Zverev, Kyrgios, Shapovalov, Goffin Headline Start Of 2018 Davis Cup

With many of the big stars either opting out or injured, the first round of the Davis Cup gets underway this weekend. The headliners include many of the younger faces like Alexander Zverev, Denis Shapovalov, Borna Coric, Nick Kyrgios and his countryman Alex De Minaur.

Kyrgios and De Minaur host the visiting Germans in maybe the best tie. De Minaur opens tonight in Brisbane against Zverev followed by Kyrgios against Jan-Lennard Struff.

“Obviously he’s the favorite, but I’m gonna come out there and leave it all out there and put everything on the line and try to do everything I can,” said De Minaur.

“I wasn’t expecting any of this, so it’s really a dream come true. I don’t think there’s a greater honour than representing your country, so I’m really proud of this moment and I can’t wait to get out there.”

Added Zverev on his favorite status, “I’ve been dealing with it for quite a while now, so it’s fine… That comes with it when you’re top 10 in the world. Obviously you’re supposed to win most of the matches that you play and that’s something that you have to learn to deal with, and I think I’m doing OK with it, so I don’t think about it too much.”

Shapovalov will lead his Canadian team into Croatia to take on Coric on indoor clay.

“I can’t recall that I’ve played on indoor clay,” said Shapovalov. “I don’t think I have ever in the tournament. But I’m feeling pretty good, I was hitting really well this past week. I’m able to still rip my shots, really still go for it, so I guess the indoor factor kinda helps me with my aggressive style.”

Among the other notables in action this weekend are Richard Gasquet and Lucas Pouille for defending champion France, Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi for Italy and Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey, and David Goffin who was helped put Belgium into the final last year.

France (s) (c) v Netherlands – Albertville, FRA – hard (indoors)
Friday
Lucas Pouille (FRA) v Thiemo de Bakker (NED)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) v Robin Haase (NED)
Saturday
Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut (FRA) v Mattew Middelkoop/Jean-Julien Rojer (NED)
Sunday
Lucas Pouille (FRA) v Robin Haase (NED)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) v Thiemo de Bakker (NED)

Japan (c) v Italy (s) – Morioka, JPN – hard (indoors)
Friday
Taro Daniel (JPN) v Fabio Fognini (ITA)
Yuichi Sugita (JPN) v Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Saturday
Ben McLachlan/Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) v Simone Bolelli/Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)
Sunday
Yuichi Sugita (JPN) v Fabio Fognini (ITA)
Tara Daniel (JPN) v Andreas Seppi (ITA)

Spain (c) v Great Britain (s) – Marbella, ESP – clay (outdoors)
Friday
Albert Ramos-Vinolas (SPN) v Liam Broady (GBR)
Roberto Bautista-Agut (SPN) v Cameron Norrie (GBR)
Saturday
Pablo Carreno Busta/Feliciano Lopez (SPN) v Dominic Inglot/Jamie Murray (GBR)
Sunday
Albert Ramos-Vinolas (SPN) v Cameron Norrie (GBR)
Roberto Bautista-Agut (SPN) v Liam Broady (GBR)

Australia (s) (c) v Germany – Brisbane, AUS – hard (outdoors)
Friday
Alex De Minaur (AUS) v Alexander Zverev (GER)
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Saturday
Matthew Ebden/John Peers (AUS) vs Peter Gojowczyk/Tim Puetz (GER)
Sunday
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) vs Alexander Zverev (GER)
Alex De Minaur (AUS) vs Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)

Kazakhstan (c) v Switzerland (s) – Astana, KAZ – hard (indoors)
Friday
Dmitry Popko (KAZ) v Henri Laaksonen (SUI)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Adrian Bodmer (SUI)
Saturday
Timur Khabibulin/Aleksandr Nedovyesov v Marc-Andrea Huesler/Luca Margaroli
Sunday
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Henri Laaksonen (SUI)
Dmitry Popko (KAZ) v Adrian Bodmer (SUI)

Croatia (s) (c) v Canada – Osijek, CRO – clay (indoors)
Friday
Borna Coric (CRO) v Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
Viktor Galovic (CRO) v Peter Polansky (CAN)
Saturday
Franko Skugor/Ivan Dodig (CRO) v Daniel Nestor/Vasek Pospisil (CAN)
Sunday
Viktor Galovic (CRO) v Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
Borna Coric (CRO) v Peter Polansky (CAN)

Serbia (s) (c) v USA – Nis, SRB – clay (indoors)
Friday
Laslo Djere (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)
Dusan Lajovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Saturday
Nikola Milojevic/Miljan Zekic (SRB) v Ryan Harrison/Steve Johnson (USA)
Sunday
Dusan Lajovic (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)
Laslo Djere (SRB) v John Isner (USA)

Belgium (s) (c) v Hungary – Liege, BEL – hard (indoors)
Friday
Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) v Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
David Goffin (BEL) v Attila Balazs (HUN)
Saturday
Julien Cagnina/Joris De Loore (BEL) v Attila Balazs/Marton Fucsovics
Sunday
David Goffin (BEL) v Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) v Attila Balazs (HUN)