![Denis Istomin will be hoping to lead Uzbekistan to victory By SweTennis (Denis Istomin) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.ubitennis.com/eng/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Denis_Istomin_19938131096.jpg)
Uzbekistan, the home team in this tie having defeated Korea Republic in the last round, have unsurprisingly opted to face the United States on outdoor clay, a surface typically unfavoured by Americans. The headline player for the home side is Denis Istomin, the world number sixty-two. Istomin has only won back-to-back matches at three tournaments this year, though one of the resulted in his first career title on the grass at Nottingham. In the title match at Nottingham, he defeated Sam Querrey, though Querrey is not expected to take part in the singles. Istomin will be joined by world one hundred and fifty-eighth ranked Farrukh Dustov.
The biggest news for the United States is arguably who is not playing. Top ranked John Isner is not available for this tie, and the Bryan brothers are also absent. Instead Jack Sock will be leading the singles contingent, and at twenty-nine, is the highest ranked player involved in this tie. Sock also comes in with a good record on clay. A fourth round showing at Roland Garros, and his first career title on the clay in Houston indicates his prowess on the surface. He is joined in the singles by Steve Johnson, who is ten places removed of his career high ranking of thirty-seven. He does however have wins this summer over Grigor Dimitrov, Bernard Tomic, and Jack Sock, these all coming at the Citi Open in Washington DC. Johnson also made the third round of Roland Garros, losing to eventual champion Wawrinka.
The doubles is expected to be Istomin/Dustov against US Open semi-finalists Johnson/Querrey. Istomin/Dustov are an experienced pairing in the Davis Cup for Uzbekistan, whilst the Johnson/Querrey team is relatively new, though their recent run to the US Open semis included wins over Bryan/Bryan and Paes/Verdasco.
In all the head-to-heads, both singles and doubles, it is a first time career meeting.
Prediction: Despite the absence of some of the USA’s top names they should still manage to progress comfortably, against an Uzbekistan with little depth behind their main man. I can see Istomin perhaps edging one of the singles encounters 4-1 USA.
