2016 DAVIS CUP BY BNP PARIBAS WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS AND PLAY-OFFS September

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1 2016 DAVIS CUP BY BNP PARIBAS WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS AND PLAY-OFFS September WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS Great Britain (c) (s) v Argentina (s) Croatia (c) v France (s) (s) = seed (c) choice of ground Emirates Arena, Glasgow, GBR hard (indoors) Kresimir Cosic Hall, Zadar, CRO hard (indoors) BACK-TO-BACK FINALS Defending champion Great Britain is looking to reach its 21st Davis Cup Final when it takes on Argentina in Glasgow and reach back-to-back finals for the first time since contesting 5 Challenge Round Finals in a row in Great Britain is also looking to record a 7th straight tie victory, having not won 7 ties in a row since winning 10 consecutive ties from RETAINING THE TITLE Since the formation of the World Group in 1981, there have been 6 successful title defences by 5 different nations in World Group history: USA ; Sweden ; West Germany ; Sweden ; Spain and, most recently, Czech Republic in UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY FOR CROATIA While a place in the final would be familiar territory for 10-time champions Great Britain, 9-time winners France and 4-time runners-up Argentina, Croatia is looking to reach just its 2nd Davis Cup Final this weekend. Croatia became the first unseeded nation to win the title in 2005 when it defeated Slovakia 3-2 in the Final in Bratislava. Argentina stands alone as the only one of the 4 semifinalists never to have won Davis Cup it is the only nation in history to have lost 4 Davis Cup Finals without winning the title. UNSEEDED NATIONS Croatia is the only unseeded nation to feature in the World Group semifinals the first time since 2013 that only one unseeded nation has featured in the last four. Croatia (2005), Serbia (2010), Switzerland (2014) and Great Britain (2015) are the only unseeded nations to win the Davis Cup. 15 unseeded nations have reached the Davis Cup Final in total, including both Great Britain and Belgium in last year s Final. WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS Uzbekistan (c)* v Switzerland (s) Olympic Tennis School, Tashkent, UZB (clay outdoors) Belgium (s) (c) v Brazil Australia (s) (c)* v Slovakia Canada (s) (c)* v Chile Russia (c)* v Kazakhstan (s) India (c)* v Spain (s) Germany (s) (c) v Poland Sleuyter Arena, Ostend, BEL, (hard indoors) Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, Sydney, AUS (grass outdoors) Scotiabank Centre, Halifax, CAN (hard indoors) National Tennis Center, Moscow, RUS (hard outdoors) R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium, New Delhi, IND (hard outdoors) LTTC Rot-Weiß Berlin e.v., Berlin, GER (clay outdoors) Japan (s) (c)* v Ukraine Utsubo Tennis Center, Osaka, JPN (hard outdoors) (s) = seed (c) = choice of ground * = choice of ground was decided by lot 1

2 Uzbekistan will hope to end a run of 8 defeats in the World Group play-offs when it takes on Switzerland in Tashkent. While the Uzbeks are through to the World Group play-offs for the 5th time in the last 8 years and 9th time overall this is only the 2nd time the team has had the advantage of playing a World Group play-off on home soil since Switzerland will hope to stop the hosts pulling off a landmark victory and a maiden World Group berth, which would see Severin Luthi s men plunge into Zone Group competition for the first time since Brazil faces a tough test if it is to return to the World Group after a one-year absence with a clash against 2015 runners-up Belgium in Ostend. Brazil has lost 8 of the 10 World Group play-offs it has contested over the last 10 years, and has never won a World Group play-off on away soil. A win for hosts Belgium, meanwhile, would prevent them from dropping down into Europe/Africa Zone Group I for the first time since Slovakia will hope to end a 10-year absence from the World Group when it travels to Sydney to face Australia. The Slovaks have lost all 5 of the World Group play-offs they have contested since losing to Chile in the World Group first round in Australia, meanwhile, is looking to maintain its three-year stay in the World Group, having previously spent 6 years trying to escape Asia/Oceania Zone Group I from Chile will hope to continue its recent resurgence in Davis Cup when it takes on Canada in Halifax. The Chileans, who are on a record 6-tie winning streak and have climbed from Americas Zone Group II in 2014 into this year s World Group play-offs, will need to record their first victory on away soil since April 2012 if they are to return to the top tier of the competition for the first time since Canada, incidentally, is looking to avoid dropping down to Americas Zone Group I for the first time since Neighbours Russia and Kazakhstan go head-to-head for the first time in Moscow this weekend, with the visitors hoping to deny Russia a return to the World Group and prolong its 4-year stay in Europe/Africa Zone Group I. World Group quarterfinalists in 4 of the last 6 years, Kazakhstan will be keen to avoid a return to Zone Group competition for the first time since Five-time champion Spain will hope to bring an end to its surprise 2-year stay in Europe/Africa Zone Group I when it takes on India for a place in the World Group. India has not defeated Spain since 1927, and the visiting team will hope to avoid any chance of an upset in the first meeting between the 2 nations on Indian soil. India is featuring in the World Group play-offs for the 3rd year running, having lost to both Serbia and Czech Republic on home soil at this stage over the last 2 years. Germany will host Poland at home for the first time this weekend in the first tie to be played in Berlin since All 3 of the nations previous meetings have taken place in Warsaw. Poland got the better of Germany in the last meeting between the 2 teams back in 1977, and will be desperate to record another win to maintain its place in the World Group having played in the competition s top tier for the first time in its history this year. Germany, meanwhile, has spent just 3 years out of the World Group since 1981, and is bidding to extend its 11-year stay in the top tier. After 3 failures in the World Group play-offs, Ukraine will look to strike it 4th time lucky when it takes on Japan in Osaka in a bid to reach the top tier of Davis Cup for the first time. Japan, meanwhile, will hope to make the most of home advantage in the first meeting between the 2 nations, knowing that victory this weekend would maintain its 3-year stay in the World Group. CHOICE OF GROUND WORLD GROUP FINAL The Davis Cup Final will take place on November. Below is the choice of ground for all potential match-ups. The venue details are due to be submitted to the ITF by 26 September. Possible Final GREAT BRITAIN v FRANCE GREAT BRITAIN v CROATIA ARGENTINA v FRANCE ARGENTINA v CROATIA Venue FRA GBR FRA CRO 2

3 PAST CHAMPIONS In total, 14 nations have won the Davis Cup. - USA 32 - Australia 28 - Great Britain 10 - France 9 - Sweden 7 - Spain 5 - Germany 3 - Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic 3 - Russia 2 - Croatia, Italy, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland 1 ALL FIVE TO FIVE Only twice have all 5 rubbers of a Davis Cup tie gone to 5 sets: 1946 European Zone semifinal, Yugoslavia defeated France 3-2 and 2003 World Group play-off, Romania defeated Ecuador 3-2. COMEBACKS FROM 0-2 DOWN... There have been just 10 comebacks from 0-2 down in World Group ties. Sweden has produced 4 of these comebacks. Croatia recorded the most recent one in the 2016 quarterfinals after defeating USA 3-2 in Portland, Oregon. In the Davis Cup overall there have been 57 comebacks from 0-2 down since the competition began in TOP TIEBREAKS The most tiebreaks in a Davis Cup tie is 11 (Croatia d. Brazil 4-1, 2008 World Group play-off). PARTICIPATING NATIONS 135 nations entered the 2016 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas. DAVIS CUP NATIONS RANKING The ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking was launched at the end of It is published following every tie weekend and measures success over the preceding 4-year period, with recent performances weighted more heavily. It is the sole criteria for seeding at all levels of Davis Cup competition. Latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking (18 July 2016) 1 Great Britain 11 USA 2 Czech Republic 12 Canada 3 Switzerland 13 Kazakhstan 4 France 14 Spain 5 Argentina 15 Germany 6 Belgium 16 Japan 7 Croatia 17 Slovakia 8 Serbia 18 Russia 9 Italy 19 Brazil 10 Australia 20 India 3

4 DAVIS CUP RECORDS^ Most Games in a Tie (post-tiebreak*) Most Games in a Tie (pre-tiebreak*) World Group 275: France d. Switzerland 3-2, 2001 quarterfinal 281: Paraguay d. France 3-2, 1985 first round Davis Cup 281: Romania d. Ecuador 3-2, 2003 WG play-off 327: India d. Australia 3-2, 1974 Eastern Zone Final Most Games in a Singles Rubber (post-tiebreak*) 82: Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Ivo Karkovic (CRO) 2009 semifinal 82: Richard Ashby (BAR) d. Jose Medrano (BOL) 1991 Americas II, first round Most Games in a Singles Rubber (pre-tiebreak*) 85: Michael Westphal (FRG) d. Tomas Smid (TCH) 1985 semifinal 100: Harry Fritz (CAN) d. Jorge Andrew (VEN) 1982 Americas Zone semifinal Most Games in a Doubles Rubber (post-tiebreak*) 91: Berdych/Rosol (CZE) d. Chiudinelli/Wawrinka (SUI), 2013 first round see World Group Most Games in a Doubles Rubber (pre-tiebreak*) 77 (twice): Annacone/Flach (USA) d. Cash/Fitzgerald (AUS) 1986 semifinal Casal/Sanchez (ESP) d. Gonzalez/Pecci (PAR) 1987 quarterfinal 122: Smith/Van Dillen (USA) d. Cornejo/ Fillol (CHI), 1973 American Zone Final Most Games in a Set (singles) Most Games in a Set (doubles) 40 (21-19): Carlos Kirmayr (BRA) v Uli Pinner (FRG) 1981 Relegation Tie 46 (24-22): Berdych/Rosol (CZE) v Chiudinelli/Wawrinka (SUI) 2013 first round 46 (24-22 twice): Alvaro Betancur (COL) v Dale Power (CAN) 1976 American Zone Andrei Chesnokov (URS) v Michiel Schapers (NED), 1987 European Zone 76 (39-37): Cornejo/Fillol (CHI) v Smith/Van Dillen (USA) 1973 American Zone Final Longest Fifth Set (Singles) Longest Fifth Set (Doubles) (twice): Michael Westphal (FRG) v Tomas Smid (TCH) 1985 semifinal Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) v Andy Roddick (USA) 2006 semifinal 24-22: Berdych/Rosol (CZE) v Chiudinelli/Wawrinka (SUI), 2013 first round (twice): Richard Ashby (BAR) v Jose Medrano (BOL), 1991 Americas II, first round. Nuno Marques (POR) v Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) 1998 Europe/Africa II, second round see World Group Longest recorded playing-time (tie) Longest singles rubber 21 hours, 2 minutes: France d. Switzerland 3-2, 2001 quarterfinal 6 hours, 43 minutes: Leonardo Mayer (ARG) d. Joao Souza (BRA), 2015 first round 21 hours, 37 minutes: Romania d. Ecuador 3-2, 2003 WG play-off see World Group 4

5 Longest doubles rubber 7 hours, 1 minute: Berdych/Rosol (CZE) d. Chiudinelli/Wawrinka (SUI), 2013 first round see World Group Fewest number of games conceded in a tie 26: Germany d. Indonesia 5-0, 1989 first round 6: Sri Lanka d. Syria 1991 Asia/Oceania II, first round Longest tiebreak* 15-13: Patrick Rafter (AUS) d. David Rikl (CZE), 1997 first round 19-17: Young-Jun Kim (KOR) d. Aqeel Khan (PAK), 2003 Asia/Oceania Zone Group I *the tiebreak was introduced in Davis Cup in 1989; ^for further details see the Statistics page on DavisCup.com 5

6 Great Britain v Argentina Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Great Britain hard (indoors) Head-to-head: Argentina leads 3-1 This is the 5th meeting between the two nations, but their first since 2008, when led by David Nalbandian Argentina won 4-1 at the Estadio Parque Roca in Buenos Aires without dropping a set in the live rubbers. Great Britain is bidding to defeat Argentina for the first time since 1928, when it won 4-1 on clay on home soil in Torquay. Argentina has won the last 3 meetings between the two nations in 1981, 1989 and This is the first meeting between Great Britain and Argentina on a hard court. Three of their previous meetings came on clay, with one on grass at Eastbourne in GREAT BRITAIN v ARGENTINA 1 Current DC Nations Ranking 5 Champion 10 times Runner-up 4 times Best Result (most recent 2015) (most recently 2011) 1900 First year played Years played (incl 2016) Years in World Group (incl 2016) Ties played Ties Win-Loss Comebacks from 0-2 down 0 Defending champion GREAT BRITAIN is bidding to reach back-to-back Davis Cup Finals for the first time since contesting 5 Challenge Round Finals in a row in Great Britain is looking to reach its 21st Davis Cup Final overall. Last year, Great Britain won the Davis Cup title for the first time since 1936 in its first Final appearance since 1978 after defeating Belgium 3-1 in the Final in Ghent. It was its 10th Davis Cup title and saw Great Britain take sole occupancy of 3rd place on the list for most Davis Cup titles behind USA (32) and Australia (28). Great Britain is bidding to record its 7th consecutive Davis Cup tie victory, having not lost a tie since falling to Italy in the 2014 quarterfinals in Naples. Great Britain has not won 7 ties in a row since winning 10 consecutive ties from Great Britain advanced to the World Group semifinals for the 2nd straight year and just the 2nd time since 1981 after defeating Japan 3-1 in the first round in Birmingham and Serbia 3-2 in the quarterfinals in Belgrade. Kyle Edmund was the standout performer for Great Britain in the quarterfinals, defeating Janko Tipsarevic and Dusan Lajovic in straight sets to record his first victories in Davis Cup. Dominic Inglot recorded his first Davis Cup rubber win alongside Jamie Murray to seal the other point for Great Britain. Great Britain is bidding to become the 6th different nation to defend the Davis Cup title since the formation of the World Group in There have been 6 successful title defences by 5 different nations in World Group history: USA ; Sweden ; West Germany ; Sweden ; Spain and Czech Republic Great Britain is playing in the World Group for the 3rd consecutive year. It is the first time it has spent 3 straight years in the World Group since it featured in the top tier of the competition for 4 straight years in Andy Murray will take sole ownership of 3rd place on the list for most Davis Cup singles wins by a British man if he wins a singles rubber this weekend. He is currently level with Tim Henman and Mike Sangster on 29 singles wins. Most Davis Cup singles match-wins by a British player 1. Bunny Austin Fred Perry = Tim Henman 29-8 Andy Murray

7 Mike Sangster Buster Mottram Roger Taylor Tony Mottram Billy Knight Greg Rusedski Andy Murray is the 5th most successful British player in terms of Davis Cup total match-wins. He will equal Tim Henman in 4th place if he wins 3 rubbers this weekend. Most overall Davis Cup match-wins by a British player 1. Fred Perry Mike Sangster Bobby Wilson Tim Henman Andy Murray = Bunny Austin Tony Mottram Buster Mottram Greg Rusedski Roger Taylor Andy Murray is on an 14-match winning streak in Davis Cup rubbers (singles and doubles). He has not lost a Davis Cup rubber since losing to Italy s Fabio Fognini in the 2014 World Group quarterfinals in Naples. Andy Murray has a 29-2 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles rubbers, with both of his 2 defeats coming on clay - against Stan Wawrinka in the 2005 World Group play-off defeat to Switzerland and Fognini in the 2014 quarterfinal defeat to Italy. He has a 13-0 singles win-loss record on hard courts in Davis Cup. Great Britain is the only nation that has competed in all the editions of the Davis Cup since Great Britain is ranked No. 1 on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking reaching the position for the first time after winning the title in If Great Britain wins, it will host Croatia or travel to France for the Final on November. ARGENTINA is contesting its 150th Davis Cup tie this weekend. Argentina is bidding to reach its 5th Davis Cup Final, having finished runner-up in 1981 (l. USA), 2006 (l. Russia), 2008 (l. Spain) and 2011 (l. Spain). Argentina is one of 4 nations, along with Belgium, India and Romania, to have reached more than one Davis Cup Final without being crowned champion, but the only nation to have lost 4 Finals without winning the title. Argentina is through to its 11th World Group semifinal since The nation is playing in the World Group for the 15th consecutive year. Argentina advanced to the semifinals after defeating Poland 3-2 in the first round in Gdansk and Italy 3-1 in the quarterfinals in Pesaro. Federico Delbonis was the hero against Italy, winning 2 singles rubbers, while Guido Pella teamed with Juan Martin del Potro to win the doubles rubber in five sets in Del Potro s first Davis Cup appearance since September Last year, Argentina reached the semifinals after defeating Brazil 3-2 and Serbia 4-1, before falling to Belgium 3-2 in Brussels. Leonardo Mayer won the longest singles rubber in Davis Cup history in the 2015 World Group first round, defeating Brazil s Joao Souza in 5-sets in 6 hours 43 minutes. It was the 2nd longest singles-match in tennis history, after John Isner s 11-hour-5-minute victory over Nicolas Mahut at 2010 Wimbledon. 7

8 Mayer is bidding to extend his 11-match winning streak in Davis Cup rubbers for Argentina, having not lost a singles or doubles rubber since falling to Tomas Berdych in Argentina s 3-2 defeat to Czech Republic in the 2013 World Group semifinals. He has won his last 9 Davis Cup singles rubbers, and has a 10-3 singles win-loss record and a 12-4 overall win-loss record in Davis Cup. Juan Martin del Potro could make his first Davis Cup singles appearance for Argentina since they fell to Czech Republic in the 2012 World Group semifinals. Del Potro has a 12-4 singles win-loss record in Davis Cup, and won his first appearance in a Davis Cup doubles rubber alongside Pella in this year s quarterfinals. Argentina is currently ranked No. 5 in the Davis Cup Nations Ranking. If Argentina wins this weekend it will travel to either Croatia or France in the Final on November. 8

9 Croatia v France Kresimir Cosic Hall, Zadar, CRO hard (indoors) Head-to-head: France leads 1-0 France won the only previous meeting between the 2 nations 4-1 on clay in the World Group first round in Metz in Arnaud Clement recorded 2 singles wins, while Nicolas Escude and Michael Llodra won the doubles rubber for the hosts. CROATIA v FRANCE 7 Current DC Nations Ranking 4 Champion 2005 Best Result Champion 9 times (most recent 2001) 1993 First Year Played Years Played (inc 2016) Years in World Group (inc 2016) Ties Played Ties Win-Loss Comebacks from 0-2 down 4 CROATIA is bidding to reach the Davis Cup Final for the 2nd time its only previous appearance in the FInal was in 2005, when it won the title unseeded. In 2005, Croatia became the 12th nation to win Davis Cup, defeating Slovakia 3-2 (with Mario Ancic winning the deciding rubber) in the Final in Bratislava. It was also the first time that an unseeded nation had won the Davis Cup since the introduction of the World Group in Serbia (2010), Switzerland (2014) and Great Britain (2015) have since also won the title unseeded. Croatia is through to the World Group semifinals for the first time since 2009, when it fell to Czech Republic 4-1 on indoor clay on home soil in Porec. Croatia advanced to the semifinals after defeating Belgium 3-2 in the first round in Liege and coming back from 0-2 down for the first time to defeat USA 3-2 in the quarterfinals in Portland, Oregon. The result was just the 10th 0-2 comeback in World Group history. Nineteen-year-old Borna Coric was the hero on both occasions, winning the decisive fifth rubber in each tie. This is Croatia s first home tie since it fell to Great Britain 4-1 in the 2013 World Group play-offs in Umag, ending a run of 6 consecutive ties on away soil. This is only Croatia s 2nd home tie in its last 12 Davis Cup encounters. Last year, Croatia lost 5-0 to Serbia in the World Group first round. It avoided dropping into Europe/Africa Zone Group I after defeating Brazil 3-1 in the World Group play-offs in Florianopolis. Croatia is making its 14th World Group appearance this year. Marin Cilic has won 12 of his last 15 Davis Cup singles rubbers. His only defeats in that time came against Juan Martin del Potro in the 2012 World Group quarterfinals, David Goffin in the first round this year and Jack Sock, having led by two-sets-to-love, in this year s quarterfinals against USA. Cilic has a 19-9 singles record and a total win-loss record in Davis Cup. If Croatia wins this weekend, it will host Argentina or travel to Great Britain in the Final on November. Croatia is one of 7 nations to rank No. 1 since the rankings were introduced in 2001 (alongside Australia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Russia and Spain). Croatia was ranked No. 1 between November 2005 and September It is currently ranked No. 7 in the Davis Cup nations ranking. FRANCE is contesting its 250th Davis Cup tie this weekend. 9

10 France is bidding to reach its 18th Davis Cup Final this weekend. It has been crowned Davis Cup champion 9 times and is in 4th place on the list of all-time champions, behind USA, Australia and Great Britain. Its last title win came in 2001 when it defeated Australia 3-2 on grass in Melbourne. France is through to the World Group semifinals for the 4th time in 7 years after defeating Canada 5-0 in the first round in Guadeloupe and Czech Republic 3-1 in the quarterfinals in Trinec. Last year, France defeated Germany 3-2 in the first round in Frankfurt before falling to eventual champion Great Britain 3-1 in the quarterfinals in London. Only France and USA have won a Davis Cup Final on all four surfaces (grass, clay, hard and carpet). This is France s 18th consecutive World Group appearance. France has only twice been absent from the World Group since its inception in Its 34 years in the World Group is second only to Czech Republic (35 years) and USA (35). Gael Monfils is bidding to extend his 8-rubber winning streak in Davis Cup ties. Monfils has not lost a Davis Cup rubber since the 2010 Final, where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the fourth rubber as Serbia defeated France 3-2. Monfils has a 12-2 win-loss record in Davis Cup rubbers, with his only other defeat coming in his first appearance in the competition, a World Group play-off tie against Netherlands in France is one of 7 nations to have held the No. 1 ranking, alongside Australia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Russia and Spain. France held the top spot between February 2002 and September 2003 and again from April 2004 to July It is currently ranked No. 4. The Davis Cup Nations Ranking was introduced in 2001 and is updated after each round. If France wins this weekend, it will host either Argentina or Great Britain in the Final on November. 10