Tennis: Davis Cup 2019 Preview
The Davis Cup takes on a new guise in 2019 as the new look one week format gets underway in Madrid. The oldest team competition in tennis was deemed to need a ‘freshen up’ by the ITF and the end result is a week-long tennis extravaganza in the Spanish capital. Although some of the biggest names on the tour are absent – most notably Roger Federer – there is still a very strong playing field present in Madrid and it promises to be a fascinating week of tennis.
Tournament History
The Davis Cup has been played as a team tournament, spanning the calendar year for the past 118 years with teams travelling all over the world to face each other ‘home or away’. The new format for 2019 has been introduced to condense the competition to just one week, with the top 18 countries in the world battling it out to finish as world champions.
2019 Davis Cup Format
Each tie that takes place between two countries will consist of two best-of-three set singles matches and one doubles match. The winning teams from the six groups will qualify for the last 8 along with the two best 2nd place finishers. The last 8 will then be a knockout event with fixtures following the above format.
Dates
Monday 18th – Sunday 24th November 2019.
2019 Davis Cup Finals Outright Winner Odds:-
With so many fantastic sides in action, it promises to be an incredible week of tennis in Madrid. Here are some of our top picks to come out on top on Sunday:-
Spain – 3.50 – Home support will assist the Spanish side in Madrid and with Rafael Nadal in their ranks they start as the hot favourites. Roberto Bautista Agut is also a useful man to have in any side and they will fancy their chances of coming through Group B alongside a depleted Croatian team and Russia.
France – 4.50 – With a side brimming with talent, France have gone somewhat under the radar at this year’s Davis Cup. Most of their hopes will be pinned on Gael Monfils whilst their doubles pairing of Pierre-Hueges Herbert and Nicolas Mahut is one of the most potent in the world game currently.
Australia – 5.75 – Australia look to be the emerging nation at the 2019 Davis Cup and with Lleyton Hewitt as captain – they won’t lack passion. Alex de Minaur and Nicky Kyrgios are their stand out performers but with the likes of Jordan Thompson in their ranks, they have strength in depth and they have a reasonable draw from Group D.
USA – 6.00 – No country has won the Davis Cup as many times as the USA and they look well placed to go again with the new format in 2019. Frances Tiafoe and Reilly Opelka head up a new generation of American tennis player that is no longer all about serve and volley and they could surprise a few here in Madrid.
Russia – 10.00 – As a side that has slipped well under the radar, Russia look to have the makings of one of the dark horses in the competition. Having Spain in their group is an obvious obstacle but with Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov in their ranks they will feel anything is possible this week.
Germany – 12.00 – Germany come into the event in Madrid as another team of relative outsiders but with Jan-Lennard Struff and Philipp Kohlschreiber in their ranks, they have plenty of top level experience. They look to be the favourites to progress from Group C alongside Argentina and Chile and they could go the distance this week.
Great Britain – 16.00 – Leon Smith’s Great Britain side have a wealth of Davis Cup experience with Andy and Jamie Murray in their ranks as well as Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans. The 2015 winners have been drawn alongside Netherlands and Kazakhstan in Group E and could build up some momentum this week and be one to watch.
Top Pick – Spain @ 3.50
Outside Pick – Russia @ 10.00
