. Eight ties will be competed in the playoff round, with eight countries promoted to the Would Group for 2007, and eight sent to the dreaded zonal play. Countries contending playoff matches beginning Friday will be Mexico at Austria, Thailand (Paradorn Srichphan) at Germany (Tommy Haas), the Czech Republic (Tomas Berdych, Jiri Novak) at the Netherlands, Korea at Romania, Belgium at the Slovak Republic, Italy at Spain, Sweden at Brazil, and Serbia/Montenegro (Novak Djokovic) at Switzerland (Roger Federer). The World Group semifinals and playoff ties will be contested Sept. 22-24. |
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