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| 15 Dec 2009 | |
| World Group first round venues announced for 2010 |
The venues for the 2010 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first round have been announced. The ties will be played on 5-7 March.
Details
Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera
City: Logrono
Surface: Outdoor red clay
Preview
Spain leads Switzerland 4-1 in the head-to-head series with the most recent victory coming in 2007. Albert Costa’s team is also the reigning champion having won its fourth title in 2009, stretching its unbeaten clay court record to 20 ties. This fixture could see the first meeting between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in Davis Cup play.
Details
Venue: Palais des Sports
City: Toulon
Surface: Indoor hard
Preview
France and Germany first played each other in 1913, a tie which the Germans won. France has since had the upper hand and has compiled a win-loss record of 5-2. In total, the two nations have lifted the trophy 12 times between them – the French team accounting for nine of the victories.
Details
Venue: Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki"
City: Moscow
Surface: Indoor hard
Preview
Home advantage has proved crucial in previous meetings between these two nations. India leads 2-1 and is making its first World Group appearance since 1998. Russia, on the other hand, has been a fixture in the top division since it separated from playing under the banner of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1992. During this time, it has also been crowned champion twice, in 2002 and 2006.
Details
Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen
City: Stockholm
Surface: Indoor hard
Preview
These two nations traditionally prefer different surfaces – Sweden fast indoor and Argentina slow outdoor. In their previous four meetings, home advantage has proved the determining factor as they are currently tied at two-apiece. Sweden has a rich Davis Cup pedigree having won the title seven times. Argentina is yet to get off the mark but has finished runner-up on three occasions.
Details
Venue: Gradska sportska dvorana Varazdin
City: Varazdin
Surface: Indoor hard
Preview
Croatia and Ecuador will be facing each other for the first time. Croatia, the 2005 champion, will go into the tie as favourite. Ecuador, meanwhile, will be making its first appearance in the World Group since 2001. Nicolas Lapentti was his nation’s hero in the play-off win over Brazil in September.
Details
Venue: Beogradska Arena
City: Belgrade
Surface: Indoor red clay
Preview
Serbia and USA have never previously met and both teams will be harbouring hopes of progressing to the quarterfinals. Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick are their respective country’s top players and, if they both play, will face each other in the opening singles rubber on day three.
Details
Venue: Enjoy Tennis Center
City: Coquimbo
Surface: Outdoor red clay
Preview
These two nations have defeated one another once each – Chile winning at home in 1960 and Israel claiming victory at home in 2007. Chile clinched its place in the World Group after triumphing over Austria in the play-offs. Israel, meanwhile, reached the semifinals for the first time in its history in 2009.
Details
Venue: Expodroom Bree
City: Bree
Surface: Indoor red clay
Preview
This is a repeat of a first round tie in 2008 when Czech Republic was the winner in Ostrava. The Czech team, which reached the Final in 2009, leads Belgium 7-3 in their head-to-head series. In 1980, Ivan Lendl and Tomas Smid led their nation - then Czechoslovakia - to its sole Davis Cup title. Belgium’s best performance came in 1904 when it finished runner-up.
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