[smucav]

http://www.daviscup.com/en/results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=100017651
World Group 1st Round
Date: 10 Feb-12 Feb 2012
Venue: Bourbon Beans Dome, Hyogo, Japan
Start times:
Day 1: 1300 hrs local (0400 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1300 hrs local (0400 hrs GMT)
Day 3: 1300 hrs local (0400 hrs GMT)
Surface: Hard (Decoturf), Indoor
Ball: Srixon

First Meeting

 

[croat123]

cilic out. replaced by zovko

 

[smucav]

The ITF has announced the official team nominations for the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first round ties, taking place on 10-12 February. In addition, Zone Group I and II first round ties are also being played on the same dates. The team nominations for these ties are currently being compiled and will be announced in due course. Follow all the action on the official Davis Cup by BNP Paribas websites: www.daviscup.com and www.copadavis.com.

JAPAN v CROATIA
Venue: Bourbon Beans Dome, Hyogo, JPN (hard – indoors)

Japan
Kei Nishikori
Go Soeda
Tatsuma Ito
Yuichi Sugita
Captain: Eiji Takeuchi

Croatia
Ivan Dodig
Ivo Karlovic
Antonio Veic
Lovro Zovko
Captain: Zeljko Krajan

 

[Deathless Mortal]

Anybody knows who should play singles for Japan as the #2 player?

 

[croat123]

it'll be soeda.
i still say we take this one...probably 3-2 or 4-1

 

[Hellraiser]

Croatia underdog here

 

[Deathless Mortal]

it'll be soeda.
i still say we take this one...probably 3-2 or 4-1

I'm not so sure.. IMO the Karlovic vs Nishikori match on day1 will be crucial as I don't see Dodig beating Nishikori.
The only thing that favours us is the doubles match which we should win. But as I don't expect Dodig to beat Nishi, we'd need 2 out of other 3 matches and it will surely be tough.

 

[NyGeL]

Sorry guys, but I think Japan is favorite. But Croatia can win though

 

[raph72]

Karlovic and Dodig are the good ones because of Cilic injury and Ljubicic doesn't want to play DC anymore. Dodig and Zovko can be a good pick. A shame that the young Pavic who win Zagreb with Dodig can't play. They are in great shape

 

[ex hopman]

interesting tie!!

depending on:
Karlovic's service
How Japan's #2 plays
How Croatians play against Kei

Probably there's a slight edge to Croatia for dubs?
Hope Japan's crowds will be loud enough to support Japan (they are usually quiet)

I'd go with Japan 3-2 (Kei's 2 wins, Japan #2 win)

 

[Deathless Mortal]

R1: Soeda vs Dodig
R2: Nishikori vs Karlovic
R3: Ito/Sugita vs Karlovic/Zovko (I think it is highly likely Karlovic/Zovko indeed play for us, dunno about Japan though)
R4: Nishikori vs Dodig
R5: Soeda vs Karlovic

 

[Deathless Mortal]

We should win the doubles, and Nishikori should beat Dodig. Really hard to call the other three matches
Day1 is huge here.

Anybody knows if there'll be hawk-eye?

 

[HawkAussie]

Yes they will
http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/articles/itf-increases-use-of-hawk-eye.aspx

 

[Yves.]

Nishikori vs Karlovic is tough to call...

 

[Horatio Caine]

R1: Soeda vs Dodig
R2: Nishikori vs Karlovic
R3: Ito/Sugita vs Karlovic/Zovko (I think it is highly likely Karlovic/Zovko indeed play for us, dunno about Japan though)
R4: Nishikori vs Dodig
R5: Soeda vs Karlovic

Karlovic and Zovko are your best players for doubles, surely? I suppose that neither are great returners, but both have good serves and net games. Dodig would probably be okay, but surely Veic will not be trusted?

Tough tie, but I'd give the edge to Croatia. They have chances in four of the five rubbers (with the exception of Nishikori vs. Dodig) imo, so the question is whether they can win three of them. The obvious target is the Japan #2 in singles - will be tough to beat in both matches, but it can be done. Croatia also has the edge for the doubles imo.

 

[Deathless Mortal]

Karlovic and Zovko are your best players for doubles, surely? I suppose that neither are great returners, but both have good serves and net games. Dodig would probably be okay, but surely Veic will not be trusted?

Tough tie, but I'd give the edge to Croatia. They have chances in four of the five rubbers (with the exception of Nishikori vs. Dodig) imo, so the question is whether they can win three of them. The obvious target is the Japan #2 in singles - will be tough to beat in both matches, but it can be done. Croatia also has the edge for the doubles imo.

Zovko is a regular doubles player, so he will surely be trusted before Veic. Ivo is also a solid doubles player (defeated the Bryan bros. with his partner Moser) and his serve should help the team largely. Although Dodig played in the doubles final last Sunday in Zagreb, I think Ivo will play, there's probably a reason why he's assigned for doubles, and not Ivan.

The more I think about this, the more I think we will win except if we're 2-0 down after day1.

 

[matinjo]

1st match is very easy to predict.. Soeda will beat Dodig..

 

[smucav]

The ITF has announced the draws for the 2012 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first round ties and 24 Zone Group ties taking place on 10-12 February.

JAPAN v CROATIA
Venue: Bourbon Beans Dome, Hyogo, JPN (hard – indoors)

Go Soeda (JPN) v Ivan Dodig (CRO)
Kei Nishikori (JPN) v Ivo Karlovic (CRO)
Tatsuma Ito/Yuichi Sugita (JPN) v Ivo Karlovic/Lovro Zovko (CRO)
Kei Nishikori (JPN) v Ivan Dodig (CRO)
Go Soeda (JPN) v Ivo Karlovic (CRO)

 

[Deathless Mortal]

R1: Soeda def. Dodig 6-7(3) 3-6 6-4 6-3 7-5
:sad:

If Ivo loses now, we can pack our bags. I just don't think it's possible that Dodig beats Nishikori on Sunday.

 

[Deathless Mortal]

R2: Karlovic def. Nishikori 6-4 6-4 6-3
:worship:

I think we'll take this now, although only in the 5th rubber.