THE first of the Davis Cup ties running into the team events for the second half of 2021 take place from tonight, with a host of teams battling it out to earn World Group Playoff and World Group I Playoff honours. The way it works is that the 24 teams (12 matches) in World Group 1 will result in the eight highest ranked winners heading to the Davis Cup World Group Qualifiers, with the other four winners contesting a further knockout clash in November, where the two winners will also advance to the World Group Qualifiers, whilst the two losers will join the other 12 losers in the World Group I Playoffs. The same format occurs with World Group II, with the winners advancing to the World Group I Playoffs, and losers back to World Group II Playoffs.

This is the first of four articles over the next two days, to break down the clashes in each group, and each date.

World Group I Playoffs:

Of the current World Group I matches played this year – with nations given the option of March or September due to the uncertain COVID-19 pandemic situation, a half-strength Japanese side steamrolled Pakistan 4-0 to ensure they booked a spot in the World Group Qualifiers, while Ukraine won 3-2 in a tight one over Israel, coming from behind with Illya Marchenko and Sergiy Stakhovsky winning against much lower ranked opponents on the final day to secure the spot. Ukraine will need to wait on other results to determine if they are able to automatically head to the Qualifiers given they are ranked 34th in the world.

Slovakia vs. [5] Chile

World number 21’s Chile travel to the 31st ranked Slovakia, with the South American nation able to automatically qualify for the World Group Qualifiers with a win. The match is on hard court which gives the home side some chance, especially with Cristian Garin suiting up for Chile. On clay, Garin would not lose to anyone on the Slovakian side, but the world number 17 will need to overcome some hard court issues to put away a likely singles pairing of Norbert Gombos (115th) and Alex Molcan (117th). Garin leads a young side, as the oldest player at 25-years-old of the top three, with Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera and Alejandro Tabilo the others inside the Top 200. Filip Polasek is ranked 10th overall for doubles and will give Slovakia the advantage in the doubles which could be key.

Tip: Expect Garin to still win both, with Molcan defeating Barrios Vera, and Slovakia to win the double, allowing the battle between Gombos and Barrios Vera to be the key.

Norway vs. [7] Uzbekistan

The 25th ranked Uzbekistan travel to a 46th ranked Norway outfit, where plenty will rest on the shoulders of Top 10 talent Casper Ruud. The event is on hard court which makes it interesting considering Ruud’s strength, but he should still take care of Denis Istomin and whichever sub-400 ranked player the Middle Eastern nation plays as the second singles. Norway does not have much otherwise either, with 381st ranked Viktor Durasovic only marginally ahead on 418th ranked Khumoyun Sultanov who are both still young. The Norwegians have also named a young side, with Ruud the second oldest at 22-years-old.

Tip: Ruud will likely have to play the three matches, but should be enough to get over Uzbekistan in a 4-1 result.

New Zealand vs. [9] Republic of Korea

In a lower ranked battle, the ninth seed and world number 27’s Republic of Korea lock horns with 38th ranked New Zealand, in the United States due to the COVID-19 lockdowns in New Zealand. It will be a great experience for the Kiwis, but with the majority of the players unranked, they will find the going tough. 20-year-old Isaac Becroft is touted as their number one singles player, though all three named are unranked, with the doubles pairing of Michael Venus and Marcus Daniell both Top 50 talents and likely to get them on the board. Republic of Korea should win all the singles though, with top ranked player Soonwoo Kwon set to play, and the world 83 should not have any issues.

Tip: Republic of Korea to cruise through 4-1.

Peru vs. [11] Bosnia and Herzegovina

Another clash between lower ranked sides sees the 29th and 39th nations clash as Bosnia and Herzegovina travels to Peru. Set to be played on clay, both sides have representatives just outside the Top 100. Juan Pablo Varillas (122nd in the world) will lead the home nation, whilst Damir Dzumhur (126) will step up for the visitors. These nations have never faced off, thought Bosnia and Herzegovina should be favourites with their second player, Mirza Basic inside the Top 300, and specialist doubles talent Tomislav Brkic ranked 52nd in that format.

Tip: Bosnia and Herzegovina to win 3-2 or 4-1 depending if Varillas can upset Dzumhur.

Finland vs. [6] India

A more competitive clash should be between one of the highest unseeded sides in 33rd ranked Finland, and sixth seed India (22nd in the world). The player the home nation hoped to see named was, with up-and-coming talent, 22-year-old Emil Ruusuvuori leading a young singles side. He is coming off great form in 2021, and will be joined by the even younger, 20-year-old Otto Virtanen against the far more experienced Prajnesh Gunneswaran (31-years-old) and Ramkumar Ramanathan (26-years-old). Both those players are inside the Top 200, and whilst Ruusuvuori will win his ties, the younger Virtanen will understandable struggle, meaning it will come down to the doubles. The doubles have all four players inside the Top 100 making it a fascinating contest, with 41-year-old Rohan Bopanna still representing his nation, and the highest ranked doubles player in the tie at 44th.

Tip: The home court advantage might do it for Finland, but expect this to be a nail-biting 3-2 result one way or another.

Picture credit: ATP Tour