Davis Cup Outright

[Mr Intensity]

1st Round 10 Feb - 12 Feb 2006		Quarterfinal 07 Apr - 09 Apr 2006		Semifinal 22 Sep - 24 Sep 2006		Final 01 Dec - 03 Dec 2006
Preview Croatia (s) Austria © Preview Argentina (s) © Sweden Preview Spain (s) Belarus © * Preview Australia (s) Switzerland © Preview Germany © France (s) Preview Netherlands © Russia (s) Preview Romania USA (s) © Preview Chile © Slovak Republic (s)

Long Term: Davis Cup Friday 10 February 2006 - 10:30 GMT Related events...Davis CupWimbledon Men'sWimbledon Women's

:bg_popupOptionTable('Default.aspx?market=19178588&view=all', '2', '0')'>Best odds/All odds :bg_a(1,59526359,0,0,1)'> :bg_a(1,57001471,0,0,1)'> :bg_a(1,57083498,0,0,1)'> :bg_a(1,59084407,0,0,1)'> :bg_a(1,59582498,0,0,1)'> :bg_a(1,56850920,0,0,1)'> :bg_a(1,56530625,0,0,1)'> :bg_a(1,56837891,0,0,1)'> :bg_a(1,58576192,0,0,1)'> :bg_a(1,59486915,0,0,1)'> USA :bg_a(0,59526359,5,2,0)'>3.5 :bg_a(0,57001471,11,4,0)'>3.75 :bg_a(0,57083498,11,4,1)'>3.75 :bg_a(0,59084407,11,4,1)'>3.75 :bg_a(0,59582498,3,1,0)'>4 :bg_a(0,56850920,5,2,0)'>3.5 :bg_a(0,56530625,9,4,1)'>3.25 :bg_a(0,56837891,5,2,0)'>3.5 :bg_a(0,58576192,9,4,1)'>3.25 :bg_a(0,59486915,27,10,1)'>3.7 Argentina :bg_a(0,59526360,4,1,0)'>5 :bg_a(0,56979864,7,2,0)'>4.5 :bg_a(0,57083483,3,1,1)'>4 :bg_a(0,59084392,4,1,1)'>5 :bg_a(0,59582483,4,1,0)'>5 :bg_a(0,56850921,10,3,0)'>4.33 :bg_a(0,56530615,7,2,1)'>4.5 :bg_a(0,56693852,7,2,0)'>4.5 :bg_a(0,58576177,4,1,1)'>5 :bg_a(0,59486900,4,1,1)'>5 Russia :bg_a(0,59526361,9,2,0)'>5.5 :bg_a(0,56979874,4,1,0)'>5 :bg_a(0,57083493,4,1,1)'>5 :bg_a(0,59084402,7,2,1)'>4.5 :bg_a(0,59582493,3,1,0)'>4 :bg_a(0,56850922,5,1,0)'>6 :bg_a(0,56530624,5,1,1)'>6 :bg_a(0,56693862,5,1,0)'>6 :bg_a(0,58576187,9,2,1)'>5.5 :bg_a(0,59486910,9,2,1)'>5.5 Croatia :bg_a(0,59526362,6,1,0)'>7 :bg_a(0,56979869,11,2,0)'>6.5 :bg_a(0,57083488,8,1,1)'>9 :bg_a(0,59084397,9,1,1)'>10 :bg_a(0,59582488,8,1,0)'>9 :bg_a(0,56850925,15,2,0)'>8.5 :bg_a(0,56530614,15,2,1)'>8.5 :bg_a(0,56693857,7,1,0)'>8 :bg_a(0,58576182,15,2,1)'>8.5 :bg_a(0,59486905,8,1,1)'>9 Spain :bg_a(0,59526363,9,1,0)'>10 :bg_a(0,56979876,11,2,0)'>6.5 :bg_a(0,57083495,9,1,1)'>10 :bg_a(0,59084404,7,1,1)'>8 :bg_a(0,59582495,7,1,0)'>8 :bg_a(0,56850924,15,2,0)'>8.5 :bg_a(0,56530618,7,1,1)'>8 :bg_a(0,56693864,8,1,0)'>9 :bg_a(0,58576189,15,2,1)'>8.5 :bg_a(0,59486912,9,1,1)'>10 Switzerland :bg_a(0,59526364,10,1,0)'>11 :bg_a(0,56979878,9,1,0)'>10 :bg_a(0,57083497,8,1,1)'>9 :bg_a(0,59084406,9,1,1)'>10 :bg_a(0,59582497,6,1,0)'>7 :bg_a(0,56850923,8,1,0)'>9 :bg_a(0,56530619,8,1,1)'>9 :bg_a(0,56693866,6,1,0)'>7 :bg_a(0,58576191,11,2,1)'>6.5 :bg_a(0,59486914,7,1,1)'>8 Germany :bg_a(0,59526365,12,1,0)'>13 :bg_a(0,56979871,14,1,0)'>15 :bg_a(0,57083490,10,1,1)'>11 :bg_a(0,59084399,12,1,1)'>13 :bg_a(0,59582490,14,1,0)'>15 - :bg_a(0,56530621,14,1,1)'>15 :bg_a(0,56693859,12,1,0)'>13 :bg_a(0,58576184,12,1,1)'>13 :bg_a(0,59486907,14,1,1)'>15 Chile :bg_a(0,59526367,16,1,0)'>17 :bg_a(0,56979868,20,1,0)'>21 :bg_a(0,57083487,20,1,1)'>21 :bg_a(0,59084396,22,1,1)'>23 :bg_a(0,59582487,20,1,0)'>21 :bg_a(0,56850927,18,1,0)'>19 :bg_a(0,56530627,16,1,1)'>17 :bg_a(0,56693856,20,1,0)'>21 :bg_a(0,58576181,20,1,1)'>21 :bg_a(0,59486904,20,1,1)'>21 France :bg_a(0,59526366,16,1,0)'>17 :bg_a(0,56979870,16,1,0)'>17 :bg_a(0,57083489,28,1,1)'>29 :bg_a(0,59084398,20,1,1)'>21 :bg_a(0,59582489,33,1,0)'>34 :bg_a(0,56850926,16,1,0)'>17 :bg_a(0,56530622,16,1,1)'>17 :bg_a(0,56693858,20,1,0)'>21 :bg_a(0,58576183,20,1,1)'>21 :bg_a(0,59486906,25,1,1)'>26 Austraila :bg_a(0,59526368,33,1,0)'>34 :bg_a(0,56979865,25,1,0)'>26 :bg_a(0,57083484,25,1,1)'>26 :bg_a(0,59084393,33,1,1)'>34 :bg_a(0,59582484,40,1,0)'>41 :bg_a(0,56850928,33,1,0)'>34 :bg_a(0,56530620,40,1,1)'>41 :bg_a(0,56693853,33,1,0)'>34 :bg_a(0,58576178,25,1,1)'>26 :bg_a(0,59486901,41,1,1)'>42 Sweden :bg_a(0,59526370,66,1,0)'>67 :bg_a(0,56979877,80,1,0)'>81 :bg_a(0,57083496,80,1,1)'>81 :bg_a(0,59084405,80,1,1)'>81 :bg_a(0,59582496,66,1,0)'>67 :bg_a(0,56850931,100,1,0)'>101 :bg_a(0,56530616,100,1,1)'>101 :bg_a(0,56693865,66,1,0)'>67 :bg_a(0,58576190,66,1,1)'>67 :bg_a(0,59486913,101,1,1)'>102 Slovakia :bg_a(0,59526369,40,1,0)'>41 :bg_a(0,56979875,50,1,0)'>51 :bg_a(0,57083494,80,1,1)'>81 :bg_a(0,59084403,80,1,1)'>81 :bg_a(0,59582494,125,1,0)'>126 :bg_a(0,56850930,80,1,0)'>81 :bg_a(0,56530628,100,1,1)'>101 :bg_a(0,56693863,50,1,0)'>51 :bg_a(0,58576188,50,1,1)'>51 :bg_a(0,59486911,99,1,1)'>100 Belarus :bg_a(0,59526371,125,1,0)'>126 :bg_a(0,56979867,200,1,0)'>201 :bg_a(0,57083486,100,1,1)'>101 :bg_a(0,59084395,150,1,1)'>151 :bg_a(0,59582486,100,1,0)'>101 :bg_a(0,56850935,200,1,0)'>201 :bg_a(0,56530617,200,1,1)'>201 :bg_a(0,56693855,150,1,0)'>151 :bg_a(0,58576180,100,1,1)'>101 :bg_a(0,59486903,159,1,1)'>160 Netherlands :bg_a(0,59526372,125,1,0)'>126 :bg_a(0,56979872,125,1,0)'>126 :bg_a(0,57083491,150,1,1)'>151 :bg_a(0,59084400,150,1,1)'>151 :bg_a(0,59582491,200,1,0)'>201 :bg_a(0,56850932,150,1,0)'>151 :bg_a(0,56530623,200,1,1)'>201 :bg_a(0,56693860,100,1,0)'>101 :bg_a(0,58576185,100,1,1)'>101 :bg_a(0,59486908,159,1,1)'>160 Austria :bg_a(0,59526373,125,1,0)'>126 :bg_a(0,56979866,250,1,0)'>251 :bg_a(0,57083485,100,1,1)'>101 :bg_a(0,59084394,200,1,1)'>201 :bg_a(0,59582485,200,1,0)'>201 :bg_a(0,56850934,150,1,0)'>151 :bg_a(0,56530613,200,1,1)'>201 :bg_a(0,56693854,125,1,0)'>126 :bg_a(0,58576179,150,1,1)'>151 :bg_a(0,59486902,159,1,1)'>160 Romania :bg_a(0,59526374,150,1,0)'>151 :bg_a(0,56979873,200,1,0)'>201 :bg_a(0,57083492,250,1,1)'>251 :bg_a(0,59084401,150,1,1)'>151 :bg_a(0,59582492,200,1,0)'>201 :bg_a(0,56850933,150,1,0)'>151 :bg_a(0,56530626,200,1,1)'>201 :bg_a(0,56693861,150,1,0)'>151 :bg_a(0,58576186,150,1,1)'>151 :bg_a(0,59486909,159,1,1)'>160 Each-way terms: 2 at 1/2 2 at 1/2 2 at 1/2 2 at 1/2

Analysis and selection coming up in a couple of hours:tongue2 ;)

[Mr Intensity]

Re: Davis Cup Outright Well the Davis Cup is always hard to analyse - mainly due to the rules about who plays at home, and the effect that is has. The rule is that the team who played away, plays at home in the next meeting, if the teams have never played or the last match was at a neutral venue, then it is decided by lot. First off, the top half is too hard! I can't get a good read on it at all. Big nations of Australia, Switzerland and Spain have to start off without there big star and we cannot be sure of there commitment for later on in the tournament. For me, it could hinge on the Austria-Croatia match. If Austria win, they will most likely have to go to Argentina where they should be beaten. Then in the semis Argentina would be at home against any of the other teams and they should be favourites for that. However, if Croatia beat Austria, they should be at home in the quarters and semis (except if against Switzerland where it would be decided by lot). Croatia at home is a very tough prospect and they'd be fancied to go through. The Austria-Croatia and Switzerland-Australia matches are very tough to call, however, with the prices available, Croatia look a decent shot at 10.00 (Coral) to defend there title. In the bottom half it looks a little better - let us go match by match... 1st round Germany v France. Well this looks like an absolute cracker. Germany at home with the in form duo of Kiefer and Haas. However, France ain't too bad either with Grosjean, Gasquet and a very good doubles team in Llodra/Clement. Obviously Grosjean looking for revenge after the 5 setter and "incident" against Kiefer in Australia. Gasquet has started the year very poorly still recovering from injury and not being able to serve properly, but each week he is getting better and could be a surprise in this one. Germany look like being strong favourites for this, but I'm not so sure. The draw could be decisive, if France can come out of Day 1 at 1-1 then they have a very good shot at this. Netherlands v Russia. The Dutch have put this on an indoor carpet but still I don't se the Russians having many problems. The singles players of Sluiter and Wessels simply don't match up against Davydenko and one from Andreev, Tursunov and Youzhny. The Dutch could have a shot at the doubles but I feel that will be the only live rubber they will take. USA v Romania. I think this will be as striaghtforward as everyone expects. On an American hard court I don't think there is much Hanescu and Pavel will be able to do against the American Dream Team of Roddick, Blake, Bryan and Bryan. USA to march into the quarter finals. Chile v Slovak Republic. The beaten finalists from last year are really up against it here. On clay Hrbaty will struggle against Gonzalez and Massu and there isn't any depth to the Slovak team without Beck. I think the Chilians could make it hard for themselves in this one, possibly Hrbaty winning a rubber on the first day, but I expect Chile to come through. Quarter Finals Russia v Germany/France. I'm choosing to leave the option open on the Germany-France match. If it's Germany then the match would be played in Russia. The match will be played just before the European clay court season begins and it is very likely that this match will be on clay. With the possibility of having Safin back into the fold, the Russian team looks very strong. Even if he isn't, Davydenko and Andreev would appear to be very strong against Kiefer and Haas. I'd expect the Russians come through this comfortably. If it is against France, then the match will be in France. This one would be a lot more interesting as I'd also expect this one to be put on clay. Gasquet/Grosjean v Safin/Davydenko/Andreev on clay would be something to savour. In fact, the same match up happened in Russia last year in the quarter final - Russia won 3-2 in a very tough match. France were without Grosjean and Russia were without Safin. The quarterfinal is less than 2 months away so we have no idea if Safin will be available. One thing in this match is that France would have the superior doubles team in Llodra/Clement and that could prove decisive. Also as a note: France would be strong favourites if they were to put the match on grass, but they've never done that before and I'm not sure if they'd be willing/able. Germany are more liely to reach this match than France, thus we have to make Russia pretty strong favourites to reach the semis. USA v Chile. This one would be held in the USA. Would have to expect the USA to be very strong favourites once more. Gonzalez and Massu would put up a strong fight in all 5 of the rubbers but wouldn't expct them to be able to secure 3 of them. Best chance would be Gonzalez against Blake but I think that would be it, they would be relying on injury or a bad weekend from Roddick (although we have seen a few of those from him in the past year!). Semi Final Russia v USA. This one would be held in Russia and certainly would be on clay. It is only a couple of weeks after the US Open so the priorities of the Americans may be with that and they certainly wouldn't be well prepared to play on clay. Roddick, Blake, Ginepri or whoever it is will be heavy underdogs against Safin, Davydenko, Andreev etc on clay. The only positive for the Americans is the Bryans in the doubles who should be able to take out the Russians average doubles team. However, cannot see the Americans picking up a live rubber in the singles unless the Russians have 3 or 4 players out injured. Note: If France makes it to the semis vs USA then it would be held in the USA and would make USA strong favourites on a hard. Final If I'm pushed I'll pick Croatia from the top half (especailly at the price available) and Russia from the bottom half. If this were the case it would be played on Russia on a clay court in the beginning of December. Russia on clay would really fancy there chances and IMO should be favourites for the title. Russia. The strength of this team is its depth and adpatability. They can kick ass on clay, hard courts and can put up a good fight on an indoor carpet. They have choices from Safin, Davydenko, Andreev, Youzhny and Tursunov so one or two injuries won't cripple them like it would for most teams. The main problem they have is in the doubles - it is somewhat of a makeshift team usually with Andreev and Youzhny playing, but Tursunov could get a shot this year and that may help the team. I'd still expect them to lose the doubles against an accomplished team, but they are very strong in the singles and should make up for it. Also, they are in the opposite half of the draw to most of the teams with one "superstar" who can win both singles rubbers and the doubles - I'm talking about Federer, Nadal, Hewitt and Ljubicic. They could have to face Roddick, but that would be on clay and should be alright. Croatia. We all saw what Croatia and more importantly Ljubicic could do last year. The team is one dimensional with him and Ancic taking the whole workload but it can work. The draw is OKish for them - if they can come through against Austria then they should be at home and be very strong all the way to the final. That "if" is quite big though and it will need a very good performance in the first round. Also Ancic needs to ste up this year, they won the tournament last year and he still had a negative record in singles. He has started this year quite averagely but it is about time for him to step up. An injury will hurt this team, especially to Ljubicic - however, this is where the draw is imprortant - at home Karlovic can also do a good job on the very quick courts of Zagreb. They also could become inspired agains once Goran takes over as captain, but this will all depend on the first match. CROATIA @ 10.00 Coral 1pt E/W (1,2 1/2) RUSSIA @ 6.00 Stan James 1.5pts E/W (1,2 1/2)