IT has seemed a world away since Spain lifted the 2019 Davis Cup. While the 2020 edition was ultimately cancelled and had to be postponed until 2021, it gives tennis fans extra time to work out what teams might look like when it recommences.

Draft Central will take a look at various nations over the break and see what the team might look like. Today’s team is Russia, with three top 20 players making it an easy decision, and needing to pick a fourth player to round out the side.

TEAM:

#4 Daniil Medvedev
#8 Andrey Rublev
#20 Karen Khachanov
#112 Aslan Karatsev

The Russian side would feature three top 20 players in an embarrassment of riches, and put them firmly in control as one of the favourites for the Davis Cup. Naturally world number four Daniil Medvedev would take the number one singles spot, but the fight for the second spot between Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov would be fascinating.

Based on 2020 form, Rublev gets the gig, also going undefeated in the Davis Cup. However Rublev would likely pair up with Khachanov in the doubles as the two clear standout doubles players, and having the familiarity of playing with each other too. Ranked 80th and 81st in the world in doubles, they are a solid doubles combination to have.

The fourth spot of late has tended to go to an older player such as Evgeny Donskoy, but it would be great to see Russia give Aslan Karatsev a chance, with the 23-year-old gradually improving and he could well be within the Top 100 sooner rather than later. While he would not get a gig over the others with the tie on the line, he could easily fill in for a dead rubber game and grab important international experience.

In terms of overall chances, Russia is currently ranked 13th in the world, but on top-end talent is clearly a top five nation. They have a genuine consistent match-winner in Medvedev, a young up-and-comer capable of anything in Rublev, and a player who has enough pieces to worry opposition second singles players in Khachanov. They should also run at 50 per cent or greater in the doubles which always helps.

Picture: Kosmos Tennis