Zverev, Shapovalov Lead Countries In Davis Cup Qualifying

Twelve spots at the 2019 Davis Cup Finals, to be held 18-24 November in Madrid, will be up for grabs this weekend during the inaugural Davis Cup qualifying rounds. ATPTour.com previews the action.

BRAZIL vs. BELGIUM
Venue: Sabiazinho – Ginasio Presidente Tancredo Neves, Uberlândia, Brazil
Surface: Clay, Indoors

Belgium leads the series 3-0, including a win during the 2016 World Group play-offs, but left-hander Thiago Monteiro, No. 107 in the ATP Rankings, will lead the home country in search of its first win against the European nation.

UZBEKISTAN vs. SERBIA
Venue: Saxovat Sport Servis Sport Complex, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Surface: Hard, Indoors

Serbia, behind Dusan Lajovic and Filip Krajinovic, will look to improve to 2-0 against Uzbekistan, who will be led by 32-year-old Denis Istomin, No. 105.

AUSTRALIA vs. BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA
Venue: Memorial Drive Tennis Club, Adelaide, Australia
Surface: Hard, Outdoors

Australians will enjoy one more weekend of home summer tennis as the green and gold take on Damir Dzumhur and the squad from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sydney International titlist Alex de Minaur and 2018 US Open quarter-finalist John Millman will lead the home squad, along with John Peers, who fell in the Australian Open doubles final (with Henri Kontinen; l. to Herbert/Mahut).

Read More: Herbert/Mahut Complete Career Grand Slam In Doubles

INDIA vs. ITALY
Venue: Calcutta South Club, Kolkata, India
Surface: Grass, Outdoors

India, led by Prajnesh Gunneswaran (No. 102) and Ramkumar Ramanathan (No. 133), will put its four-tie grass-court winning streak on the line against the visiting Italians, led by veteran Andreas Seppi and Gstaad titlist Matteo Berrettini. Ramanathan reached the Hall of Fame Open final on grass last July in Newport (l. to Johnson).

GERMANY vs. HUNGARY
Venue: Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
Surface: Hard, Indoors

A strong German squad, led by No. 3 Alexander Zverev and veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber, will lead Germany as it looks to book a place in the Davis Cup Finals. Hungary, without No. 47 Marton Fucsovics, is expected to have Zsombor Piros (No. 368) and Peter Nagy (No. 819) play singles.

SWITZERLAND vs. RUSSIA
Venue: Swiss Tennis Arena, Biel, Switzerland
Surface: Hard, Indoors

Visiting Russia carries all of its young talent to Biel, as Rolex Paris Masters champion Karen Khachanov, three-time ATP Tour titlist Daniil Medvedev and two-time Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier Andrey Rublev are making the trip. Henri Laaksonen (No. 142) and Marc-Andrea Huesler (No. 337) will lead Switzerland and attempt to stave off the Russians.

KAZAKHSTAN vs. PORTUGAL
Venue: National Tennis Center, Astana, Kazakhstan
Surface: Hard, Indoors

Joao Sousa will go for personal Davis Cup history when he leads Portugal against Kazakhstan. With two singles wins this weekend, Sousa (23-12) will match Joao Cunha-Silva’s record (25-28) for most Davis Cup singles match wins by a Portuguese player.

CZECH REPUBLIC vs. NETHERLANDS
Ostravar Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Surface: Hard, Indoors

Czech Republic, 2012-13 Davis Cup champions, will play in its 211th tie this weekend as Jiri Vesely and Lukas Rosol lead the home nation against Netherlands, which boasts a roster of Robin Haase (No. 54) and Jean-Julien Rojer (No. 18 in ATP Doubles Rankings).

COLOMBIA vs. SWEDEN
Venue: Palacio de los Deportes, Bogota, Colombia
Surface: Clay – Red Clay, Indoor

Nitto ATP Finals doubles semi-finalists Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah will try to win their 10th Davis Cup doubles match together against Sweden, which will be led by the Ymer brothers – Elias Ymer and Mikael Ymer.

Watch Flashback: Elias Ymer Visits Home Ethiopia

AUSTRIA vs. CHILE
Venue: Salzburg Arena/Messezentrum Salzburg, Austria
Surface: Clay, Indoors

Austrian Jurgen Melzer, who retired from singles at last year’s Erste Bank Open 500, is expected to play doubles with former doubles No. 2 Oliver Marach. Brasil Open finalist Nicolas Jarry will lead visiting Chile.

SLOVAKIA vs. CANADA
Venue: NTC Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia
Surface: Clay, Indoors

Canada’s #NextGenATP leaders – Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime – will try to secure their country’s 67th win in Davis Cup ties. Auger-Aliassime, 18, will be playing in his first tie. Martin Klizan (No. 37) and Filip Horansky (No. 199) will lead Slovakia.

CHINA vs. JAPAN
Venue: Guangdong Olympic Sports Center Tennis Center, Guangzhou, China
Surface: Hard, Outdoors

Visiting Japan, led by Yoshihito Nishioka (No. 66) and Taro Daniel (No. 69), leads their series 8-1, including the past five. But Ze Zhang (No. 208) and Zhe Li (No. 225) will try to snap the losing skid.