Davis Cup 2014: Dates, Schedule and Preview for World Group Semifinals
After the completion of the U.S. Open and subsequent end of the strive for individual success, attentions turn to tennis’s blue-ribbon team sport event, the Davis Cup. The 2014 edition is in its semifinal stage, and a quick glance at the last four teams involved points to some enticing matchups as nations battle it out for a coveted final spot.
And although Novak Djokovic broke the heart of Indian supporters by pulling out of Serbia’s playoff match in Bangalore, the semifinals are bristling with stellar names who’ll be looking to finish their season on a high note by snagging the title.
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Here’s a look at the matches to be played over the weekend and a glance at how each of the teams involved are likely to fare in what promises to be a pair of engrossing semifinal clashes.
| Switzerland | vs. | Italy |
| Roger Federer | Fabio Fognini | |
| Stanislas Wawrinka | Andreas Seppi | |
| Marco Chiudinelli | Paolo Lorenzi | |
| Michael Lammer | Simone Bolelli | |
| France | vs. | Czech Republic |
| Jo-Wilfried Tsonga | Tomas Berdych | |
| Richard Gasquet | Lukas Rosol | |
| Gael Monfils | Radek Stepanek | |
| Julien Benneteau | Jiri Vesely |
After seeing his dream of another major title snatched away by eventual U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic in the semifinals, Roger Federer will be hoping a Davis Cup triumph can put some gloss on what has been a frustrating season for the Swiss.
Having also missed out in the Wimbledon final, it’s been a case of being so close but so far for the 17-time Grand Slam winner throughout 2014. But if he can lead Switzerland to a final appearance here—in what’d be their first since 1992—then it’d represent quite the consolation prize.
Federer has insisted he’s excited about the prospect, as noted here by Swiss Tennis:
Federer will be aptly supported by Stanislas Wawrinka on Team Switzerland, and although they’ll be hosting the tie on hard courts in Geneva, the home side will be well aware of the threat posed by their Italian opposition, a team that is well balanced with intelligent players like Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi.
The Italians arrived in Geneva early to start their preparations, as noted here by the Davis Cup Twitter account:
The packed crowd and the talismanic pair of Federer and Wawrinka should be enough to inspire this Swiss team to victory. Not only do they have quality in both of the aforementioned pair, but in Michael Lammer and Marco Chiudinelli, there’s experience aplenty in the ranks, too. It's that kind of thing that could eventually prove vital in determining the winner of this one.
The second semifinal is set to be equally as thrilling, as a star-studded French foursome tackle the Czech Republic on the iconic Roland Garros clay.
The Czechs will travel to Paris with plenty of confidence, though, for the holders are bidding to make it a third successive win in this competition. And when you look at the depth within their squad, it’s little surprise that they’ve fared so well in the previous years.
Tomas Berdych is the team’s highest-ranked player, but there's also the canny Lukas Rosol and hugely experienced Radek Stepanek. In addition, they have 21-year-old Jiri Vesely rounding off the foursome, a player who is showing excellent potential and will learn plenty from these high-profile matches.
Berdych has been making a mess of the clay in Paris during his preparations:
But their run to the finals looks as though it could be in serious doubt when you examine this French team, which consists of four very capable players. The dynamic Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is France's man, but in Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Julien Benneteau, France have a foursome of players who are each capable of turning it on to stratospheric levels on any given day.
In front of an inspired home crowd and a surface that should favour the French quartet, this team will feel confident of making it to their first final in four years.
Much will depend on Tsonga, who will be expected to accrue maximum points, but it’s imperative that the French start well; Gasquet, Monfils and Benneteau are players who’ll subsequently thrive off of that positivity and confidence. If they allow the visitors to gain any kind of foothold, it'll be difficult to seize the momentum back against such quality opponents.
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