2015 Davis Cup First Round: Djokovic, Murray, Raonic And Nishikori In Action This Weekend

by Staff | March 5th, 2015, 3:30 pm
  • 79 Comments

The first round of the 2015 Davis Cup gets underway this weekend with a some of the biggest names in tennis support their home countries. While defending champion Switzerland will be minus their two stars Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Milos Raonic, Gilles Simon, Gael Monfils and Kei Nishikori are among the top names in action.

Djokovic begins Serbia’s quest for a second Davis Cup title against Mate Delic. Murray meets the improving Donald Young who makes his second start for the U.S., both against Great Britain.

“I am playing for my country, not for myself against Andy Murray in his home,” Young said. “It is going to be tough for sure. The crowd is going to be amazing and hopefully I can enjoy it.”

Here’s a breakdown of the matches this weekend (via ITF).

Germany v France – Frankfurt, GER – hard (indoors)
Head-to-head: France leads 8-2

France heads into this Davis Cup by BNP Paribas first round tie having won the last 7 meetings between the two teams. Germany has not defeated France since recording a 3-2 victory in 1938 and has lost their last three meetings on German soil.

This is the 2nd straight year these two nations have met in the competition. France recorded the 8th 0-2 comeback in World Group history to defeat Germany 3-2 in the 2014 quarterfinals in Nancy.

Frenchman Gael Monfils and Germany’s Andre Begemann are the only 2 players who played in that quarterfinal tie to have been nominated for this tie.

France has never lost to Germany on a hard court, with this their fourth meeting on the surface.

Friday
R1 – Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) v Gilles Simon (FRA)
R2 – Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) v Gael Monfils (FRA)
Saturday
R3 – Benjamin Becker/Andre Begemann (GER) v Julien Benneteau/Nicolas Mahut (FRA)
Sunday
R4 – Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) v Gilles Simon (FRA)
R5 – Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) v Gael Monfils (FRA)

Great Britain v USA – Glasgow, GBR – hard (indoors)
Head-to-head: USA leads 11-8

Great Britain ended a 4-match losing streak against USA in last year’s first round in San Diego.

Great Britain is bidding to defeat USA on home soil for the first time since 1935, when it won 5-0 on Centre Court at Wimbledon in the Challenge Round Final to win the Davis Cup.

If Andy Murray/Jamie Murray and Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan play against each other in Saturday’s doubles, it would be only the 6th brothers v brothers doubles encounter in Davis Cup history. The last time two brothers played against each other in Davis Cup was in 2007, when Henry Estella/Victor Estrella (DOM) defeated Marcelo Arevalo/Rafael Arevalo (ESA) in the Americas Zone Group II first round.

Friday
R1 – Andy Murray (GBR) v Donald Young (USA)
R2 – James Ward (GBR) v John Isner (USA)
Saturday
R3 – Dominic Inglot / Jamie Murray (GBR) v Bob Bryan / Mike Bryan (USA)
Sunday
R4 – Andy Murray (GBR) v John Isner (USA)
R5 – James Ward (GBR) v Donald Young (USA)

Czech Republic v Australia – Ostrava, CZE – hard (indoors)
Head-to-head: Australia leads 6-1

A first meeting between these two nations since 1997, when Australia recorded a 5-0 whitewash on grass in the World Group quarterfinals in Adelaide.

The Czechs’ only victory against Australia came under the flag of Czechoslovakia in 1975, when Jan Kodes defeated Tony Roche in the decisive fourth rubber to seal a 3-1 triumph in their Inter-Zonal semifinal.

Friday
R1 – Lukas Rosol (CZE) v Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)
R2 – Jiri Vesely (CZE) v Bernard Tomic (AUS)
Saturday
R3 – Jan Mertl / Adam Pavlasek (CZE) v Lleyton Hewitt / Samuel Groth (AUS)
Sunday
R4 – Lukas Rosol (CZE) v Bernard Tomic (AUS)
R5 – Jiri Vesely (CZE) v Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)

Kazakhstan v Italy – Astana, KAZ – hard (indoors)
Head-to-head: first meeting

Friday
R1 – Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Simone Bolelli (ITA)
R2 – Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Saturday
R3 – Andrey Golubev / Aleksandr Nedovyesov (KAZ) v Fabio Fognini / Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)
Sunday
R4 – Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Andreas Seppi (ITA)
R5 – Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Simone Bolelli (ITA)

Argentina v Brazil – Buenos Aires, BRA – clay (outdoors)
Head-to-head: Argentina leads 5-2

A first meeting since 1980 for these 2 nations. Brazil is looking to end a 4-match losing streak against Argentina, having not defeated its neighbours since 1975. The Brazilians have never won on Argentine soil.

Friday
R1 – Carlos Berlocq (ARG) v Joao Souza (BRA)
R2 – Leonardo Mayer (ARG) v Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
Saturday
R3 – Federico Delbonis / Diego Sebastian Schwartzman (ARG) v Marcelo Melo / Bruno Soares (BRA)
Sunday
R4 – Leonardo Mayer (ARG) v Joao Souza (BRA)
R5 – Carlos Berlocq (ARG) v Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)

Serbia v Croatia – Kraljevo, SRB – hard (indoors)
Head-to-head: Serbia leads 1-0

A 2nd Davis Cup derby between these 2 young nations, whose only previous meeting came in the quarterfinals in 2010 – the year Serbia went on to win its first title – and proved a fairly one-sided affair. Marin Cilic recorded the only victory for the hosts in Split, defeating Viktor Troicki in the second rubber, as two wins for Novak Djokovic and a doubles triumph for Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic carried the Serbs to victory.

Friday
R1 – Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Mate Delic (CRO)
R2 – Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Borna Coric (CRO)
Saturday
R3 – Viktor Troicki / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Marin Draganja / Franko Skugor (CRO)
Sunday
R4 – Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Borna Coric (CRO)
R5 – Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Mate Delic (CRO)

Canada v Japan – Vancouver, Canada – hard (indoors)
Head-to-head: Japan leads 6-0

Japan and Canada go head-to-head in a repeat of last year’s first round clash, which saw Japan prevail 4-1 in Tokyo to extend its perfect record against Canada to 6-0. Kei Nishikori won both of his singles and the doubles rubber alongside Yuichi Sugita in last year’s encounter to punish a Canadian team missing its talisman Milos Raonic.

This is the 6th meeting between the two nations on Canadian soil – and just their 2nd clash since 1938.

Friday
R1 – Milos Raonic (CAN) v Tatsuma Ito (JPN)
R2 – Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Kei Nishikori (JPN)
Saturday
R3 – Daniel Nestor / Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Go Soeda / Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN)
Sunday
R4 – Milos Raonic (CAN) v Kei Nishikori (JPN)
R5 – Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Tatsuma Ito (JPN)

Belgium v Switzerland – Liege, BEL – hard (indoors)
Head-to-head: Switzerland leads 4-3

An 8th meeting between these two nations, whose last clash came in the World Group play-offs in 2008 when Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka won the decisive doubles rubber.

Switzerland has not won on Belgian soil since the first meeting between the two nations in 1932.

Friday
R1 – Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) v Henri Laaksonen (SUI)
R2 – Steve Darcis (BEL) v Michael Lammer (SUI)
Saturday
R3 – Ruben Bemelmans/Neils Desein (BEL) v Adrien Bossel/Michael Lammer (SUI)
Sunday
R4 – Steve Darcis (BEL) v Henri Laaksonen (SUI)
R5 – Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) v Michael Lammer (SUI)


You Might Like:
2015 Davis Cup Draw: USA Draws Britain Again; France, Canada The Early Favorites?
March Madness Is Here: After A Thrilling Davis Cup Weekend, Indian Wells Is About To Begin
Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori Could Qualify For Semifinals Tuesday In London
2014 Fall Preview: With No. 1 At Stake, Where Will Federer, Nadal, Djokovic Be These Last Few Months
Cilic, Nishikori Win Tokyo Openers; Murray, Nadal In Action Tuesday In Beijing

Don't miss any tennis action, stay connected with Tennis-X

Get the FREE TX daily newsletter

79 Comments for 2015 Davis Cup First Round: Djokovic, Murray, Raonic And Nishikori In Action This Weekend

Dee Says:

Come on GB!


sienna Says:

she listens to whatever hè says.

problem solved. coach should act, guide, explain, train, focus, coach, observe etc again and again. listening is only small part if progress is to be made.


brando Says:

@Margot: thank you for that. His AO final takedown just reinforced what I thought his loss there. He did not lose-from his side of the bargain- due to a physical or tactical issue but a mental implosion. It’s brazenly obvious and to his credit he’s admitted to it. He slipped up but I’m glad he’s recognized it as honestly as he has, which is to his credit, and hope he tightens up on this front. He’s got the physicality and the game (outside 2nd serve) to win slams still. Just needs to tighten up mentally and improve the 2nd serve. My prediction: IF he improves those 2 aspects by Grass season I see no reason why he cannot win any title or beat any player from Queens all the way till end of US Open. He has not lost his talent or pedigree, as after all: form is temporary and class is permanent in sport. Andy definitely has the class game to take down anyone and be the main man during that stretch. Again though: mentality and 2 nd serve needs to improve. Good luck muzza in your efforts.


Emily Says:

Davis Cup going as planned so far, Novak wins in an hour and a half and Murray is clearly dominating Young. Only match worth watching right now is Simon, as it is mildly competitive and he’s clearly been waiting for his chance in the Davis Cup spotlight.

It’s a shame that Clement is forcing Monfils to play as he publicly said he didn’t want to, but he’s down his two singles players. Gael stepping up once again and I think France has a shot to win this year, unless Novak decides to play every tie. Then it’s a repeat of the situation last year w/ Federer.


Hippy Chick Says:

Emily he was dominating,the thing that worries me about Murray lately is his tendency to go walk about in a match that he seems to be in control of,too many matches where he seems to blow hot and cold….


Emily Says:

Saw that Young got that 3rd set. I wouldn’t worry though, so many top players have that walk about set. What matters is that they finish the job, and Murray’s up a break in the 4th. Interesting to see how the rest of the tie goes, but it could come down to James Ward again if the Brits want to win.

Simon is now playing badly, and even though he’ll have to play the 2nd match, Monfils is there trying to encourage him and give advice. I would guess he’ll win his match, but it must be exhausting to feel like the tie is on your shoulders when France has such a deep team.


Emily Says:

Wow, that Swiss 3-digit player just came back from 2 sets to love down. Guess Seve was right in getting rid of that other singles player (the Swiss team seems to love drama). That would be the biggest shock of the weekend if the defending champs could win their tie w/o Fedrinka.

Some good matches going on right now, for sure.


Margot Says:

Cheers Brando, I agree. But at least Andy acknowledges he has a problem and says he doesn’t want to be like that. First steps to rectifying it. Bless


Margot Says:

@Emily
Is Tsonga injured? Seems to have been off the radar for yoinks.


Emily Says:

Yeah, arm injury since the Davis Cup final last year, which did not make him popular when he pulled out.

Says he wants to return for Indian Wells, but if he got this injury in November, I don’t know why he played IPTL during the off season. Cilic did as well, w/ his chronic shoulder injury, and if these guys want to be elite players, they need to get their priorities in order, IMHO.

Some really exciting matches going on right now, but Fedal debate is more compelling I guess :)


Margot Says:

Thanks Emily.


Hippy Chick Says:

Huge props to team GB and our boy James Ward,coming back and taking the third set against team USA,breaking that Isner serve is certainly no easy feat,lets go team GB….


Hippy Chick Says:

What guts from James Ward playing fantastic tennis,way above his ranking….


Emily Says:

James Ward looking for another comeback from 2 sets to love down? That would be the 3rd or 4th today.


RZ Says:

Can James Ward pull it off? At this point, win or lose, all of Team GB and their fans must be so proud of him.


Hippy Chick Says:

RZ Im so proud of James Ward and team GB today ;-)….


RZ Says:

@HC – me too!


Hippy Chick Says:

RZ im in tears actually,ill be shedding tears of joy if he pulls this off….


Hippy Chick Says:

Playing like this James Ward has no buisness been ranked as low as he is….


RZ Says:

HC, I think I’m going to cry regardless of the result.


RZ Says:

And I completely agree. Have felt for the last yer that James Ward should be in the top 100. I saw him take the first set against Feliciano Lopez at Indian Wells last year. He is definitely a tough opponent for most players.


Hippy Chick Says:

RZ me too lol,maybe should go out for a drink together and celebrate or comiserate as the case maybe?….


RZ Says:

I’d be up for that except I think there’s a big pond separating us. :-)


Hippy Chick Says:

LOL Yeah true ;-)….


Hippy Chick Says:

Who will blink first?….


jane Says:

quite the marathon!


Hippy Chick Says:

Yeah Izzy has a habit of playing long matches….


jane Says:

oh wow, 2 points away.


jane Says:

now 3 mps!


Hippy Chick Says:

I must say the quality of tennis is better than that W match with Mahut though….


jane Says:

congrats to james ward. nice win for him.


RZ Says:

JAMES WARD, DAVIS CUP SUPERHERO!!!!!


Dee Says:

Get in James!


Hippy Chick Says:

YAY Team GB,tears of joy rolling down my cheeks,WELL DONE JAMES WARD you were bloody A-MAZ-ING ;-)….


elina Says:

James. Ward. Just. Wow.

What a great moment in Davis Cup.

Looked like some great words of wisdom passed from Muzza to Wardy when they hugged.

To all the detractors in the media. Nothing wrong with Davis Cup. Like Apple, it just works.


brando Says:

Get in there Scotland get in there! Oh hang on…..😅


Hippy Chick Says:

Aw sweet from Andy hugging his team mate….


chris ford1 Says:

Well done, UK and Ward!
Britain and Serbia are now in the driver’s seat.
The Djokovic picture? Truth is both he and his wife are 4-eyed dorks. In a good sense. Good scholars, good looking, Nole a world class athlete….but still dorks given to wear goofy hats and People’s Factory #11 surplus black-rimmed eyeglasses.


KatH Says:

There is a commentator on this who does little else but take up space – I understand this person has already been reprimanded but continues with venom…..

—–why can’t we have the views of reasonable people without having to put up with this ugliness?


Hippy Chick Says:

KatH i dont know for sure,but i have a feeling i know whom your talking about,if you have a problem with a poster then report it to Sean and the staff….


Colin Says:

I couldn’t watch the Ward match as I was at the dentist getting fitted with my latest qualification as an old geezer – a dental plate. Only one tooth, but still a denture.

I was actually alive the last time GB beat US in Davis Cup (five-nil!), but as I was only seven months old I didn’t take much interest. It’s a pity we can’t post pictures here, as I have a charming photo of me held by my mother, at about that date. I was a very cute baby, with fair hair in a kiss-curl over my forehead. All I have on my forehead these days is wrinkles.

As for the tennis, I really didn’t think Ward could get another big win. Querry maybe took him too lightly last time, but Isner (and Courier) should have known what to expect this year.

Finally, weren’t the crowd well-behaved?
At events like Davis Cup, where many spectators don’t attend much tennis, the umpire usually has trouble getting quiet, but not here.


Okiegal Says:

@Colin…..I love you, man! If you ever stop posting
I would surely die. You are so funny and I know it would be a blast to hang out with you. Your post made my day! I’ve sat in he dentist chair most of my life. I was raised in a grocery store…..ate way too much candy and have very few teeth. I can relate
to the denture prob, I have two partial plates.

Great stuff from Great Britain today. Didn’t get to watch…..sounds like the 5 setter between Ward and Isner was a real cracker. Congrats to my British friends and to my countrymen you guys better get on the stick!


elina Says:

That kind of match can only happen in Davis Cup. Great drama.


Margot Says:

Fantastic win from Wardy. :)
Go Team GB!


Dee Says:

I honestly didn’t think Ward was gonna take it. He had quite a few match points.


chris ford1 Says:

Serbia 3-0! Djoker (once called the Ferrari the coach left in the garage by Stepanek when the Czechs played doubles against Serbia in Finals 2 years ago) played doubles because Borna Coric took Viktor Troicki to 5 tough sets.


Dee Says:

I’m feeling a little nervous for Jim Courier right now.

He was totally my teen crush and I’m not gonna lie he is still smoking (lick) but what is he saying to those guys?

Did Wards victory last yr have that much of an impact?


courbon Says:

@ chris ford:They took Ferrari out of garage today…(-:


Margot Says:

Gooooo Andy! Down with servebots!


Hippy Chick Says:

Come on team GB,and Charlton Heston playing great….


Giles Says:

Well done Team GB.


Hippy Chick Says:

YAY TEAM GB….


Margot Says:

Well done team GB! Andy, Wardy, Jamie, Dom, Leon!
Especially Wardy!
The French next…an entirely different kettle of poisson….;)


Colin Says:

Isner has nothing to be ashamed of in that match. He played to the best of his ability and didn’t give up after going two sets down, as he might have done.

For someone of his size, he is curiously unimpressive in appearance. His limbs look spindly, and he is round-shouldered (probably after years of stooping to talk to ordinary people).

Andy was quite nervy at times, but he got the job done. France will be a difficult challenge, particularly if Tsonga is fit, and I can’t honestly see GB getting past them.


brando Says:

Congrats to the boys of team GB. Only saw a brief bit from the doubles and was impressed by the teammate of Jamie: good player he seemed to me. Team GB seems like a good team: nice blend of talent and good team spirit. A good foundation for sure.


RZ Says:

Didn’t watch the doubles yesterday but sounds like Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot really got it together and made the Bryans work for the doubles point.

Congrats to Team GB on another fine victory in the Davis Cup! James Ward is really proving to be an excellent teammate to help out Andy getting the singles points.


jane Says:

i didn’t realize this was the second year in a row they beat the u.s. team.


chris ford1 Says:

Wish they would run a couple more DC articles.

Congrats to Britain, Serbia, France! Aussies win predictably. And the Kazakhs take down Italy!!! Go Zaks! Could it be a new cheer????


jane Says:

nole and murray took care of their parts, let’s see who will come through in raonic/nishikori. it could be that popsicle and nestor’s doubles win will swing things canada’s way.


jane Says:

” (probably after years of stooping to talk to ordinary people).”

ha ha, this made me chortle colin. i agree with okie; you should keep telling us about your teeth and kiss-curls. :) you have an entertaining style of writing.


Hippy Chick Says:

Nole and Andy took care of their parts TRUE,but i dont think we should forget what their team mates did Trioki and Wardy also played fantastic in their matches,we seem to praise the big players ad nauseum,but the lesser players are somewhat forgotten and seem to get very little credit what so ever,Isner is a former top 10 player,and Ward is outside the top 100….


KatH Says:

Hi Guys – saw on another stream that Kei will lose his no. 4 ranking even if he does beat Raonic later. Evidently he has 90 points to defend with Andy M. 80 points to defend………Andy’s win against John ensures his 80……anyone know for sure???

Interesting for I.W. ???


jane Says:

^ nor was i meaning to hippy; i was responding only to the headline of this thread…


Hippy Chick Says:

Jane it was just a generalisation….


jane Says:

oh, well anyhow, i wrote about the importance of ward’s win on the ward thread.

but yes, viktor’s win was a nice comeback too, and then novak and zim were able to cinch in the doubles, which was nice.

i love the team aspect of d.c.


jane Says:

goffin just knocked out switzerland.


Hippy Chick Says:

I love the camaraderie that goes with the DC,and i think its great to see some of the lesser players getting some of the limelight too for a change,something they dont get in the everyday tournies….


Hippy Chick Says:

It just seems that when its not a top player people dont seem to care….


jane Says:

the souza/mayer match just hit 6 hours!


jane Says:

i can’t believe everyone is talking about andy’s foot-in-mouth when souza/mayer has just past the mark to become **the third longest singles men’s tennis match EVER.** the only two longer ones were over 2 and 3 days (clement/santoro and isner/mahut). wow!


Hippy Chick Says:

Is it a good match Jane,its not televised where i am?i only ask as some matches like these can be remembered for the length of the match,rather than the quality of the match ala Isner/Mahut which was unbelievably dull?….


jane Says:

it is now the second longest men’s singles match ever!

i only started watching in the 5th hippy. but lots of long matches are great too. this one doesn’t depend almost solely on serves, like isner/mahut, from what i’ve seen.

there are no lights on the court, so we’ll have to see how much longer it can go.

meanwhile raonic won the first set over kei.


Hippy Chick Says:

Jane true….


jane Says:

wow, mayer wins, after 6 hours and 42 minutes! with that win, he forces a 5th rubber to decide the winner.


Sidney Says:

Congrats to Teams Australia, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Argentina, France, Great Britain (why not UK?), and of course, SERBIA!

Team Canada is getting closer to winning, too.

What happened to the Czech and Swiss teams? And Spain is not even playing? There’s work to do…


Sidney Says:

Spoke too soon about Argentina… Brazil is still alive… Sorry!


jane Says:

kei has levelled it at a set apiece.


Sidney Says:

DC 2015 first round heroes list:
The two K’s, Kukushkin (Kn) and Kokkinakis (Ks), Tomic, Ward, Goffin, Nedovyesov, Mayer, Troicki!

Hope they all get recognized well, financially and otherwise.

Oh and there’s also the supporting guys named Djokovic and A Murray.

Top story: Alcaraz Too Good For Medvedev, Defends Indian Wells Masters Title