WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 – The first round of the 2010 Davis Cup World Group couldn’t be more intriguing.
Archrivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer could go head to head as Spain was drawn to face Switzerland at home March 5-7.
The US received a very difficult draw, as it will have to travel to Novak Djokovic’s homeland to face off against Serbia. It’s the first time the two nations have met and while top American Andy Roddick has beaten Novak Djokovic in their last three meetings, none have been on clay, a surface Serbia may very well choose as it has proven to be the US’ Achilles Heel on a number of occasions. Serbia has two competent No. 2 players in Janko Tipsarevic and up and comer Victor Troicki, while US captain Patrick McEnroe might choose one of his younger guns, Sam Querrey or John Isner, ahead of the declining James Blake. The Bryan Brothers, who are former Roland Garros champs, will have the edge in doubles against whomever they face.
Spain, which just beat Israel at home in the semis and have the upcoming final at home against the Czechs, has received some very fortunate draws over the years. Captain Albert Costa has to be quite pleased that he will get a chance to pour out the red clay to potentially welcome Federer and Stan Wawrinka with his phalanx of excellent dirtballers. However, reigning Roland Garros champ Federer is stronger than anyone Spain can trot out outside of Nadal, and Wawrinka has had excellent success on the surface, too, so by any measure, should Federer compete – and he has yet to commit to the tie – it should be a bang up tie.
France, which is led by Jo Tsonga, will host Germany, which will surely play Philipp Kohlschreiber and maybe Tommy Haas. The Czech Republic will face Belgium, while India will have to travel to Russia, which will be without its spiritual leader, Marat Safin, who will be retired by then. Argentina and USO champ Juan Martin del Potro will head to Robin Soderling’s Sweden, while Israel will go to Chile, and Ecuador heads to Croatia.
U.S. Open champ Kim Clijsters welcomed her old rival Justine Henin back by saying, “Justine worked really hard in the past to achieve great results that she recorded in her first career. For tennis it is brilliant that she’s back.”
Former No. 1 Henin has confirmed her return to play in 2010, telling Belgian TV: “These 15 months have been enriching… and then there is a flame that rekindled. I thought it was extinguished forever.” She added that Clijsters success in winning the U.S. Open in the third tournament of her return “subconsciously it might have had an impact, but it certainly was not the most important reason.”
Notable winners in Metz were: Paul-Henri Mathieu, Kohlschreiber, Sebastien Grosjean and Michael Llodra. Alberto Montanes won in Romania, but Andrei Pavel fell in his final match in competition. He’ll retire and might start and academy in Arizona…Winners in Korea were Daniela Hantuchova, Kimiko Date Krumm (, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Anabel Medina and Magdalena Rybarikova.
