Even though the US Open is finished, the tennis season is far from over. For starters, the Davis Cup semifinals are beginning this weekend and will feature Britain against Australia and Belgium against Argentina.
Great Britain vs. Australia will take place in the Emirates Arena in Glasgow. The home team will feature Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund, Jamie Murray, and Dominic Inglot. Australia will bring Bernard Tomic, Sam Groth, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Lleyton Hewitt. For Murray, this is seen as a golden opportunity to add Davis Cup to his outstanding career resume. From being in zone group II all the way back in 2010, Great Britain may be poised to win their first Davis Cup since 1936; they are likely the favorites as no other team boasts any big names. Australia hasn’t won a Davis Cup title since 2003, and since Lleyton Hewitt is going to retire in Australia next year, this is his last big chance to grab that trophy once more. Although with Andy Murray backing the British team, it is hard to see anything other than a victory for them.
Belgium will square off against Argentina in the Forest National in Brussels, Belgium. The Belgian team consists of David Goffin, Steve Darcis, Ruben Bemmlemans, and Kimmer Copplejans. The Argentinean team has Leonardo Mayer, Federico Delbonis, Diego Schwartzman, and Carlos Berlocq. Argentina has displayed remarkable Davis Cup consistency over the last decade, reaching 10 semifinals here since 2000, although they have never held high the big trophy during that period, either. Without the help of Juan Martin del Potro, they might have trouble grasping a victory here. Carlos Berlocq seems to bring out his best in Davis Cup and is known for his infamous shirt rips after notable rubber victories. Belgium is not a mainstay in the latter stages of the Davis Cup events, their last semifinal being in 1999. They were able to beat Switzerland and Canada en route to this event but those teams did not boast their best players. Belgium, on the other hand, is hosting their best player in David Goffin who is playing some of the best tennis of his career and hosted a career high ranking of #14 in July. He might be just what Belgium needs to book their spot in in November’s final.
The World Group play-offs will feature interesting names as well. Switzerland vs. Netherlands will take place in Palexpo in Geneva. Unlike in their World Group tie, both Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka will be present, making them a dangerous force. Jack Sock and Steve Johnson also headline WG Play-off action against Uzbekistan. Kei Nishikori will return to action after his stunning loss at the US Open to Benoit Paire as Japan takes on Columbia. Other WG Playoff ties include Poland vs. Slovakia, the Czech Republic vs. India, Italy vs. Russia, Germany vs. Dominican Republic, and Croatia vs. Brazil.
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