The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis_Cup Davis Cup 2013 edition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Davis_Cup
Fantastic watching the USA -v- Croatia Davis Cup 2016 QF today. In the first match, America's Jack Sock came back from two sets down to beat the Croat Marin Cilic, then Isner took out Borna Coric. USA has a 2-0 lead in the "tie," and the Bryan brothers can finish this tomorrow: http://www.daviscup.com/ To briefly explain the promotion-relegation aspect of this, the top 16 countries are in the World Group, and play off for the Cup. The eight first-round losers are joined by eight qualifiers from the regions: Americas (2), Europe-Africa (4), Asia-Oceania (2). The eight winners of these World Group Playoffs are in the top 16 the next year. (These three regions ["Zones"] each have four divisions ["Groups"], and there is pro-rel between each division.) The World Group QF's: Great Britain -v- Serbia Italy -v- Argentina France -v- Czech Republic USA -v- Croatia Also in the running for 2017: Japan, World Group Playoff (i.e. first-round loser) Kazakhstan, World Group Playoff Switzerland, World Group Playoff Poland, World Group Playoff Canada, World Group Playoff Germany, World Group Playoff Australia, World Group Playoff Belgium, World Group Playoff Brazil, Americas-1 Chile, Americas-1 Colombia, Americas-1 Ecuador, Americas-1 China, P.R., Asia-Oceania-1 India, Asia-Oceania-1 Korea, Republic, Asia-Oceania-1 Uzbekistan, Asia-Oceania-1 Austria, Europe-Africa-1 Hungary, Europe-Africa-1 Netherlands, Europe-Africa-1 Romania, Europe-Africa-1 Russia, Europe-Africa-1 Slovakia, Europe-Africa-1 Spain, Europe-Africa-1 Ukraine, Europe-Africa-1 Already eliminated from 2017. (Not wanting to over-complex the pro-rel piece, but depending on the current round of Group 1 results, they may have another playoff round to see who gets relegated to Group 2.): Barbados, Americas-1 Dominican Republic, Americas-1 New Zealand, Asia-Oceania-1 Pakistan, Asia-Oceania-1 Israel, Europe-Africa-1 Portugal, Europe-Africa-1 Slovenia, Europe-Africa-1 Sweden, Europe-Africa-1 Women play in the Fed Cup. Main difference in the format is that the World Group is sub-divided into World Group and World Group 2, with eight teams each. The 2016 Final will be France hosting Czech Republic, while the 2017 tournament has ( http://www.fedcup.com/ ): Czech Republic -v- Spain Germany -v- USA Belarus -v- Netherlands Switzerland -v- France
Wow. Did I just jinx the USA with my post on Friday? The "tie" is now at 2-2. The Bryan's lost the doubles, and Cilic took a straight sets (ut was rather grueling, because Isner was nearly flawless on his serve in the first set, which went to a marathon tie-break). The World Group semifinals would be: Great Britain -v- Argentina France -v- [USA -v- Croatia] The second eight countries participating in the World Group Playoffs (i.e. promotion playoffs) are known, joining the eight first-round World Group losers (so in effect, the 2017 tournament is down to its last 24): Americas-1, Brazil -def- Ecuador Americas-1, Chile -def- Colombia Asia-Oceania-1, India -def- Korea Republic Asia-Oceania-1, Uzbekistan -def- China, P.R. Europe-Africa-1, Spain -def- Romania Europe-Africa-1, Ukraine -def- Austria Europe-Africa-1, Russia -def- Netherlands Europe-Africa-1, Slovakia -def- Hungary
Argentina was better at the end. Usual factor, some Croatian sports figures don't have that winning mentality in their minds. So they lose even those events, where they have excellent result. If Cilic losses 2-3 after having 2-0, this is an obvious signal, that he has issues in approach, concentration. Del Potro was completely present, I had the feeling that this event was in Buenos Aires, not in Zagreb. Argentine fans dominated. The last match was completely with expected result. Karlovic can't make more than 3,4 rallies. He depends on his 1st Service. If not, he losses. Obviously, he also crashed mentally. He was in the locker room during the match between Cilic - Del Potro, imagine what happens in his mind, after you see how 2-0 advantage melts down. Croatian coach picked Karlovic, just because of his ranking nothing else. Anyone else would be much better than Karlovic. So much about his nickname: Karlo The Great.
I was watching Davis Cup this weekend. Easy win for the USA. The Canada-Great Britain match ended up in a hellish way. Tied 2-2 in matches, GBR up two sets in the fifth deciding match, the Brit just broke the Canadian (Denis Shapovalov) to go up 3-1 in the third set. The Shapovalov whipped the ball that was in his hand (at full speed) toward the crowd, and it accidently hit the chair umpire, injuring his eye. (At this point, it doesn't look like a major injury, but the announcers were wondering about the umpire's eyesight.) No other choice but to default the match, and the "tie," to Britain. No doubt the young Canuck will get some disciplinary hearing.
with me being a soccer referee, how can you be absolutely sure that he was directing that ball at the crowd??? and did he not think that he could have just as easily had injured a spectator instead? http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/...ing-ball-in-umpires-face-20170205-gu65au.html