IN November, the 2021 Davis Cup takes place across three cities in Europe as 18 teams aim to lift the ultimate international men’s team prize. Six groups of three sees the group winner automatically advancing to the knockout quarter finals, with the two next best nations also moving through. In the lead-up to the event, Rookie Me Central will be previewing each of the nations in reverse world ranking order.

KAZAKHSTAN

Rank: 12th

Captain: Yuriy Schukin

Despite being ranked 12th in the world, Kazakhstan finds itself fortunately the second ranked team in its group, with only Russia being ranked lower under the same criteria. The Central Asian nation does not have enough firepower to take down overall second seeds and last year’s runner-up Canada, but should defeat Sweden in what is a very winnable clash. Alexander Bublik is a player who can cause headaches on his day, and someone who could knock off even one of the Canadian duo of Denis Shapovalov or Felix Auger-Aliassime, and certainly Sweden’s top player Mikael Ymer.

The issue is that Bublik will have to do that, as Mikhail Kukushkin does not have the same consistency nor weapons to take down the other Canadian in order for Kazakhstan to progress. The doubles are not without a chance given Andrey Golubev and Alekandr Nedovyesov are familiar with one another, whilst Golubev and Bublik reached the Roland Garros final this year as another option. This gives the nation a real shot against Canada who do not have a top-level doubles player, though both Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov, as well as Vasek Pospisil and Peter Polansky are inside the Top 150 or so in the format.

If Kazakhstan can manage to sweep Sweden – not beyond the realms of possibility – it gives the nation a great chance of being one of the other additional teams included into the quarter finals. It is hard to see them knocking off Canada, but if they can at least win one of the matches – be in the doubles for example – they they are a slight chance of progressing to the next stage. It is unlikely they go any deeper than that, but they are already punching above their average compared to other nations at that stage.

Prediction: 2nd in Group B

IN A SENTENCE: “Kazakhstan is the second ranked side in its group, and whilst Canada poses a massive challenge for the nation, it should overcome Sweden in the opening game of the tournament.”

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Picture credit: Getty Images

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