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2017 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Semifinal and World Group Play-off Preview Notes 1

2017 DAVIS CUP BY BNP PARIBAS WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS & PLAY-OFFS

15-17 SEPTEMBER – TIE PREVIEW NOTES

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS

Belgium (s) (c) v Australia – Brussels, BEL – clay (indoors)

France (s) (c) v Serbia (s) – Lille, FRA – clay (outdoors)

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

Kazakhstan (c) v Argentina (s) – Astana, KAZ – hard (indoors)

Colombia (c)* v Croatia (s) – Bogota, COL – clay (outdoors)

Switzerland (s) (c) v Belarus – Biel, SUI – hard (indoors)

Netherlands (c) v Czech Republic (s) – The Hague, NED – clay (indoors)

Portugal (c)* v Germany (s) – Oeiras, Lisbon, POR – clay (outdoors)

Japan (s) (c)* v Brazil – Osaka, JPN – hard (outdoors)

Hungary (c) v Russia (s) – Budapest, HUN – clay (outdoors)

Canada (s) (c)* v India – Edmonton, CAN – hard (indoors) (s) = seed, (c) = choice of ground, * = choice of ground decided by lot

Belgium will hope to reach the Davis Cup Final for the 2nd time in 3 years when it takes on Australia in

Brussels. The Belgians are the only one of the 4 semifinalists to have never won the competition, while Australia stands in 2nd place on the list for most Davis Cup titles, behind USA, having won the competition 28 times. The Australians, however, will be wary of the threat posed by Belgium, which has won the nations’ 2 most recent meetings and must adapt quickly to clay having not played a Davis Cup tie on the surface since 2014.

Around 100km away in Lille, France take on Serbia in a repeat of the 2010 Davis Cup Final. Serbia won on that occasion with Viktor Troicki winning in a decisive 5th rubber – but both Troicki and Novak Djokovic are missing this time round due to injuries. France, meanwhile, has enjoyed a stellar year in the competition having not yet lost a live rubber. Under the captaincy of Yannick Noah, who guided the French to Davis Cup success in 1991 and 1996, the team will be confident of reaching a first Final since 2014.

In the World Group play-offs both the 2016 champion, Argentina, and runner-up, Croatia, must come through tough away ties in Kazakhstan and Colombia respectively if they are to maintain their World Group status in 2018. Argentina is looking to avoid becoming the first champion nation to be relegated the year after winning the title since Sweden in 1999 – and should Croatia lose too it would be the first time in Davis Cup history that both finalists were relegated the following year.

Elsewhere in the play-offs, Portugal has the chance to secure a World Group berth for the first time in its history when it takes on Germany in Oeiras, Lisbon – one of 4 all-European play-off ties. The two remaining play-off ties see nations from the Americas Zone take on their counterparts from Asia/Oceania, with Japan hosting Brazil and Canada hosting India. In total, 6 former Davis Cup champions will battle to retain World Group status in the play-offs.


CHOICE OF GROUND – DAVIS CUP FINAL The winners of this weekend’s semifinals will advance to the Davis Cup Final on 24-26 November. Below is the choice of ground for the potential Final match-ups. The venue details are due to be submitted to the ITF by Monday 25 September.

FRANCE SERBIA

BELGIUM FRA SRB

AUSTRALIA AUS AUS

2018 DAVIS CUP DRAW The winners of the World Group play-offs will secure their places in the World Group for 2018. The draw for next year’s competition will take place at the London offices of BNP Paribas on Wednesday 20 September.

PAST CHAMPIONS

In total, 15 nations have won the Davis Cup including 3 of this year’s semifinalists. Belgium is the only nation never to have won the Davis Cup to have reached the last 4 this year – although it has reached the Final twice, in 1904 and 2015.

USA 32 Australia 28 Great Britain 10 France 9 Sweden 7 Spain 5 Germany 3 Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic 3 Russia 2 Argentina, Croatia, Italy, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland 1

ALL FIVE TO FIVE… Only twice have all 5 rubbers of a Davis Cup tie gone to 5 sets: 1946 European Zone semifinal, Yugoslavia defeated France 3-2 and 2003 World Group play-off, Romania defeated Ecuador 3-2.

COMEBACKS FROM 0-2 DOWN... There have been just 10 comebacks from 0-2 down in World Group ties. Sweden has produced 4 of these comebacks. Croatia recorded the most recent one, defeating USA in Portland in the quarterfinals last year. In the Davis Cup overall there have been 57 comebacks from 0-2 down since the competition began in 1900.

TOP TIEBREAKS… The highest number of tiebreaks in a Davis Cup tie is 11 (Croatia d. Brazil 4-1, 2008 World Group play-off).

PARTICIPATING NATIONS… 134 nations entered the 2017 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.


DAVIS CUP NATIONS RANKING… The ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking was launched at the end of 2001. It is published following every tie weekend and measures success over the preceding 4-year period, with recent performances weighted more heavily. It is the sole criteria for seeding at all levels of Davis Cup competition.

Latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking (24 July 2017)

1 Argentina 11 USA 2 Great Britain 12 Spain 3 France 13 Germany 4 Belgium 14 Japan 5 Croatia 15 Russia 6 Switzerland 16 Canada 7 Australia 17 Kazakhstan 8 Serbia 18 India 9 Czech Republic 19 Brazil 10 Italy 20 Netherlands

DAVIS CUP RECORDS

World Group Davis Cup

Most Games in a Tie (post-tiebreak*)

275: France d. Switzerland 3-2, 2001 quarterfinal

281: Romania d. Ecuador 3-2, 2003 WG play-off

Most Games in a Tie (pre-tiebreak*)

281: Paraguay d. France 3-2, 1985 first round

327: India d. Australia 3-2, 1974 Eastern Zone Final

Longest recorded playing-time (tie)

21 hours, 2 minutes: France d. Switzerland 3-2, 2001 quarterfinal

21 hours, 37 minutes: Romania d. Ecuador 3-2, 2003 WG play-off

Longest singles rubber 6 hours, 43 minutes: Leonardo Mayer (ARG) d. Joao Souza (BRA), 2015 first round

see World Group

Longest doubles rubber 7 hours, 1 minute: Berdych/Rosol (CZE) d. Chiudinelli/Wawrinka (SUI), 2013 first round

see World Group

Fewest number of games conceded in a tie

26: Germany d. Indonesia 5-0, 1989 first round

6: Sri Lanka d. Syria – 1991 Asia/Oceania II, first round

Longest tiebreak* 16-14: Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI), 2016 first round

19-17: Young-Jun Kim (KOR) d. Aqeel Khan (PAK), 2003 Asia/Oceania Zone Group I

*the tiebreak was introduced in Davis Cup in 1989 and the 5th set tiebreak was introduced in 2016 For further details see www.daviscup.com/en/statistics/general-records

http://www.daviscup.com/en/statistics/general-records


Belgium v Australia – Brussels, BEL – clay (indoors)

Head-to-head: Tied 2-2 A 5th meeting between the 2 nations with the head-to-head level at two wins apiece – but it is Belgium which has performed better in recent times, recording 3-2 victories on indoor clay in Liege in 2007 and on an outdoor hard court in Cairns in 2010. Both of those meetings were won in decisive 5th rubbers.

BELGIUM V AUSTRALIA

4 Current DC Nations Ranking 7 Runner-up 1904,

2015 Best Result

Champion 28 times (most recent 2003)

1904 First Year Played 1905 95 Years Played 98 19 Years in World Group 30 187 Ties Played 255

95-92 Ties Win-Loss 187-68 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 2

BELGIUM is bidding to reach the Davis Cup Final for the 2nd time in 3 years and just the 3rd time overall – the Belgians reached the title match in 1904 and 2015.

Belgium is bidding to win 4 consecutive Davis Cup ties for the 2nd time since 1989-1990, when it won 5 straight ties to rise from Europe Group II into the World Group. It also won 4 straight ties after defeating Ukraine in the 2014 World Group play-offs before reaching the 2015 Final.

Belgium is making its 3rd appearance in the semifinals since the introduction of the World Group in 1981. Since then, it has a 1-1 win-loss record in Davis Cup semifinals, defeating Argentina in 2015, but falling to France in 1999.

Belgium reached the Davis Cup Final for the 2nd time in its history – and the first time since 1904 – in 2015. It defeated defending champion Switzerland 3-2, Canada 5-0 and Argentina 3-2 before falling to Great Britain 3-1 in the title decider in Ghent.

Belgium advanced to the semifinals after defeating Germany 4-1 in Frankfurt and Italy 3-2 in Charleroi in the opening 2 rounds this year.

Last year, Belgium lost 3-2 to Croatia in the World Group first round before defeating Brazil 4-0 in the World Group play-offs to maintain its World Group status.

Belgium has lost both of the last 2 ties it has played on a clay court – to Great Britain in the 2015 Final and Croatia in the 2016 World Group first round. Belgium’s last victory on clay came in the 2015 quarterfinals when the team defeated Canada 5-0 in Middelkerke (Ostend).

Belgium is contesting its 2nd home tie of 2017 and has played 7 of its last 8 Davis Cup ties at home. Its only away tie since 2014 came against Germany in the first round this year.

If Belgium wins this weekend it will travel to either France or Serbia in the Davis Cup Final.

Belgium is currently ranked at No. 4 in the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking – its joint-highest ranking since the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking was introduced in 2001. Belgium reached No. 4 for the first time after defeating Argentina in the 2015 semifinals.

David Goffin has won 13 of his last 14 Davis Cup singles rubbers – his only loss in that time came to Great Britain’s Andy Murray in the 2015 Final. Goffin has a 17-3 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles rubbers but has lost all 3 Davis Cup doubles rubbers that he has contested.


Steve Darcis is bidding to climb the list for most Davis Cup match-wins by a Belgian player this weekend. Darcis will tie Olivier Rochus in 5th place if he wins one rubber and will claim sole ownership of 5th place if he wins 2 or more rubbers this weekend.

Most Davis Cup match-wins by a Belgian player

1. Jacques Brichant 71-49

2. Philippe Washer 66-36

3. Andre Lacroix 35-25

4. Patrick Hombergen 26-31

5. Olivier Rochus 23-28

6= Bernard Boileau Steve Darcis

22-16 22-15

8. David Goffin 17-6

Ruben Bemelmans could contest his first live singles rubber since the 2015 Final, when he fell to Andy Murray in straight sets in the 2nd rubber. He has contested 4 doubles rubbers and a dead singles rubber since then. He has a 4-8 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and an 11-14 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Arthur De Greef – a replacement for Joris De Loore, who withdrew from the team with a knee injury – is making his 2nd appearance for Belgium. He made his Davis Cup debut in Belgium’s first round victory against Germany this year, falling to Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the 2nd rubber.

AUSTRALIA is bidding to reach the Davis Cup Final for the first time since 2003, when it defeated Spain to win the title.

Australia is contesting the World Group semifinals for the 2nd time in the last 3 years, having previously not reached this stage since 2006.

Australia is competing in the World Group semifinals for the 17th time since the introduction of the World Group in 1981. It has an 8-8 win-loss record in World Group semifinals in that time, but has lost its 2 most recent semifinals – to Argentina in 2006 and Great Britain in 2015.

Australia is contesting its first tie on clay since falling to France in the 2014 World Group first round. Prior to that, the team won its 2 previous clay court ties – against Uzbekistan and Poland in 2013.

Australia advanced to the semifinals after defeating Czech Republic 4-1 in Melbourne and USA 3-2 in Brisbane in the opening 2 rounds this year.

Last year, Australia fell to USA in the first round in Melbourne but maintained its place in the World Group for a 4th straight year after defeating Slovakia 3-0 in Sydney.

If Australia wins this weekend it will host either France or Serbia in the Davis Cup Final.

Australia is ranked No. 7 on the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. It is one of only 8 nations, alongside Argentina, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Russia and Spain to have been ranked No. 1 since the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking was introduced in 2001.

Captain Lleyton Hewitt is Australia’s most successful player, with a total win-loss record of 58-21 and a singles win-loss record of 42-14. Hewitt has also played the most ties for Australia, with 42 over 18 years.

Nick Kyrgios is bidding to extend his winning streak in Davis Cup rubbers. He has not lost a Davis Cup rubber since falling to Aleksandr Nedovyesov in the 2nd rubber of Australia’s World Group quarterfinal victory against Kazakhstan in 2015. He has won all 4 of his rubbers since then in straight sets and has a 7-4 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Jordan Thompson is bidding to maintain his unbeaten Davis Cup record this weekend. He made his debut in the competition in the first round this year and has won all 3 of the rubbers he has contested.


Thanasi Kokkinakis has been nominated for the first time since the 2015 semifinals. He has a 2-3 win-loss record in the competition, with his only victory in a live rubber coming against Lukas Rosol in the first rubber of Australia’s World Group first round victory against Czech Republic in 2015, where he recovered from 0-2 down to win in 5 sets.

John Peers has been nominated for the 5th straight tie. He has a 2-2 win-loss record in the competition with his 2 losses – to USA’s Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan in the 2016 World Group first round and USA’s Steve Johnson/Jack Sock in the 2017 World Group quarterfinals – both coming in 5 sets.


France v Serbia – Lille, FRA – clay (outdoors)

Head-to-head: Serbia leads 1-0 A 2nd meeting for the 2 nations and a repeat of the 2010 Davis Cup Final, which Serbia won in a decisive 5th rubber. (NB Serbia inherited Yugoslavia’s records for the purpose of determining choice of ground. The head-to-head between Yugoslavia and France was level at 4-4.)

FRANCE v SERBIA

3 Current DC Nations Ranking 8

Champion 9 times (most recent 2001)

Best Result Champion 2010



FRANCE is bidding to reach the Davis Cup Final for the first time since it finished runner-up to Switzerland in 2014 and for the 18th time overall.

France is contesting the semifinals for the 3rd time in the last 4 years. Overall, France has contested 13 World Group semifinals since the World Group was introduced in 1981, and has an 8-5 win-loss record in semifinal ties during that time.

France advanced to the semifinals after defeating Japan 4-1 in Tokyo and Great Britain 4-1 in Rouen in the opening 2 rounds this year. The team has not yet lost a live rubber during this year’s competition.

Last year, France reached the World Group semifinals after defeating Canada 5-0 in the first round in Guadeloupe and Czech Republic 3-1 in the quarterfinals in Trinec, before falling to Croatia 3-2 in the last four in Zadar.

France has won 6 of its last 7 home ties. Its only loss in that time came in the 2014 Final when the team fell to Switzerland 3-1.

France has been crowned Davis Cup champion 9 times and is in 4th place on the list of all-time champions, behind USA, Australia and Great Britain. France has also reached the Final a further 8 times. Its last title win came in 2001 when it defeated Australia 3-2 on grass in Melbourne.

Only France and USA have won a Davis Cup Final on all four surfaces (grass, clay, hard and carpet).

France has only twice been absent from the World Group since its inception in 1981. Its 35 years in the World Group is second only to Czech Republic (36 years) and USA (36).

France is one of 8 nations to have held the No. 1 ranking, alongside Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Russia and Spain. France held the top spot between February 2002 and September 2003 and again from April 2004 to July 2004 – it is currently ranked at No. 3 in the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking.

If France wins this weekend it will host Belgium or travel to Australia in the Davis Cup Final.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is bidding to climb the list for most Davis Cup singles match-wins by a Frenchman. He will tie Jean Borotra in 9th place on the list if he wins one singles rubber and claim sole ownership of 9th place if he wins 2 singles rubbers. He has a 24-8 win-loss record in the competition overall and is making his first Davis Cup appearance of 2017 this weekend.


Most Davis Cup singles match-wins by a Frenchman

1. Pierre Darmon 44-17

2. Henri Cochet 38-8

3. Francois Jauffret 34-17

4. Rene Lacoste 32-8

5. Robert Haillet 29-13

6. Yannick Noah 26-15

7. Bernard Destremau 25-14

8. Henri Leconte 24-20

9. Jean Borotra 19-12

10= Cedric Pioline Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

18-11 18-7

Lucas Pouille is bidding to win just his 3rd live rubber this weekend. He won his first live rubber on his debut in the 2016 World Group quarterfinals, defeating Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely in the 2nd rubber during France’s 3-1 victory and defeated Kyle Edmund to win the first rubber of France’s quarterfinal victory against Great Britain this year. He has a 3-1 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut are bidding to record their 3rd Davis Cup doubles victory as a pair. Their only defeat together in the competition came against Marin Cilic/Ivan Dodig in France’s 3-2 defeat to Croatia in the 2016 semifinals.

SERBIA is bidding to reach the Davis Cup Final for the 3rd time in its history.

Serbia is appearing in the World Group semifinals for the first time since it finished runner-up in 2013. The team has a 2-1 win-loss record in World Group semifinals, defeating Czech Republic in 2010 and Canada in 2013, but falling to Argentina in 2011.

Last year, Serbia defeated Kazakhstan 3-2 in the World Group first round in Belgrade before losing to Great Britain 4-1 in the quarterfinals in Belgrade.

Serbia is bidding to record its first tie-win on clay since 2013, when it defeated Canada in the World Group semifinals on an indoor clay court in Belgrade. It has lost both of its ties on clay since then – to Argentina in the 2015 World Group quarterfinals and to Great Britain in the 2016 World Group quarterfinals.

Serbia won its maiden Davis Cup title in 2010, defeating this weekend’s opponents 3-2 having trailed 2-1 going into the final day.

Serbia first competed in Davis Cup in 1995 under the Yugoslav flag. Yugoslavia was renamed Serbia & Montenegro in 2004 before Serbia became an independent nation in 2007. Before 1995, Serbian players represented former Yugoslavia, which reached the World Group semifinals three times in 1988-89 and 1991.

Serbia is currently ranked at No. 8 in the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. Its highest ranking is No. 2, which it reached for the first time after winning the title in 2010.

If Serbia wins this weekend it will host Belgium or travel to Australia in the Davis Cup Final.

Dusan Lajovic and Filip Krajinovic are both bidding to record their 3rd match-wins in live rubbers this weekend. Lajovic has a 2-5 win-loss record in live rubbers and a 7-5 win-loss record in the competition overall, while Krajinovic has a 2-3 win-loss record in live rubbers and a 4-4 win-loss record overall.

Laslo Djere could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend, having been nominated for the first time.

Playing captain Nenad Zimonjic is the most successful Serbian Davis Cup player in terms of most doubles wins (30), total wins (43), ties (54) and years played (22).


Kazakhstan v Argentina – Astana, KAZ – hard (indoors)

Head-to-head: Argentina leads 1-0 A 2nd meeting between the 2 nations. Argentina won their only previous meeting 5-0 in a 2011 World Group quarterfinal in Buenos Aires.

KAZAKHSTAN v ARGENTINA

17 Current DC Nations Ranking 1 World Group QF

2011, 13-15 Best Result Champion 2016



KAZAKHSTAN is aiming to bounce straight back to the World Group after its 6-year spell in the World Group was brought to an end with relegation in 2016.

Kazakhstan is contesting the World Group play-offs for the 4th time and has a 2-1 record in World Group play-off ties. Its only defeat in a World Group play-off tie came against Russia in Moscow last year.

Kazakhstan advanced to the World Group play-offs after defeating China, P.R. 4-1 in Astana in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I second round in April. The victory ended a 3-tie losing streak with Kazakhstan not having previously won a tie since defeating Italy in the 2015 World Group first round.

Last year, Kazakhstan fell to Serbia 3-2 in Belgrade before falling to Russia 3-1 in the World Group play-offs in Moscow.

Kazakhstan’s best Davis Cup result is reaching the World Group quarterfinals on 4 occasions – in 2011, where it fell to this weekend’s opponents, and 2013 (l. Czech Republic), 2014 (l. Switzerland) and 2015 (l. Australia)

Prior to 1995, players from Kazakhstan represented the Soviet Union.

Kazakhstan is ranked No. 17 on the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. Its highest ranking is No. 7 – achieved in February 2013.

Mikhail Kukushkin is bidding to record his 20th Davis Cup match-win this weekend. He has a 19-12 singles win-loss record and a 0-1 doubles win-loss record in the competition.

Dmitry Popko is bidding to maintain his unbeaten start to his Davis Cup career. Popko won both his rubbers on his Davis Cup debut against China in Kazakhstan’s Asia/Oceania Zone Group I second round victory this year.

Aleksandr Nedovyesov could record his first Davis Cup singles match-win since he defeated Nick Kyrgios in Kazakhstan’s 3-2 defeat to Australia in the 2015 World Group quarterfinals this weekend. Nedovyesov has a 2-6 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and a 5-9 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Timur Khabibulin could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend having been nominated for the first time.

2016 champion ARGENTINA is bidding to avoid becoming the first team since Sweden in 1999 – and just the 3rd team in history – to be relegated the year after winning the title.

Argentina is bidding to maintain its World Group status and contest the World Group for the 17th consecutive year in 2018. It has featured in the top tier of the competition every year since 2002.


Argentina dropped into the World Group play-offs after falling to Italy 3-2 in Buenos Aires in February. The defeat ended a streak 5 consecutive victories in the competition.

Last year, Argentina won the Davis Cup title for the first time in its history. It defeated Poland 3-2 in Gdansk, Italy 3-1 in Pesaro, Great Britain 3-2 in Glasgow and Croatia 3-2 in Zagreb to become just the 2nd nation to win the title after playing all four ties away from home after France in 2001. It was also the 3rd nation in World Group history to win the title having trailed 2-1 after Saturday’s doubles rubber.

Prior to winning the title in 2016, Argentina held the record for most appearances in the Davis Cup Final without victory. It has finished runner-up on 4 occasions – in 1981, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

Argentina is ranked No. 1 on the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking – reaching the position for the first time after winning the title in 2016.

Diego Schwartzman is bidding to record his first Davis Cup match-win this weekend. Schwartzman has yet to win a set in the competition having lost all 3 Davis Cup rubbers he has contested – 2 singles and one doubles - in straight sets. All 3 of his previous Davis Cup appearances came in 2015.

Guido Pella is bidding to end a 3-match losing streak in Davis Cup singles rubbers. He has not won a singles rubber in the competition since defeating Kyle Edmund in Argentina’s victory against Great Britain in the 2016 World Group semifinals. He has a 2-3 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and a 3-3 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni could make their Davis Cup debuts this weekend after being nominated for the first time.


Colombia v Croatia – Bogota, COL – clay (outdoors)

Head-to-head: first meeting

COLOMBIA v CROATIA

23 Current DC Nations Ranking 5 World Group play-offs 2010, 13-15, 17

Best Result Champion 2005

1959 First Year Played 1993 50 Years Played 25 0 Years in World Group 15

104 Ties Played 55 54-50 Ties Win-Loss 32-23

1 Comebacks from 0-2 down 1

COLOMBIA is bidding to reach the World Group for the first time in its history.

Colombia is bidding to win 3 consecutive Davis Cup ties for the first time since 2005-06 when it won promotion from Americas Zone Group II. It progressed to the World Group play-offs after defeating Chile 3-1 in Medellin in an Americas Zone Group I second round tie in April, having maintained its place in Zone Group I with a 4-1 victory against Dominican Republic in September 2016.

Colombia is contesting the World Group play-offs for the 5th time. It has lost on all 4 of its appearances at this stage of the competition – in 2010 (l. USA), 2013 (l. Japan), 2014 (l. Canada) and 2015 (l. Japan).

Colombia is currently ranked at No. 23 in the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. Its highest ranking is No. 18, which it reached in March 2015.

Santiago Giraldo and Alejandro Falla are both bidding to climb the list for most Davis Cup match-wins by a Colombian player. Falla will tie Jairo Velasco in 2nd place on the list if he wins 2 rubbers this weekend and will take sole ownership of 2nd place if he wins 3 rubbers. Giraldo will tie Alvaro Jordan in 4th place on the list if he wins one rubber and will take sole ownership of 4th place if he wins 2 or more rubbers.

Most Davis Cup match-wins by a Colombian

1. Mauricio Hadad 35-11

2. Jairo Velasco 33-23

3. Alejandro Falla 31-16

4. Alvaro Jordan 26-17

5. Santiago Giraldo 25-14

Giraldo became the most successful Colombian Davis Cup singles player in history by winning both his singles rubbers in Colombia’s victory against Chile earlier this year. He has a 25-14 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles, ahead of Velasco (24-12) and Mauricio Hadad (23-5).

Alejandro Gonzalez is bidding to win his first live Davis Cup rubber since he defeated both Pablo Cuevas and Martin Cuevas in Colombia’s 3-2 victory against Uruguary in the 2015 Americas Zone Group I second round. He has a 4-3 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and has never played a doubles rubber in the competition.

Juan Sebastian Cabal is bidding to win his 10th Davis Cup doubles rubber. He has recorded 9 wins alongside Robert Farah and one victory alongside Falla. He has a 16-8 win-loss record in the competition overall.

2016 runner-up CROATIA is bidding to avoid becoming the 4th team in Davis Cup history to be relegated from the World Group the year after finishing runner-up – and the first since 2005 runner-up Slovakia was relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2006.

Croatia is bidding to extend its 3-tie winning streak on clay. It has not lost a tie played on clay since falling to Great Britain in the 2013 World Group play-offs in Umag.


Croatia is contesting the World Group play-offs for the 13th time in its history. It has a 7-5 win-loss record in World Group play-offs and won both of its 2 most recent play-off ties – in 2014 (d. Netherlands) and 2015 (d. Brazil).

Croatia dropped into the World Group play-offs after falling to Spain 3-2 in Osijek in February.

Last year Croatia reached the Davis Cup Final for the 2nd time. It defeated Belgium 3-2 in the 1st round in Liege, recorded the 10th 0-2 comeback in World Group history to defeat USA 3-2 in the quarterfinals in Portland and defeated France 3-2 in the semifinals in Zadar. In the final in Zagreb, Croatia held a 2-1 lead before falling 3-2 to Argentina.

Croatia won the title unseeded in 2005 in its only other appearance in the Final, defeating Slovakia 3-2 in Bratislava after Mario Ancic won the deciding rubber. It was the first time that an unseeded nation had won the Davis Cup since the introduction of the World Group in 1981. Serbia (2010), Switzerland (2014) and Great Britain (2015) have since also won the title unseeded.

Croatia is currently ranked No. 5 in the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. It is one of 8 nations to rank No. 1 since the rankings were introduced in 2001 (alongside Argentina, Australia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Russia and Spain). Croatia was ranked No. 1 between November 2005 and September 2006.

Marin Cilic could claim the record for most Davis Cup singles match-wins by a Croatian player if he wins 2 singles rubbers this weekend. Cilic has a 30-16 win-loss record in the competition overall, and could also tie Goran Ivanisevic (33-11) in 2nd place on the list for most total match-wins by a Croatian player if he wins 3 rubbers – behind Ivan Ljubicic (36-19).

Most Davis Cup singles match-wins by a Croatian

1. Ivan Ljubicic 23-13

2. Marin Cilic 22-10

3. Goran Ivanisevic 20-6

4. Mario Ancic 13-11

5. Ivo Karlovic 9-10

Franko Skugor contested his first live singles rubbers in the World Group first round this year, defeating Pablo Carreno Busta in 5 sets in the opening rubber and falling to Roberto Bautista Agut in the 4th rubber. He has a 3-3 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Nikola Mektic could win his first Davis Cup live singles rubber this weekend. His only singles victory in Davis Cup action came in the 5th rubber of Croatia’s 2011 World Group play-off victory against South Africa where he defeated Raven Klaasen in straight sets. He has a 2-1 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Viktor Galovic could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend after being nominated for the first time.


Switzerland v Belarus – Biel, Switzerland – hard (indoors)

Head-to-head: Switzerland leads 2-0 A 3rd meeting for the 2 nations – but their first since 2008, when Switzerland won a Europe/Africa Zone Group I 2nd round tie 4-1 in Minsk. The doubles victory for Max Mirnyi and current captain Vladimir Voltchkov in that tie is the only rubber that Belarus has won against the Swiss.

SWITZERLAND v BELARUS

6 Current DC Nations Ranking 24 2014 Champion Best Result World Group SF 2004



SWITZERLAND is bidding to extend its 6-year spell in the World Group.

Switzerland is bidding to extend its 4-tie winning streak in home Davis Cup ties. It has not lost a home tie since falling to eventual champion Czech Republic 3-2 in the 2013 World Group first round in Geneva.

Switzerland has contested the World Group play-offs in 12 of the last 13 years. It has a 9-2 win-loss record in World Group play-off ties in that time, with its only defeats coming against Czech Republic in 2007 and Kazakhstan in 2010.

Switzerland dropped into the World Group play-offs after falling 5-0 away to USA in Birmingham, Alabama in February.

Last year, Switzerland fell to Italy 5-0 in the World Group first round in Pesaro. The Swiss avoided dropping into Europe/Africa Zone Group I for the first time since 2011 after defeating Uzbekistan 3-2 in the World Group play-offs in Tashkent.

Switzerland won its first Davis Cup title in 2014, becoming the 14th nation to lift the trophy after defeating France 3-1 in the Final in Lille.

Switzerland’s leading all-time Davis Cup player in terms of total wins is Roger Federer with 52 wins. He overtook Jakob Hlasek’s 49 wins by winning the decisive singles rubber in the 2014 Final.

Switzerland is ranked No. 6 in the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. Its highest-ranking is No. 2, which it reached after winning the title in November 2014.

Henri Laaksonen has a 6-4 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles rubbers. 3 of his 4 victories in live singles rubbers have come in 5-sets. He has a 7-6 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Marco Chiudinelli is bidding to win a live singles rubber for Switzerland for only the 3rd time. His only live singles rubber victories came against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in the World Group first round in 2007 and Ecuador’s Julio-Cesar Campozano in the 2013 World Group play-offs. He has a 6-13 singles win-loss record and a 7-19 overall win-loss record for Switzerland in Davis Cup.

Antoine Bellier is bidding to win his 2nd Davis Cup rubber this weekend. His only previous victory came in the decisive 5th rubber of Switzerland’s 2016 World Group play-off victory against Uzbekistan. He has a 1-3 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Adrian Bodmer could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend after being nominated for the first time.

BELARUS is bidding to return to the World Group for the first time since 2007.


Belarus is bidding to extend its 5-tie winning streak. The team has not lost since falling to Portugal in the 2015 Europe/Africa Zone Group II promotion play-offs. Last year, Belarus won promotion to Europe/Africa Zone Group I after defeating Egypt, Latvia and Denmark.

Belarus is contesting its first World Group play-off since 2007 when it fell to Peru 4-1 in Lima. It advanced to the World Group play-offs this year after home victories against Romania 3-2 in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I first round and Austria 3-1 in the second round.

Belarus’ best Davis Cup performance is reaching the World Group semifinals in 2004. The team, led by current captain Vladimir Voltchkov and Max Mirnyi, who has been nominated again this weekend, defeated Russia and Argentina before falling to USA in the last 4.

Belarus is ranked No. 24 in the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. Its highest-ever ranking is No. 8, which it reached in April 2004. It dropped outside the Top 50 for the first time in 2011, falling as low as No. 56 in 2014 before re-entering the Top 30 again this year.

Prior to 1994, players from Belarus represented the Soviet Union.

Max Mirnyi holds 5 different Belarusian records in Davis Cup – most total wins (59), most singles wins (24, joint with Voltchkov), most doubles wins (35), most ties played (54) and most years played (24).

Egor Gerasimov is bidding to record his 15th Davis Cup singles match-win this weekend and take sole ownership of 3rd place on the list for most Davis Cup singles matches won by a Belarusian player. Gerasimov has a 15-4 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Most Davis Cup singles match-wins by a Belarusian

1= Max Mirnyi Vladimir Voltchkov

24-18 24-21

3= Egor Gerasimov Uladzimir Ignatik

14-3 14-15

5. Alexander Shvets 11-9

Ilya Ivashka has lost just 2 of the Davis Cup rubbers he has contested – both in Belarus’ 3-2 victory against Romania this year. He has a 7-2 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and is yet to contest a doubles rubber in the competition.

Andrei Vasilewski could win his first Davis Cup doubles rubber this weekend. He has lost both of the 2 doubles rubbers he has previously contested and has a 1-6 win-loss record in the competition overall, with his only win coming on his Davis Cup debut in a dead 5th rubber in Belarus’ 2009 Europe/Africa Zone Group I relegation play-off victory against FYR Macedonia.


Netherlands v Czech Republic – The Hague, NED – clay (indoors)

Head-to-head: Czech Republic leads 5-1 A 7th meeting for the 2 nations. Netherlands’ only victory against the Czechs came in a Europe first round tie in Noordwijk in 1925. The Czechs won 3-2 in the nations’ most recent meeting, a 2014 World Group first round tie in Ostrava.

NETHERLANDS v CZECH REPUBLIC

20 Current DC Nations Ranking 9 World Group SF

2001 Best Result

Champion 1980*, 2012, 2013



NETHERLANDS is bidding to return to the World Group for the first time since 2014.

Netherlands advanced to the World Group play-offs after defeating Bosnia/Herzegovina 3-1 in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I second round in April after receiving a bye in the first round.

Last year, Netherlands fell to Russia 4-1 in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I first round but defeated Sweden 5-0 in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I relegation play-offs.

Netherlands is bidding to win 3 consecutive ties for the first time since 2007-08, when it defeated Portugal, FYR Macedonia and Korea, Republic to win promotion to the World Group.

Netherlands’ best Davis Cup performance is reaching the World Group semifinals in 2001 – the team defeated Spain and Germany before falling to eventual champion France in the last 4.

Netherlands is contesting a home tie for the first time since the 2014 World Group play-offs, where the team fell to Croatia 3-2 in Amsterdam. It has played 5 consecutive away ties since then.

By winning 3 rubbers in the victory against Bosnia/Herzegovina this year, Robin Haase recorded his 30th, 31st and 32nd Davis Cup match-wins and rose to 2nd place on the all-time list for most Davis Cup match-wins by a Dutch player, behind Hendrik Timmer (43) but above current captain Paul Haarhuis (31). Haase is also in 2nd place on the list for most Davis Cup singles match-wins by a Dutch player – he has a 24-10 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles, behind Timmer (32-15).

Thiemo De Bakker has won just one of his last 5 Davis Cup singles rubbers. His only victory in that time was a 5-set win against Sweden’s Elias Ymer in the 2016 Europe/Africa Zone Group I relegation play-offs. He has a 14-12 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and a 16-14 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Matwe Middelkoop could win just his 2nd live Davis Cup rubber this weekend. His only previous victory in the competition came in the 3rd rubber of Netherlands’ 2015 World Group play-off loss to Switzerland, when he and De Bakker defeated Marco Chiudinelli/Roger Federer in 5 sets.

Tallon Griekspoor could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend after being nominated for the second time. He was nominated for the Europe/Africa Zone Group I second round tie against Bosnia/Herzegovina earlier this year but did not play.

CZECH REPUBLIC is bidding to maintain its World Group status. It has competed in the World Group every year since its introduction in 1981, with the exception of 2006 – the most times a nation has competed in the World Group, along with USA.


Czech Republic has won 13 of its last 17 Davis Cup ties, with its only defeats in that time coming against France in the semifinals in 2014 and the quarterfinals in 2016, and against Australia in the first round in 2015 and 2017.

Last year, Czech Republic defeated Germany 3-2 in the World Group first round in Hannover before falling to France 3-1 in the quarterfinals in Trinec.

By winning the 2013 Davis Cup, Czech Republic became the 5th different nation to defend the Davis Cup title since the formation of the World Group in 1981. There have been 6 successful title defences by 5 different nations in World Group history: USA 1981-82; Sweden 1984-85; West Germany 1988-89; Sweden 1997-98; Spain 2008-09; and Czech Republic 2012-13.

Before the nation divided into Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, Czechoslovakia also won the Davis Cup in 1980.

Czech Republic is currently ranked No. 9 on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking, having held the No. 1 ranking between April 2013 and November 2015.

Jiri Vesely is bidding to record his first Davis Cup match-win in live play since he defeated Yuki Bhambri to help Czech Republic defeat India in the 2015 World Group play-offs. He has a 4-7 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and a 5-8 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Lukas Rosol is making his first Davis Cup appearance of 2017 this weekend. He has played Davis Cup every year since 2011 and has a 12-9 overall win-loss record in the competition.

Adam Pavlasek could make his Davis Cup singles debut this weekend. He has played 2 Davis Cup doubles rubbers – in the 2015 World Group first round tie against Australia and the 2015 World Group play-off against India, winning on both occasions.

Roman Jebavy could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend after being nominated for the first time.


Portugal v Germany – Oeiras, Lisbon, POR – clay (outdoors)

Head-to-head: Germany leads 1-0

A 2nd meeting for the 2 nations, but their first in 90 years. Germany won on that occasion – a 1927 Europe second round tie in Lisbon.

PORTUGAL v GERMANY

21 Current DC Nations Ranking 13 World Group play-

offs 1994, 2017 Best Result Champions 1988-89, 93




PORTUGAL is bidding to reach the World Group for the first time.

Portugal is contesting the World Group play-offs for the 2nd time. It also appeared at this stage in 1994, falling to Croatia 4-0 in Oporto.

Portugal advanced to the World Group play-offs after winning home ties against Israel 5-0 in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I first round in February and Ukraine 4-1 in the second round in April.

Portugal has won 6 of its last 7 ties, stretching back to March 2015. Its only defeat in that time came against Austria in the 2016 Europe/Africa Zone Group I first round.

Portugal is bidding to win 4 consecutive ties for the first time since 2009-11, when it won 5 straight ties and recorded an unbeaten year in 2010 to gain promotion from Europe/Africa Zone Group II.

Portugal is contesting its 8th consecutive home tie this weekend. It has not played away from home since falling to Russia in the 2014 Europe/Africa Zone Group I relegation play-off in Moscow.

Joao Sousa is bidding to record his 20th Davis Cup singles victory this weekend. He would become just the 3rd Portuguese man after Joao Cunha-Silva (25) and Nuno Marques (21) to reach 20 singles match-wins in the competition. He has a 19-9 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and a 26-15 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Pedro Sousa could contest his first live Davis Cup rubber since 2013 this weekend – since defeating Dovydas Sakinis in the 2nd rubber of Portugal’s 2013 Europe/Africa Zone Group II second round victory against Lithuania he has only played in dead rubbers. He has an 8-2 overall win-loss record in the competition.

Gasto Elias has won 4 of his last 5 Davis Cup singles rubbers – a run going back to July 2015. His only loss in that time came against Austria’s Dominic Thiem in the 2016 Europe/Africa Zone Group I first round. Elias has a 6-8 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and a 13-17 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Joao Domingues could contest his first live Davis Cup rubber this weekend. His only 2 previous Davis Cup appearances for Portugal are winning dead rubbers – against Morocco’s Mehdi Jdi in the 2015 Europe/Africa Zone Group II first round and Slovenia’s Tom Kocevar-Desman in the 2016 Europe/Africa Zone Group I relegation play-off.

GERMANY is bidding to maintain its World Group status and avoid dropping into Europe/Africa Zone Group I for the first time since 2005.

Germany has contested the World Group play-offs in 5 of the last 6 years (including 2017) – in 2012 (d. Australia), 2013 (d. Brazil), 2015 (d. Dominican Republic) and 2016 (d. Poland).


Germany dropped into the World Group play-offs after falling to Belgium 4-1 in Frankfurt in February.

Germany has been absent from the World Group on just 3 occasions (1983, 2004-05).

Germany has won 3 Davis Cup titles, the most recent in 1993. It also won the title in 1988-89, one of only 7 successful defences of the Davis Cup since the World Group began in 1981.

Germany goes into this weekend’s tie ranked No. 13 on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking – 8 places below its best ranking of No. 5, which it first achieved in December 2007.

Jan-Lennard Struff has won 3 of his 4 Davis Cup rubbers, with his only loss coming against Gilles Simon in Germany’s defeat to France in the 2015 World Group first round.

Cedrik-Marcel Stebe could make his first Davis Cup appearance since 2012 this weekend after being nominated for just the 3rd time. He won a decisive 5th rubber on his most recent appearance in the competiton, defeating Lleyton Hewitt in Germany’s 3-2 victory against Australia in the 2012 World Group play-offs. He has a 2-1 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Yannick Hanfmann and Tim Puetz could make their Davis Cup debuts this weekend, both having been nominated for the first time.


Japan v Brazil – Osaka, JPN – hard (outdoors)

Head-to-head: first meeting

JAPAN v BRAZIL

14 Current DC Nations Ranking 19

Runner-up 1921 Best Result World Group SF 1992,

2000 1921 First Year Played 1932 83 Years Played 69 7 Years in World Group 13



JAPAN is bidding to avoid dropping into Asia/Oceania Zone Group I for the first time since 2013.

Japan has competed in the World Group play-offs in 6 of the last 7 years (including 2017) – in 2011 (d. India), 2012 (l. Israel), 2013 (d. Colombia), 2015 (d. Colombia) and 2016 (d. Ukraine).

Japan made just its 7th appearance in the World Group this year but fell to France 4-1 in the first round in Tokyo. Its best World Group performance is reaching the quarterfinals in 2014, losing to Czech Republic.

Last year, Japan fell to Great Britain 3-1 in the World Group first round in Glasgow. It retained its place in the World Group after defeating Ukraine 5-0 in the World Group play-offs in Osaka.

Japan is playing at home for the 12th time in its last 15 Davis Cup ties. It contested 9 consecutive home ties from July 2011 through to April 2014.

Japan goes into this weekend’s tie ranked No. 14 on the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking – just 2 places lower than its highest-ever ranking of No. 12, which it reached for the first time in September 2013.

Yuichi Sugita could play his first Davis Cup singles rubber since defeating Christopher Rungkat in a dead 4th rubber in Japan’s 2013 Asia/Oceania Zone Group I first round victory against Indonesia. He has not played a live singles rubber since 2011, when he defeated Somdev Devvarman in Japan’s World Group play-off victory against India. He has a 5-4 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and a 6-9 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Go Soeda is bidding to climb the list for most Davis Cup match-wins by a Japanese player this weekend in his first Davis Cup appearance since Japan’s 2015 World Group first round defeat to Canada. He could join Takeichi Harada in 4th place on the list if he wins 2 rubbers, or equal Tsuyoshi Fukui and Koji Watanabe in joint-2nd place if he wins 3 rubbers.

Most Davis Cup match-wins by a Japanese player

1. Takao Suzuki 41-23

2= Tsuyoshi Fukui Koji Watanabe

28-14 28-16

4. Takeichi Harada 27-12

5. Go Soeda 25-12

Yasutaka Uchiyama has never played a live singles rubber for Japan. He has a 2-1 win-loss record in the 3 dead singles rubbers he has contested and a 2-6 win-loss record in doubles.

Ben McLachlan could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend after being nominated for the first time.

BRAZIL is bidding to return to the World Group after a 2-year spell in Americas Zone Group I.

Brazil advanced to the World Group play-offs after defeating Ecuador 5-0 in Ambato in the Americas Zone Group I second round, after receiving a bye in the first round.


Brazil has contested the World Group play-offs every year since 2006. It has won just 2 World Group play-off ties in that time – in 2012 (d. Russia) and 2014 (d. Spain).

Last year, Brazil defeated Ecuador in the Americas Zone Group I second round but fell to Belgium in the World Group play-offs.

Brazil’s best Davis Cup performance is reaching the World Group semifinals on 2 occasions – in 1992 (l. Switzerland and 2000 (l. Australia).

Brazil is ranked No. 19 on the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. Its highest-ever ranking is No. 6, in the first ranking list to be released in December 2001.

Thiago Monteiro is making just his 3rd appearance for Brazil this weekend, having made his Davis Cup debut in the World Group play-off against Belgium last year. He lost to David Goffin in the first rubber of that tie, but won both of his rubbers in his only other appearance – defeating Roberto Quiroz and Gonzalo Escobar in Brazil’s victory against Ecuador this year.

Guilherme Clezar is making 2nd appearance for Brazil this weekend – and his first since 2014, when he fell to Emilio Gomez in Brazil’s Americas Zone Group I second round victory against Ecuador, the only Davis Cup rubber he has contested to date.

Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares have an 11-3 win-loss record as a pair in Davis Cup doubles rubbers. Their only losses came in Brazil’s 2010 World Group play-off defeat to India (l. Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes), 2015 World Group play-off defeat to Croatia (l. Ivan Dodig/Franko Skugor) and 2016 World Group play-off defeat to Belgium (l. Ruben Bemelmans/Joris De Loore).


Hungary v Russia – Budapest, HUN – clay (outdoors)

Head-to-head: Russia leads 6-0 A 7th meeting for the 2 nations – but their first in over 20 years. Russia has never lost to Hungary and comfortably won the nations’ most recent encounter, a 4-1 World Group first round victory in Moscow in 1996.

HUNGARY v RUSSIA

26 Current DC Nations Ranking 15 World Group 1R

1994, 96 Best Result Champion 2002, 2006




HUNGARY is bidding to reach the World Group for the first time since 1996.

Hungary advanced to the World Group play-offs after defeating Slovakia 3-1 in Bratislava in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I second round in February (having received a bye through the first round).

Hungary has won 8 of its last 9 ties – it won successive promotions in 2014-15, rising from Europe/Africa Zone Group III to Zone Group I by 2016. Its only loss since 2014 came against Slovakia in the 2016 Europe/Africa Zone Group I second round.

Hungary’s best Davis Cup performances are reaching the World Group on 2 occasions. It fell in the first round on both of its World Group appearances – to France in 1994 and to Czech Republic in 1996.

Hungary is ranked No. 26 on the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking – 2 places lower than its highest-ever ranking of No. 24, which it reached in February this year.

Marton Fucsovics has lost just one of his last 13 Davis Cup singles rubbers. His only singles defeat in the competition since 2014 was against Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik in Hungary’s Europe/Africa Zone Group I second round defeat in 2016. He has a 16-6 win-loss record in singles and a 21-12 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Attila Balazs is making his second appearance for Hungary this year, having previously not appeared in Davis Cup action since 2013. He lost his singles rubber in Hungary’s victory against Slovakia in February this year, but won the doubles rubber alongside Fucsovics. He has a 10-6 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and a 14-8 win-loss record overall.

Gabor Borsos could win his first live rubber in the competition this weekend. He has played just one live rubber for Hungary, falling to Radu Albot in the opening rubber of Hungary’s 2015 Europe/Africa Zone Group II first round victory against Moldova. He has also won one of the 3 dead rubbers he has played.

2017 Australian Open boys’ singles champion Zsombor Piros could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend, having been nominated for the first time.

RUSSIA is bidding to avoid an immediate return to Europe/Africa Zone Group I and guarantee 2 consecutive years in the World Group for the first time since its 20-year spell in the World Group came to an end in 2012.

Russia is bidding to win its first away tie since 2009, when it defeated Romania 4-1 in the World Group first round in Siblu. The team has lost all 6 away ties it has contested since then – to Israel in 2009, Sweden in 2011, Austria and Brazil in 2012, Great Britain in 2013 and Serbia in 2017.

Russia fell to Serbia 4-1 in Nis on its first appearance in the World Group since 2012 earlier this year. It had previously spent 4 years in Europe/Africa Zone Group I.


Last year, Russia defeated Sweden 5-0 and Netherlands 4-1 in Europe/Africa Zone Group I, before ensuring its return to the top tier of the competition by defeating Kazakhstan 3-1 in the World Group play-offs in Moscow.

Russia is a 2-time Davis Cup champion. It won its 2nd Davis Cup title in 2006, defeating Argentina 3-2 in the final when Marat Safin won the deciding 5th rubber. Russia won its 1st title in 2002, when it defeated France 3-2 in the final after trailing 2-1 with Youzhny coming back from two sets down to defeat Paul-Henri Mathieu in the deciding 5th rubber – the only time that a player has done so in a deciding rubber of a Davis Cup Final.

Russia is one of 8 nations to have held the No. 1 ranking, alongside Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain and Spain. The Davis Cup Nations Ranking was introduced in 2001 and is updated after each round. Russia is currently ranked No. 15.

Karen Khachanov is bidding to record his first Davis Cup match-win since defeating Dean O’Brien in Russia’s 5-0 Europe/Africa Zone Group I second round victory against South Africa on his Davis Cup debut in 2013. He has lost all 4 rubbers he has contested (in singles and doubles) since then.

2017 US Open quarterfinalist Andrey Rublev is making his 7th Davis Cup appearance for Russia this weekend. His highlight in the competition came in Russia’s 2015 Europe/Africa Zone Group I second round victory against Spain, where the team came from 0-2 down to win 3-2 with Rublev defeating Pablo Andujar in straight sets in the decisive 5th rubber. He has a 4-2 win-loss record in singles and an 8-2 overall win-loss record.

Daniil Medvedev has been nominated for the 2nd time, having made his debut in the defeat to Serbia earlier this year. He retired due to injury while trailing Novak Djokovic in the 4th set of the 2nd rubber.

Konstantin Kravchuk has won 3 of his last 4 Davis Cup doubles rubbers. His only defeat in that time came against Serbia this year, where he and Andrey Kuznetsov fell to Viktor Troicki/Nenad Zimonjic in 4 sets.


Canada v India – Edmonton, CAN – hard (indoors) Head-to-head: first meeting

CANADA v INDIA

16 Current DC Nations Ranking 18 Semifinalist 1913,

2013 Best Result Runner-up 1966, 74, 87




CANADA is bidding to extend its 6-year spell in the World Group.

Canada dropped into the World Group play-offs after falling to Great Britain 3-2 in Ottawa in February.

Last year, Canada lost 5-0 to France in the World Group first round in Guadeloupe before defeating Chile 5-0 in the World Group play-offs in Halifax.

Canada has won 6 of its last 7 home ties, with its only defeat in that time coming in its most recent tie, against Great Britain this year. Prior to that, Canada had not lost a home tie since falling to France in the 2012 World Group first round.

Canada’s best Davis Cup performance is reaching its first World Group semifinal in 2013, defeating five-time champions Spain 3-2 in the first round in Vancouver for its first ever World Group win, and Italy 3-1 in the quarterfinals in Vancouver. It then lost to Serbia 3-2 in the semifinals in Belgrade.

Canada goes into this weekend’s tie at No. 16 in the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. It reached its highest-ever ranking of No. 6 in February 2014.

Daniel Nestor is the most successful player in Canadian Davis Cup history in terms of total wins (47), doubles wins (32), ties played (50) and years played (24).

Denis Shapovalov is bidding to win his first live rubber this weekend. He lost both of his rubbers in Canada’s defeat to Great Britain earlier this year – he fell to Daniel Evans in the 1st rubber before being defaulted against Kyle Edmund in the decisive 5th rubber. He won a dead rubber on his Davis Cup debut in the World Group play-off victory against Chile last year.

Vasek Pospisil has won 4 of his last 5 Davis Cup singles rubbers. His only defeat in that time came against Gilles Simon in Canada’s 2016 World Group first round defeat to France. He has a 9-9 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles and a 16-14 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Brayden Schnur could make his Davis Cup debut this weekend, having been nominated for the first time.

INDIA is bidding to return to the World Group for the first time since 2011.

India advanced to the World Group play-offs after winning home ties against New Zealand 4-1 and Uzbekistan 4-1 in the first 2 rounds of Asia/Oceania Zone Group I this year.

India is contesting the World Group play-offs for the 4th straight year. It has lost all 3 of its most recent appearances in the play-offs – to Serbia in 2014, Czech Republic in 2015 and Spain in 2016.

India is contesting its first away tie since July 2015, when it defeated New Zealand 3-2 in Christchurch in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I second round. The team has played 5 consecutive home ties since then.


India’s best Davis Cup performances are reaching the Final on 3 occasions – in 1966 (l. Australia), 1974 (l. South Africa) and 1987 (l. Sweden). Along with Romania, India holds the record for most appearances in the Davis Cup Final by a nation that has never won the title.

India is currently ranked at No. 18 on the Davis Cup Nations’ Ranking. Its highest-ever ranking is No. 11, which it reached for the first time in September 2009.

Ramkumar Ramanathan is bidding to extend his 4-match unbeaten run in Davis Cup singles rubbers. He has won all 4 singles rubbers he has contested this year, with his last defeats coming to Feliciano Lopez and David Ferrer in India’s World Group play-off defeat to Spain last year. He has a 5-3 singles win-loss record in the competition and has never contested a Davis Cup doubles rubber.

Yuki Bhambri is contesting his 2nd tie of the year, having been absent for India’s 2016 Davis Cup season. He won both of his rubbers in the 4-1 victory against New Zealand earlier this year. He has a 12-5 singles win-loss record in the competition and has never contested a Davis Cup doubles rubber.

Saketh Myneni could win his 2nd live singles rubber. His only previous victory in a live singles rubber came against Lim Yong-Kyu in India’s 3-1 Asia/Oceania Zone Group I second round victory against Korea, Republic last year. He has a 4-3 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Rohan Bopanna is contesting his 25th Davis Cup tie this weekend, becoming just the 8th Indian man to reach 25 ties. He has an 8-6 win-loss record in Davis Cup doubles and an 18-23 win-loss record in the competition overall.

2017 davis cup by bnp paribas - world group ... - Tennis Canada

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