World Group First Rounds
GERMANY vs. FRANCE
Frankfurt, Germay
The new captain Michael Kohlmann chose Jan-Lennard Struff against the French Gilles Simon, Struff is playing better, but the veteran Simon is much more confident and will win in four sets. Philipp Kohlschreiber is a little bit sick, but the German will go out of the gates and knock out the tired Gael Monfils in five long sets.
GREAT BRITAIN vs. USA
Glasgow, England
Yes, the two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray will win at home, but the American Donald Young will play very aggressive and push him deep in four sets. Young won’t win, but he will threaten him big time.
The British James Ward stunned the USA last year when he took out Sam Querrey in California. This time, Ward has to go up against John Isner who has played extremely well at the Davis Cup and will nail his first serves, winning in straight sets.
CZECH REPUBLIC vs. AUSTRALIA
Ostrava, Czech
Tomas Berdych isn’t playing, but the Czech Lukas Rosol is much more consistent now and is about to reach the top-30. The 18-year-old Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis is talented, but there is tremendous pressure playing on the road and Rosol will kiss the lines to win in three sets.
However, the other Czech, Jiri Vesely, is vulnerable. The Aussie Bernard Tomic wants to be the man this weekend and will mix and match, winning in four sets.
KAZAKHSTAN vs. ITALY
Astana, Kazakhstan
The Italians have had a pretty good season, so the Kazakhstans could be in trouble early. However, Mikhail Kukushkin can find opportunities if he is smoking the ball. He will fire away for two sets, but the Italian Simone Bolelli will out stroke him and win in five sets.
Andrey Golubev must be thinking that Andreas Seppi played the best match of his career when he stunned Roger Federer at the Aussie Open. The Italian Seppi did on that day, but Golubev will play a fantastic match at home and beat Seppi in three sets.
ARGENTINA vs. BRAZIL
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Everyone here loves clay. It’s really about who is more consistent and who can run forever. Both the Argentines will win when Carlos Berlocq beats the Brazilian Joao Souza in straight sets, and Leonardo Mayer will out punch the other Brazilian, Thomaz Bellucci, in four sets.
SERBIA vs. CROATIA
Kraljevo, Serbia
Obviously, the No. 1 Novak Djokovic will crush the unknown Mate Delic of Croatia in three sets. But the other Serbian, Viktor Troicki, can become nervous. It will take him a long time, but Troicki will survive against the talented teenager Borna Coric in five grueling sets.
CANADA vs. JAPAN
Vancouver, Canada
The Canadian Milos Raonic loves playing at home and will destroy Tatsuma Ito of Japan in three sets. But the same goes for Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who loves to show off at Davis Cup, and he will be super aggressive and run past Vasek Pospisil in four sets.
BELGIUM vs. SWITZERLAND
Liege, Belgium
Look, none of the players are excellent competitors. However, the Belgium players are respectable. Without Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka playing, the Swiss are nowhere. Belgium’s Ruben Bemelmans will wipe Henri Laaksonen in three sets and Steve Darcis will waste over the Swiss Michael Lammer in a quick three sets.