Davis Cup Tennis 2017: Round 1 Dates, Schedule, Live Stream and Predictions
The first round of the Davis Cup World Group begins on Friday, with world No. 2 Novak Djokovic the biggest star set to feature over the weekend.
The 29-year-old is in the Serbia squad that will face Russia, but the opening round of this year's competition has been hit by the absence of many top players.
A host of big names will be missing, including Switzerland pair Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka and Spain's Rafael Nadal. Great Britain's match with Canada will also be played minus both countries' key men, Andy Murray and Milos Raonic, respectively.
Federico Delbonis was the hero last year, as he beat Croatia's Ivo Karlovic in a deciding rubber to win the title for Argentina 3-2. The defending champions, however, will have to make do without Juan Martin del Potro, who is sitting out the first seven weeks of the tennis season.
Here are the key dates for the opening round of Davis Cup fixtures, as well as a closer look at two of the ties and live-stream details.
| (1) Argentina | Italy | 3-2 |
| Germany | (7) Belgium | 2-3 |
| Australia | (4) Czech Republic | 3-2 |
| United States | (5) Switzerland | 4-1 |
| Japan | (6) France | 0-5 |
| Canada | (3) Great Britain | 1-4 |
| (8) Serbia | Russia | 5-0 |
| (2) Croatia | Spain | 3-2 |
Matches will be played between Feb. 3 and 5.
Canada vs. Great Britain can be watched via the BBC website (UK), with more live Davis Cup coverage via the Tennis Channel (U.S.).
Further broadcast details can be found at the tournament's website.
Canada vs. Great Britain
Great Britain coach Leon Smith opted to leave Andy Murray out of the squad so the player could prepare for a demanding season ahead.
Per Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian, Smith said:
"To be honest, the best thing for his body is probably not to play, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong—I'd love him to play. But, for his own good, it's better for him to rest up and train and get ready for this next period, because there won't be much time the rest of the year and this might be a really good time to do it.
"
The world No. 1's absence means a chance for the in-form Dan Evans and Kyle Edmund to step out of the shadows at the TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Canada.
Smith posted a photo of the preparations taking place ahead of the tie in Canada:
After a fine run to Round 4 of the Australian Open that saw him knock out Dominic Thiem and Bernard Tomic, Evans is the new British No. 2 and a career-high 45th in the world rankings. He is likely to relish the chance to head the Great Britain challenge.
With Raonic missing out due to an adductor muscle injury, Canada have no top-100 players to call upon. Despite home advantage, their singles players, Peter Polansky and Vasek Pospisil, look likely to be up against it.
Predicted winner: Great Britain
Australia vs. Czech Republic
Lleyton Hewitt's Australia side host the No. 4-seeded Czech Republic at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Kooyong, Australia, in this year's Davis Cup, and they could pull off a surprise victory.
Hewitt rallied fans to support their Davis Cup team:
Big things are always expected of Nick Kyrgios, and this weekend will be no exception, as he has been selected to lead the team. The world No. 15 lost in the second round of the opening major of the season and picked up a fine for swearing and racket abuse, per Nic White of Daily Mail Australia.
Kyrgios should be well backed up by doubles player John Peers.
Peers goes into the match in perfect shape, having won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last week after teaming up with Henri Kontinen, per Tennis.com.
The Czech Republic are without their talisman Tomas Berdych, the world No. 12, so much is likely to depend on Jiri Vesely and the experienced Radek Stepanek.
Predicted winner: Australia
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