Davis Cup SF: Nadal-Less Spaniard Travel To France; Croatians Cilic, Coric Host USA

by Staff | September 14th, 2018, 10:27 am
  • 9 Comments

In what could be final round in this tradition format, the Davis Cup semifinals have already gotten underway in Europe.

Rafael Nadal had to withdraw due to his knee issues as Spain will go to France. Picking up the slack in Lille will be Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut.

France will be without Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but Lucas Pouille and Benoit Paire will lead the way.


“It’s going to be a tough one, very close, with no Rafa here,” said French captain Noah.

“When you look at the head to head, it’s close but, as you know, the Davis Cup is crazy – and crazy things happen. We have a dream to win this one, and to be able to defend our title in November.

“Rafa is one of the best ever and the first thing when we won against Italy, we thought ‘wow, we’re going to be playing Rafa in Davis Cup’ so we have so much respect for this great champion.

“It was exciting, the thought of coming home and having to play Rafa. It would have been a privilege to sit at courtside and watch him but I don’t have that now. Yet when people talk to us about their No. 1 player being out, nobody talks about no Jo-Wilfried or Gael for us and Pierre-Hugues was injured so we have had problems too.”

Paire already took the opener beating Carreno Busta in straight sets.

SPAIN AT FRANCE
R1: B. PAIRE v P. CARRENO BUSTA
R2: L. POUILLE v R. BAUTISTA AGUT
R3: J. BENNETEAU/N. MAHUT v M. GRANOLLERS/F. LOPEZ
R4: L. POUILLE v P. CARRENO BUSTA
R5: B. PAIRE v R. BAUTISTA AGUT

In Croatia on the slow red clay in Zadar, Marin Cilic and Borna Coric will host a USA team led by youngster Frances Tiafoe and veteran Steve Johnson.

Both John Isner (wife is pregnant) and Jack Sock (injury) were unavailable for the tie.

“Pretty excited for it,” said Tiafoe who is making his Davis Cup debut. “Should be fun. Obviously, getting the chance to play another guy in the Top 10. I’ve made a huge jump this year. I was pretty much a Challenger guy most of the time, so winning a Tour event has been great. I think it’s been a great year. I feel like when I’m playing good, I’ve got a chance against anyone.”

USA at CROATIA
R1: B. CORIC v S. JOHNSON
R2: M. CILIC v F. TIAFOE
R3: I. DODIG/M. PAVIC v M. BRYAN/R. HARRISON
R4: M. CILIC v S. JOHNSON
R5: B. CORIC v F. TIAFOE

In playoff matches, Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov lead Canada against the Netherlands in Toronto. Austria and Dominic Thiem host Alex De Minaur and Australia. Great Britain also hosts Uzbekistan.

Next year the Davis Cup will adopt a new format. Though, it might still not happen as planned.


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2011 Davis Cup Draw: US Must Travel to Chile
Nadal, Cilic, Isner Lead Davis Cup QF This Weekend
Davis Cup 2017 Draw: USA To Host Swiss, England Goes To Canada
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9 Comments for Davis Cup SF: Nadal-Less Spaniard Travel To France; Croatians Cilic, Coric Host USA

lylenubbins Says:

I’m a tennis geek and could not care less about DC


skeezer Says:

The only thing cool about DC is if you are there. As a fan, you get to see a lot of action condensed over a couple of days, and usually some really good play on court with a star or two of the country you are backing. Lots of cheering for sure. Otherwise, yeah, blah. Tennis was never originally designed as a team sport, and always struggles trying to make it so.


Humble Rafa Says:

For some muffins, DC hasn’t been fun since US men stopped playing tennis.


Humble Rafa Says:

Tennis was never originally designed as a team sport, and always struggles trying to make it so

Team Big Lady disagrees. Have you been in a cave the past 10 days?


J-Kath Says:

However, to qualify to play at the Olympics you need to have played “for your country” within a certain time frame (2 years????)prior to each Olympics.


Colin Says:

Second attempt at posting a comment. Trouble with the email address, which is definitely as I wrote it this time, after using another old address for years.
Here goes…


Colin Says:

Phew! It worked. As it happenes I’m glad of the change, because the old address was very long and hard to remember.

Great Britain are far from the team they were when Andy was available for singles and for doubles with his brother, but at least they are leading Uzbekistan, going into the last day. The British section of the crowd are adapting the “Let’s go Andy” chant they use in non-Cup matches, and are singing “Let’s go GB”. At least it scans!


Colin Says:

Try “happens”


J-Kath Says:

Colin re. Andy’s absence, there evidently wasn’t the same audience turn-out as before. They’re also missing Kyle. However, there was a much better turn-out for the doubles and maybe the possibility of two matches today will fill the seats again. PS: One of my sisters and I had planned to go but am ashamed to say we didn’t pursue it when we found Andy wasn’t playing.

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