Hypothetical

Another quick hit on Davis Cup - anyone else think that next year's first round clash between Spain and Switzerland might prove more of a challenge than this year's final?

Think about it. If anyone's going to topple Nadal in Davis Cup, it'll be Federer. If anyone is going to topple Federer, it'll be Nadal. The Spaniards have a lot more depth - their greatest asset, which is why they won and why they keep winning - but the Swiss don't exactly have a team of slouches. Wawrinka, when he's in form, is capable of beating just about anyone. And Chiudinelli is certainly capable of an upset or two. And if you put Yves Allegro into the mix for the doubles, you've got a world class team right there.

Trouble is, this is all moot, because we don't know who's going to play. Federer hasn't played first round Davis Cup in a thousand years. Wawrinka's girlfriend is due to have a baby in February, which might put a bit of a dint in Swiss plans. And who knows what the Spaniards will be doing? Rafa might be injured again. Same with Verdasco. Though they, unlike the Swiss, have got a very solid second string.

So it could be pretty lame. Or it could be totally awesome - even if just for that one rubber, where Nadal and Federer faced off in the one arena in which they have not yet met: national pride on the line...

Bryan/...Fish?

The news is all Davis Cup today - probably the biggest news being that America is now well and truly screwed. There was no way either Roddick or Querrey was ever going to beat Rafa Nadal on clay, even if Rafa sleepwalked his way through the match. All their hopes rested on winning the doubles and then snatching a couple of reverse singles rubbers, but I think that's shot now. Bob Bryan is out, Mardy Fish is in and one can imagine both he and Mike Bryan would be a bit at sea.

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I know BryanBryan are the best doubles team in the world, but I have serious doubts about their abilities playing with other partners - and I guess we'll find out if I'm right. Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish will (probably) contest the doubles against Verdasco and Lopez, one would imagine, and though they still have a shot at winning (you wouldn't count them out) their chances are greatly lessened. I don't Patrick McEnroe would be a very pleasant person to be round right now.

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Though it may turn out OK for the US, I guess... if Rafa falls over and breaks his leg. To be honest, I think I'd prefer to see Spain in the final anyway - with the depth they have in men's tennis, they sort of deserve a Davis Cup win! I think Spain/Argentina would be veeeeeeery interesting, especially if Rafa played Nalbandian... I am itching for those two to have a rematch, because I want to know what'll happen, what with Rafa having a losing record against Headbandian, but LameDave keeps turning up and losing and it is, like, so annoying. The four teams still left in the running are all very good and all the potential finals match ups are intriguing, but that'd be my preferred one, I think.

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The two teams I want to see back in the World Group next year are Australia and Switzerland, and Switzerland look pretty sure to make it. The Swiss team is Federer, Wawrinka, Allegro and Bohli, playing the Belgians, Darcis, Vliegen and the Rochus brothers. Forgive me, but I'm feeling the Swiss might just win that one. Not only have you got the Mighty Fed in there, you have the Olympic gold medal winning doubles team... though one would imagine Allegro is in there as a doubles specialist. Nevertheless, hopp Suisse. I'm sure you won't be needing the luck I'm sending you, but I'm sending it anyway.

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Australia, of course, are Belgium to Chile's Switzerland, but I have to say that I'm very impressed with the attitude the team is taking. The fact that there's seven guys competing for four spots seems to be pushing them all to greater heights - I only hope they don't wear themselves out before competition actually starts! I would really, really like to see Tomic make the cut, even if they only play him in dead rubbers - I think it would be really good experience for him. I also think he is the player most likely to pull an upset, because he has the potential for absolute fabulousness and the Chilean guns are going to have pretty much no clue who he is, one imagines. I can't see him beating Gonzalez, but against Massu... who knows?

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The Australian team knows that they have very little shot at winning, but it seems like they're prepared to give it their all - Chris Guccione said this morning:

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“I've had some of my best results in Davis Cup. If I can get a win or two its going to be huge.”

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Oh, Gooch, I'd love to see you get some wins too. I think Johm Fitzgerald and Darren Cahill have taken just the right line on this. Gooch and Luczak, you'd think, would be certs to be part of the four man squad, and there are older players like Sirianni they could have gone with, but going with the youth is perfect. There is pretty much no way we're going to win, no matter who we play - so why not have a go and blood the young guys? And if anyone has any chance, one would think it's the young guys, who are so explosive and unpredictable... I am very impressed indeed. Aussie Aussie Aussie!

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Today's Results

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Toray Pan Pacific Open (Tokyo)

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Agnieszka Radwanska def. Aiko Nakamura, 6-1 6-4

Francesca Schiavone def. Daniela Hantuchova, 6-1 7-5

Kaia Kanepi def. Anna Chakvetadze, 6-4 3-6 6-3

Marion Bartoli def. Maria Kirilenko, 6-2 6-2

Flavia Pennetta def. Shahar Peer, 6-4 6-4

Alizé Cornet def. Aleksandra Wozniak, 4-6 6-3 6-3

Dominika Cibulkova def. Amélie Mauresmo, 0-6 6-1 7-6 (10-8)

Ayumi Morita def. Agnes Szavay, 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 6-4

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TOE Life Ceramics Guangzhou International Women's Open (Guangzhou)

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Zheng Jie def. Sun Tiantian, 6-0 6-1

Gisela Dulko def. Tatiana Poutchek, 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-4

Pauline Parmentier def. Han Xinyun, 6-1 7-5

Jill Craybas def. Anastasia Pivovarova, 6-2 6-4

Arantxa Rus def. Yanina Wickmayer, 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 6-4

Xu Yi-Fan def. Stéphanie Dubois, 6-3 6-1