Minus the Bryans, USA Travels to Colombia in Davis Cup; FRA v. ARG, SRB v. CZE in SF
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USA at Colombia
Site: Plaza de Toros La Santamaria , Bogota
Surface: Red clay
The 2010 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Play-off between the United States and Colombia will take place from Friday, September 17, to Sunday, September 19, in Bogota, Colombia, at the Plaza de Toros La Santamaria on an outdoor red clay court. ADHEREL
The opening day of play in the best-of-five match series features each country’s No. 1 singles player against the No. 2 player from the opposing country. The exact order of play (which country’s No. 1 plays first) was determined at the Draw Ceremony, which was held today at the Plaza de Toros La Santamaria. The second day of competition features the pivotal doubles match. The event concludes Sunday with the “reverse singles,” starting with each country’s No. 1 player squaring off followed by the No. 2 players. Each match is best-of-five-sets until one nation wins three matches and clinches the tie. The remaining matches, if any, are played as best-of-three sets.
At 10am in Singles A it’s Mardy Fish (USA) vs. Alejandro Falla (COL), followed by Singles B featuring Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Santiago Giraldo (COL).
The Saturday doubles pairings are Ryan Harrison/John Isner (USA) vs. Robert Farah/Carlos Salamanca.
U.S. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe is bringing a new lineup to this World Group Play-off in Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey, John Isner and rising American talent Ryan Harrison. For the first time, McEnroe’s lineup will include neither Andy Roddick, James Blake nor the Bryan brothers. This will also be the last tie for McEnroe, the longtime U.S. Davis Cup captain. Currently in his 10th year as captain, McEnroe is the longest-tenured captain in U.S. Davis Cup history. He led the U.S. to its record 32nd Davis Cup title in 2007, its first title since 1995—ending the longest drought in U.S. Davis Cup history. His 16 victories rank second all-time in U.S. Davis Cup history behind Tom Gorman’s 18.
Argentina at France
Site: Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon
Surface: Hard
France and Argentina have met on four previous occasions and the Argentines are attempting to defeat France for the first time ever in Davis Cup. The two nations met at Roland Garros in 1952, 1955 and 1960 before the South Americans hosted the French in their last meeting in the 1982 World Group first round in Buenos Aires.
This is the opponents’ first clash on hard court. Both teams reached this year’s semifinals by winning their first two rounds on indoor hard. Argentina had a more difficult route into the semifinals, with both ties going down to the fifth rubber, while France won both its ties with a day to spare.
France is competing in the semifinals for the first time since 2004, and Argentina for the sixth time in the last nine years. Argentina has reached the Davis Cup Final three times but is yet to lift the trophy, while France is a nine-time Davis Cup champion, most recently in 2001.
Friday
Michael Llodra (FRA) v Juan Monaco (ARG)
Gael Monfils (FRA) v David Nalbandian (ARG)
Saturday
Arnaud Clement / Michael Llodra (FRA) v Eduardo Schwank / Horacio Zeballos (ARG)
Sunday
Gael Monfils (FRA) v Juan Monaco (ARG)
Michael Llodra (FRA) v David Nalbandian (ARG)
Czech Republic at Serbia
Site: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade
Surface: Hardcourt
This is the first meeting between Serbia and Czech Republic since the two countries became independent nations. Playing under the flags of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia respectively, the nations had met nine times, most recently in the 1991 World Group quarterfinals which Yugoslavia won 4-1 in Prague. Czechoslovakia held a 5-4 lead overall in their series.
Czech Republic is playing away from home for the fifth straight tie, while Serbia is back at the Belgrade Arena for the second time this year. It defeated USA 3-2 in the first round and has won its last three ties at the venue.
Friday
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Saturday
Viktor Troicki / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Jan Hajek / Ivo Minar (CZE)
Sunday
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
More World Group playoffs this weekend:
Austria at Israel
South Africa at Germany
Italy at Sweden
Brazil at India
Belgium at Australia
Switzerland at Kazakhstan
Ecuador at Romania
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