Davis Cup: Round 1 Results and Recap

The opening round of the 2012 Davis Cup World Group Playoff commenced this past weekend.

It marks the beginning of a yearly tennis tradition in which individuality holds no bearing.   

Unity and spirit are the values that shine through in the Davis Cup.  No one player can bring his team to victory, nor can one player be responsible for defeat.

A true team effort vibrantly exists in Davis Cup play: the semblance and formation of 16 teams all hoping to carry their nation's flag above the others.

With that being said, let's take a look at which nations are still in the hunt to crown themselves as 2012 Davis Cup champions following the opening weekend.

Spain def. Kazakhstan 5-0

On the Red Indoor Clay in Oveido, Spain, the reigning champs left off from 2011 sweeping Kazakhstan 5-0.

I'll note that this was not the usual Spain team we are used to seeing in Davis Cup action.  Instead of Ferrer and Nadal manning the singles action, play was split between Ferrero, Almagro and Granollers.  

Results 

Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-1 4-6 7-6(2) 4-6 6-4: Rubber 1

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) def. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 6-3 4-6 6-1 6-1: Rubber 2

Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez (ESP) def. Evgeny Korolev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) 6-2 6-3 6-1: Rubber 3

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) def. Evgeny Korolev (KAZ) 6-3 6-4: Singles - Rubber 4

Marcel Granollers (ESP) def. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 6-3 6-7(2) 6-3: Rubber 5

Austria def. Russia 3-2

Austria made monumental strides in Wiener Neustadt, Austria this weekend, overcoming Russian resistance to claim their tie 3-2.

This marks the first time since 1995 that the Austrian squad has progressed past the opening round of the World Group.

Jurgen Melzer secured the tie in the fourth rubber after defeating recently converted Russian Alex Bogomolov in straight sets. 

Results

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-2 6-7(3) 6-4 3-6 6-1: Rubber 1

Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) def. Alex Bogomolov Jr (RUS) 6-1 6-4 6-7(1) 6-2: Rubber 2

Nikolay Davydenko/Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Oliver Marach/Alexander Peya (AUT) 7-6(1) 6-7(7) 7-5 3-6 6-4: Rubber 3

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Alex Bogomolov Jr (RUS) 6-2 6-4 6-1: Rubber 4

Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) def. Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) 6-4 4-6 7-6(4): Rubber 5

France def. Canada 4-1

The formidable French squad backed by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga took out a debilitated Canadian team who went without Milos Raonic on the final day due to a knee injury, forcing Frank Dancevic to step in and face Tsonga to keep Canadian hopes alive.

Unfortunately for the Vancouver crowd, Tsonga took care of business defeating Dancevic and eliminating Canada from this year's World Group.  

Results

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-1 6-3 6-3: Rubber 1

Milos Raonic (CAN) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-2 6-4 7-5: Rubber 2

Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) def. Daniel Nestor/Milos Raonic (CAN) 7-6(1) 7-6(2) 6-3: Rubber 3

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Frank Dancevic 6-4 6-4 6-1: Rubber 4

Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-4 6-4: Rubber 5

United States def. Switzerland 5-0

In what was undoubtedly the biggest shocker of the weekend, the United States swept Roger Federer and Switzerland behind marvelous play from John Isner and Mardy Fish in Fribourg, Switzerland.

Historically weaker on clay, the Americans overcame their demons and took it to the gut of Federer and Wawrinka to secure their spot in the Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinals. 

Results

Mardy Fish (USA) def. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-2 4-6 4-6 6-1 9-7: Rubber 1

John Isner (USA) def. Roger Federer (SUI) 4-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2: Rubber 2

Mike Bryan/Mardy Fish (USA) def. Roger Federer/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3: Rubber 3

Ryan Harrison (USA) def. Michael Lammer (SUI) 7-6(0) 7-6(4): Rubber 4

John Isner (USA) def. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 6-3 6-4: Rubber 5

Czech Republic def. Italy 4-1

In probably the least talked about and least surprising result of the weekend, the Czech squad led by Berdych and Stepanek defeated the Italians 4-1 in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

After breaking past Seppi in five sets in the opening rubber, it was smooth traveling for the highly regarded Czechs. 

Results

Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 4-6 6-4 6-3 3-6 6-3: Rubber 1

Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-3 4-6 7-5 6-2: Rubber 2

Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Daniele Bracciali/Potito Starace (ITA) 6-3 6-4 6-2: Rubber 3

Lukas Rosol (CZE) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 4-6 6-3 6-4: Rubber 4

Simone Bolelli (ITA) def. Frantisek Cermak (CZE) 6-4 6-4: Rubber 5

Serbia def. Sweden 4-1

The 2010 champions progressed to the quarterfinals unscathed as they took out Sweden 4-1 in Nis, Serbia.   

Janko Tipsarevic closed the deal, defeating Michael Ryderstedt in four sets to capture his second singles victory of the weekend and the tie for the Serbs.

Results

Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Filip Prpic (SWE) 6-3 6-3 6-4: Rubber 1

Viktor Troicki (SRB) def. Michael Ryderstedt (SWE) 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-3: Rubber 2

Johan Brunstrom/Robert Lindstedt (SWE) def. Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) 3-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-7(3) 10-8: Rubber 3

Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Michael Ryderstedt (SWE) 6-2 7-6(5) 7-5: Rubber 4

Dusan Lajovic (SRB) def. Filip Prpic (SWE) 6-4 6-4: Rubber 5

Croatia def. Japan 3-2

Ivo Karlovic was the man of the weekend.  Winning all three of his rubbers, Karlovic propelled Croatia into the quarterfinals after taking Go Soeda in three convincing sets in Hyogo, Japan.

This tie really seemed to turn in the favor of the Croats when Karlovic pulled off what can be considered a mild upset over the surging Kei Nishikori.

Results

Go Soeda (JPN) def. Ivan Dodig (CRO) 6-7(3) 3-6 6-4 6-3 7-5: Rubber 1

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) def. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 6-4 6-4 6-3: Rubber 2

Ivo Karlovic/Lovro Zovko (CRO) def. Tatsuma Ito/Yuichi Sugita (JPN) 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-3: Rubber 3

Kei Nishikori (JPN) def. Ivan Dodig (CRO) 7-5 7-6(4) 6-3: Rubber 4

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) def. Go Soeda (JPN) 7-6(4) 6-1 6-4: Rubber 5

Argentina def. Germany 4-1

In what appeared to be a relatively even matchup on paper, Argentina handled Germany in Bamberg, Germany 4-1 on the shoulders of David Nalbandian, who recorded victories in both singles and doubles.   

The doubles team of Schwank-Nalbandian secured the tie with a five-set win over Haas-Petzschner.  

Results

Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 6-3 6-3 6-3: Rubber 1

David Nalbandian (ARG) def. Florian Mayer (GER) 2-6 6-1 6-0 7-6(5): Rubber 2

David Nalbandian/Eduardo Schwank (ARG) def. Tommy Haas/Philipp Petzschner (GER) 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4: Rubber 3

Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) def. Florian Mayer (GER) 7-5 7-5: Rubber 4

Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (GER) def. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 7-6(1) 7-5: Rubber 5