Russia, with Rublev and Medvedev, lose 3-1 at home to Austria.
Rublev lost to Dennis Novak then didn't appear for the supposed 1 vs 1 match, having also lost in the doubles earlier in partnership with Khachanov. Donskoy and Jurgen Melzer came in and 36 yo Melzer prevailed.
Though he's a mere youngster compared to 44 yo Leander Paes who in partnership with 38 yo Bopanna began the India fightback vs China. They won the last 2 sets ( ie sets 2 and 3 ) on tiebreaks. So incidentally clearly final set TBs are in at that level as well as being best of 3.
Edit : actually final set TB are in at world group level too. Something at the back of my mind said they might be and I checked back to World Group R1 and indeed there were at least a couple of 5th set 7-6 scores. That's OK, it's the not being 5 sets that is my gripe ( well, one of them ).
-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 7th of April 2018 08:58:09 PM
If Argentina win, Japan could get ousted from the seedings and be a possible opponent, and away from home. Rest don't look too daunting to be honest but Japan away I wouldn't fancy. Brazil as well, if they get through, would be home or away.
With the results in, looks like the likely unseeded nations will
Colombia India Uzbekistan Sweden Bosnia Austria Japan Hungary
Japan and Hungary should be unseeded as Argentina and Czech will become seeds.
Not sure of our history with these in terms of home and away, I think India, Sweden, Austria and Japan Gb all played at home.last time they played, so we will be away to them. Colombia, Uzbekistan and Bosnia I think will be toss of coin, possibly Hungary also. Looks like odds will be on an away tie, probably clay again....
Edit - Gb also would play Hungary away as we last played them in 2011 in Glasgow!
-- Edited by JonH on Sunday 8th of April 2018 10:07:34 PM
Some tough ties away there if these seedings come to pass.
I guess if we're out of the WG Jon then we will still get home ties as part of qualification process. ITF vote on this in August at the annual shin dig I hear.
Some tough ties away there if these seedings come to pass. I guess if we're out of the WG Jon then we will still get home ties as part of qualification process. ITF vote on this in August at the annual shin dig I hear.
and Hungary would also be away as we last played them at home in 2011!
Yes, Japan and Colombia overtook the Netherlands in the rankings with Japan taking the final seeding slot and now out of the equation.
Our choice is: Colombia, Netherlands, Hungary, India, Sweden, Austria, Uzbekistan, Bosnia/H. No advantage in a particularly high seeding, it is a lucky ( or unlucky ) dip of the 8 unseeded teams.
Draw proceedings commence tomorrow, the 10th, at 10 am BST in London.