Davis Cup Tennis 2016: Quarter-Finals Dates, Schedule, Live Stream & Prediction
The quarter-finals of the 2016 Davis Cup will begin on Friday with champions Great Britain taking on Serbia.
Whichever team progresses will play the winners of Italy's quarter-final with Argentina. On the other side of the draw, France will go head-to-head with the Czech Republic while the USA face Croatia.
Read on for a closer look at some of the intriguing ties to come as the teams battle it out for a place in the final four, but first here is the schedule and viewing details for each, complete with predictions:
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| July 15-17 | Great Britain vs. Serbia | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | 2 p.m. BST/9 a.m. ET | GB win |
| July 15-17 | Italy vs. Argentina | 11:30 a.m. BST/6:30 a.m. ET | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | 11:30 a.m. BST/6:30 a.m. ET | Arg win |
| July 15-17 | France vs. Czech Republic | 1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET | 11 a.m. BST/6 a.m. ET | 12 p.m. BST/7 a.m. ET | Cze win |
| July 15-17 | USA vs. Croatia | 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. BST/5 p.m. ET | 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET | USA win |
The action can be streamed live via BBC iPlayer and Eurosport Player in the UK and via Tennis Channel Everywhere in the USA.
Great Britain vs. Serbia
Per BBC Sport's Russell Fuller, neither Andy Murray nor Novak Djokovic will be taking part in the tie following their Wimbledon exertions.
The match will be the Scot's first absence from a Davis Cup match in over three years, though he may well be there in a supportive role.
Per Fuller, British captain Leon Smith hopes as much:
"Quite rightly he has to look after his body and his mind. He's got his eyes set on getting some rest and really making a big push for the Olympics, U.S. Open and beyond.
We would love him to come out and support. We are a really, really close unit.
I fully understand if he doesn't end up coming, but if he does it just gives everyone a boost to see your number one player, role model and current Wimbledon champion sitting there.
We've seen him before—in Glasgow last March [for the tie against the US]—going bananas at the side of the court.
"
James Ward and Kyle Edmund will replace Murray and the injured Dan Evans. Eleanor Crooks of the Press Association gave further updates on the two sides:
Edmund took part in last year's final, succumbing to an epic comeback from David Goffin in the opening rubber to lose in five sets, while his final rubber with Ruben Bemelmans wasn't necessary.
There isn't a player of Goffin's ability in Serbia's lineup and none outrank Edmund, so he may well fare better this time around.
In Andy's absence, Jamie Murray will be arguably the most senior player in Great Britain's side. He and Dominic Inglot will need to lend their experience to the others as best they can and make sure they win their doubles tie.
If they can, the holders can squeeze through.
France vs. Czech Republic
France should have the edge in this tie—they do in personnel at the very least.
Per Hannah Wilks of Live Tennis, Czech star Tomas Berdych, who made the semi-finals at Wimbledon this year, will not be featuring for his side.
Meanwhile, France not only boast Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Lucas Pouille among their ranks—both of whom are in strong form after reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon—but also the reigning doubles champions from the All England Club in Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert:
Tennis writer Ricky Dimon is an admirer of the pair's efforts:
Radek Stepanek and Jiri Vesely provide the Czech Republic have experience and quality of their own, but they look outmatched in both singles and doubles thanks to France's strength in depth.
Indeed, it could well be a fairly comfortable victory for Yannick Noah's side.
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