D Cup Semis: Teams Named
Posted by gauloises1 on September 9, 2009
In amidst all this US Open stuff, it’s easy to forget about the Davis Cup semi-finals, which are coming up on the 18th September. But the teams have been named, so it’s coming on apace. No real surprises; Croatia and Israel remain the same, and the Czech Republic have swapped out Ivo Minar (who may or may not be currently suspended for a drug infringement) for Jan Hernych. Boss and Verdasco have been benched by Spain in favour of Ferru and a returning Rafa. Game on.
CROATIA v CZECH REPUBLIC
Venue: Sportska Dvorana ‘Zatika’, Porec, Croatia (clay – indoors)
CROATIA
Marin Cilic
Ivo Karlovic
Roko Karanusic
Lovro Zovko
Captain: Goran Prpic
CZECH REPUBLIC
Radek Stepanek
Tomas Berdych
Jan Hernych
Lukas Dlouhy
Captain: Jaroslav Navratil
SPAIN v ISRAEL
Venue: Polaris World la Torre Golf Resort, Murcia (clay – outdoors)
SPAIN
Rafa Nadal
David Ferrer
Tommy Robledo
Feliciano López
Captain: Albert Costa
ISRAEL
Dudi Sela
Harel Levy
Jonathan Erlich
Andy Ram
Captain: Eyal Ran
New Balls, Please 
AmyLu said
I’m so excited for Croatia/Czech Republic. Although, sadly, I don’t think it’s on TV in the U.S.
With regard to the Spanish Davis Cup team, I really find it annoying how no matter who the Davis Cup captain is, they end up with the same line-ups. I mean, how is Tommy Robredo still continually picked to play? Nothing with regard to his singles play in Davis Cup inspires confidence. Supposedly he’s only supposed to play doubles, but whatever. Considering they’re going to concede the doubles point most likely, I’d rather have someone else I can count on in singles. I totally would have picked JCF over him (and based on the way both are currently playing, I’d rather have JCF play singles than Ferru right now).
According to the Spanish press, Verdasco is also having abdominal issues, and he’s supposedly getting a callous surgically removed from the bottom of his foot next week, which is why he’s not playing. That sounds rather painful — it doesn’t seem like it’s impeded him too much so far in the USO, and I hope the match with Nole is well-played today (with Nole winning, of course).
harini said
That picture of the Croats is too too funny. It’s really cute.
OK, silly question: Who is Boss? Is it Ferrero? Me = slow.
gauloises1 said
Yep, Ferrero.
Seriously I try not to go mad with the incomprehensible nicknames, but I just can’t help but call JCF the boss. Because he is.
harini said
He is the Boss. He’s made of so much awesome.
I would not have expected him to have made the quarters of Wimbledon or the USO this year. But those were good surprises.
gauloises1 said
I’ve got to say, I’m totally with AmyLu on being fairly stunned that Robredo got tapped for DC again. I mean, I know it’s only Israel, but they should at least look like they’re making a little effort, no?
And I’d trust Boss over Ferru too. But this is probably just one of the many reasons that I’m not captain of the Spanish Davis Cup team.
linz said
Yeah, but is Ferru even healthy?? Wasn’t he injured or something at the Open? Didn’t that play a part in his loss or am I COMPLETELY making that up?
I mean, considering he’s tapped to play DC, I guess I am.