Tennis: 8 Davis Cup picks in Sweden, Germany, Adelaide & Calcutta
2019 Davis Cup
Switzerland vs. Russia
Danill Medvedev (RUS) over Henri Laaksonen (SUI)
With the new Davis Cup format unveiled for 2019, the matches for the Qualifiers First Round ties take place beginning Feb. 1. In this all-important first rubber between Medvedev and Laaksonen, played indoors in Sweden, I like Medvedev to take Laaksonen. Medvedev, although a youngster, is playing awfully well and had a good showing in Melbourne. Laaksonen won four matches in the Australian Open: three in the Qualies and one in the main draw, before bowing out to Alex De Minaur in five tough sets. But Medvedev plays a different game than De Minaur, relying more on first strike tennis, and if he’s on, he should roll.
Karen Khachanov (RUS) over Marc-Andrea Huesler (SUI)
With this tie coming directly after the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, it appears that Switzerland is sending their Junior Varsity out against Russia’s top players. Both Federer and Wawrinka have decided to rest this weekend rather than potentially each play two consecutive five-set matches in two days, and who can blame them? Unfortunately for the neutral nation, Russia’s best are just better than Switzerland’s understudies. Khachanov, although a bit of a disappointment in Melbourne, should stomp all over Huesler in the second rubber of the Singles.
Germany vs. Hungary
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) over Zsombor Piros (HUN)
Kohlschreiber is playing No. 1 for Germany simply because he is in his mid-thirties and has a ton of experience playing in the Davis Cup. But he is a very capable and dependable competitor and should take Piros on the indoor courts in Frankfurt. Piros is only 19-years-old, is ranked No. 363 in the world, and has all of four professional matches under his belt. Kohlschreiber is ranked No. 34 in the world, was seeded in the Australian Open, and has been playing five set matches since he turned pro eighteen years ago. If Piros takes a set I’d consider that a moral victory for the teenager.
Sasha Zverev (GER) over Peter Nagy (HUN)
You know you have a strong team when the No. 4 ranked player in the world is playing in your No. 2 position, but this is what the German team is putting forth in their Davis Cup Qualifying Round tie. Zverev also had a bit of a disappointing Australian Open losing in straight sets in the Round of 16 to Canadian Milos Raonic, but he is still one of the best and most talented players on the planet. Nagy has only six pro matches on his resume, and more than likely will be overwhelmed by not only the event, but by his opponent.
Tim Puetz / Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs. Gabor Borsos / Peter Nagy (HUN)
In the third rubber of the Germany-Hungary tie, the German doubles team looks far too experienced and talented for the Hungarian pair. Borsos is a 27-year-old of little distinction and little experience, while his partner Nagy, ranked at No. 502 in the world in doubles is the higher ranked doubles player. Germany’s Struff is an accomplished player, is 6’5” tall (which really matters in doubles) and is ranked No. 22 in the world as a doubles player. He should be able to carry Puetz, who has less experience, but is ranked No. 66 in the world in doubles, to a victory over the unknown Hungarians.
Slovakia vs. Canada
Denis Shapovalov (CAN) over Filip Horansky (SVK)
The talented Shapovalov is playing No. 1 for Canada while Milos Ranic, the top Canadian player rests after serving a storm in the Australian Open. Shapovalov is really fun to watch play because he’s got all the talent in the world, and he’s a lefty to boot, which almost always adds a new twist to matches. My only concern with Shapovalov is the five-set format, which can prove to sap young players of strength, especially in away matches, as this is -- being played in Bratislava, Slovakia on their indoor clay courts. But Horansky, who didn’t make it out of the first round of the the Qualies at the Aussie Open, doesn’t have the talent to stay with Shapovalov, the 19-year-old who was born in Israel, period.
Australia vs. Bosnia/Herzegovina
John Peers/Jordan Thompson (AUS) over Mirza Basic/Tomislav Brkic (BIH)
Although the Australian team has two excellent singles players in John Millman and Alex De Minaur who will play the first two singles rubbers, I think the real safe bet in this tie is the Aussie doubles team of John Peers and Jordan Thompson. This year there has been a lot of controversy over the players who would play singles as the Captain, Leyton Hewitt, has chosen to leave off the team two of the countries best players, Nick Kyrgios and Bernie Tomic. But free of that controversy is John Peers, who is one of the very best doubles players in the world having just reached the finals of the Australian Open. Peers should be able to partner Thompson, a capable doubles player, over the pair of 6’1” players from Bosnia/Herzegovina, who have little world recognition, but should battle in the world’s spotlight. It helps the Aussies that this tie is being played in Adelaide, as their fans are loud and boisterous and take the Davis Cup seriously.
India vs. Italy
Rohan Bopanna / Divij Sharan (IND) vs. Simone Bolelli / Marco Cecchinato (ITA)
Most of the Indian players are not well known, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t play tennis, especially doubles on grass. The Indians, who are hosting this tie, have chosen to play outdoors in Calcutta on grass courts, which is like kryptonite to the clay courters from Italy. Although Bolelli and Cecchinato are probably both better singles players than Bopanna and Sharan, that’s not gonna matter at all when their long, big strokes don’t catch up with the fast, sliding balls from the Indians. As an esoteric pick, I’d go with the Indians simply because the Italians will feel like fish out of water in this match.