TENNIS – The Draw for the Davis Cup World Group Play-Offs was held on 21st July. The winners of the Play-Offs scheduled from 18h to 20th September will qualify for the 2016 World Group. Diego Sampaolo
One of the most interesting matches will be Switzerland-Netherlands. The Swiss team, who won the Davis Cup in 2014, lost the first round match against Belgium with 3-2 but Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka skipped the World Group first round earlier this year. The Swiss tennis federation has announced on Friday that Federer and Wawrinka will play in the Play Off on home soil returning for the first time to this event for the first time since last November when they lifted the Davis Cu Trophy in Lille. Switzerland and the Netherlands will renew their rivalry three years after their World Group Play-Off in Amsterda in 2012.
The Russian team, who recovered from 0-2 down against five-time champions from Spain in Vladivostok last weekend, will host Italy who leads 4-1 in their previous head-to-head matches in the Davis Cup. Russia has not won italy in this event since 1969,
The US team will face a tough travel to Uzbekistan. The home team has made the Play-off in the last eight years but has not won one yet. They narrowly missed the chance to reach the World Group in 2009, 2012 and 2014.
Czech Republic will travel to India for the first time since 1986. The Czech team, who won the Davis Cup title twice in 2012 and 2013, won all the previous three Davis Cup matches.
The Dominican Republic team featuring their national star Victor Estrella Burgos will host Germany. It is a remarkable achievement for the home team who has been playing in the Davis Cup since 1989.
Brazil will host Croatia looking to avenge a 4-1 defeat against a team led by Ivo Karlovic in 2008.
Colombia will be looking to avenge a play-off defeat against Japan in 2013 in Tokyo
Poland and Slovakia will meet for the first time since 1989, when Slovakia prevailed with 4-1.
