Davis Cup 2011 World Group Playoffs Line-up: Team Russia vs Team Brazil
Meeting for the first time at the Davis Cup in ten days, Team Russia takes on Team Brazil for a spot in the 2012 Davis Cup World Group as they compete in the playoffs from 16th to 18th of September. Seeded
in the tie, Russia also has the home court advantage as they host Brazil at the Kazan Tennis Academy in Russia. If the home court advantage wasn’t enough, the Russians also have the affinity for the indoor hard court as opposed to the Brazilians who prefer
to play on clay any day.
Under the captaincy of Shamil Taprischev, Russia brings all four top-100 players to the table including the likes of former world number eight Mikhail Youzhny, rising star Dmitry Tursunov, world number 62 Igor Kunitsyn and world
number 78 Igor Andreev.
Team Russia moved into the playoffs following their first round loss to Team Sweden in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group in March 2011. The absence of Youzhny and the presence of Robin Soderling for Sweden greatly reduced
the odds for the Russians. However, the Russians still put up a good fight as the Swedes only edged past with a 3-2 win.
Playing in his first Davis Cup tie for the year, Youzhny is expected to increase Russia’s chances considerably. Although the former world number eight has failed to produce any mind-blowing performances this year, the Russian can
give any of the top ten players a run for their money on a good day. Playing in his eleventh year on the event, Youzhny sports an almost even 13-11 career win loss mark.
Somewhat new to the event, Tursunov has only played in ten singles rubbers at the event with a 7-3 win loss mark. Although he matches Youzhny in age, Tursunov has given better performances this year. He holds a title on tour having
won the final of the 2011 UNICEF Open in July defeating Ivan Dodig in the final.
Following Tursunov, Kunitsyn brings almost nothing to the table in terms of talent or experience. Standing at a level 1-1 win loss mark, Kunitsyn is appearing in only playing in his third year here. Andreev, however, holds a tad
higher spot when it comes to experience. In his seventeen rubbers at the event, he has won eleven and lost only eight.
Next to Russia’s line-up, Brazil’s looks like nothing short of a pushover. With their only top-100 and highest ranked player in Thomas Bellucci, Brazil lacks the talent pool needed to match the Russians in singles rubbers. A clay
expert himself, Bellucci doesn’t do much for the Brazilians either though the rising youngster is expected to win both of his rubbers. With the singles hopefully taken care of by Bellucci; Brazil’s hopes of a World Group qualification lie solely on the doubles
rubber. Addition of doubles specialist Bruno Soares and Marcelo Melo, Brazil expects a victory in, if not only, the doubles rubber. The fourth addition in the line-up is world number 113, Ricardo Mello.
Reaching the playoffs for the sixth straight year, Brazil hopes to move on ahead riding the Bellucci train. Bellucci helped Brazil reached the playoff this year after winning both his rubbers in straight sets in the second round
of Group I aiding Brazil to a perfect 5-0 win against team Uruguay.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article are the writer’s own personal views and have nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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