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Betfair Davis Cup first-round preview

The tennis focus switches this week from the quest for individual success to the pursuit of team glory as the 2007 Davis Cup gets under way.

This weekend's action centres on the big guns in the eight ties in the World Group.

Each contest features two men's singles, one men's doubles and reverse singles played over Friday, Saturday and Sunday and presents all sorts of exciting possibilities for Betfair's tennis fans.

Here we look at the eight ties, starting with Russia's defence of the title they won in December with a nail-biting 3-2 win over Argentina.

Chile v Russia

Marat Safin, hero of Russia's 2002 and 2006 World Final wins over France and Argentina respectively, leads the holders into action against Chile on the clay courts at La Serena on Friday.

And he will feature in what promises to be the tie of the match against Fernando Gonzalez, the Australian Open runner-up.

Gonzo leads 3-2 in head-to-head meetings but Safin won their only previous Davis Cup clash in the 2005 first round 7-6 7-6 1-6 6-7 6-4.

Chile's other singles hope is Nicolas Massu, who has just finished runner-up in his hometown Vina del Mar tournament for the second year running.

Massu wasn't happy with his form in this ATP event and said: "I know tomorrow is another day and I will forget about this and focus on my next goal which is the Davis Cup."

But doubles specialist Paul Capdeville took the doubles title (with Spain's Oscar Hernandez) to put him in good heart for the Russian test.

It is the fourth meeting between the nations in Davis Cup with Russia having won the three previous clashes. Their last meeting was in Moscow in 2005 when Russia won 4-1.

But against that Chile have won their last nine home ties in the Davis Cup and Betfair have them trading at 1.5 while Russia are 2.82 to triumph and meet the winners of the tie between...

FRANCE V ROMANIA

France, the 2002 beaten finalists, face Romania indoors in the Grand Halle d'Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand for the eighth time in the Davis Cup. And Romania have won only once, back in 1974.

Their most recent meeting was in the 2003 World Group first round in Bucharest where France had a winning lead by the second day and clinched the tie 4-1.

Sebastian Grosjean was in that team and he is in their line-up this weekend along with the equally experienced Arnaud Clement and the exciting young prospect Richard Gasquet.

With Gasquet, the World No 16, more than 100 places higher than Romania's top singles player Andrei Pavel, the Romanians will be hard pressed to overcome the French and their passionate fans and France will be strong favourites to progress from the tie.
Germany v Croatia

Germany have the home advantage indoors in the Konig Palast in Krefeld for this third clash with Croatia. The Germans won their first meeting but Croatia won 4-1 when they met in 2002.

A lot will rest on the shoulders of Germany's Tommy Haas. The world No 10 stands 2-2 in head to heads with world No 8 Ivan Ljubicic and 1-1 with World No 9 Mario Ancic but has met neither of them in Davis Cup action.

Haas will probably need to win both his singles if Germany, trading at 2.04, are to earn a second-round clash with the winners of ....

Belgium v Australia

Belgium have yet to win a rubber against Australia having lost their 1991 meeting in Perth 5-0 and their 1922 clash 4-0.

It could be closer this time inside the Country Hall du Sart-Tilman in Liege. Lleyton Hewitt has a 2-0 winning record against Belgium's No 1 Olivier Rochus. But the Belgian beat Chris Guccione over five sets last month in the Australian Open in their only meeting, winning 9-7 in the fifth.

Czech Republic v United States

Tomas Berdych will have to win both his singles against James Blake and Andy Roddick in Ostrava's CEZ Arena if the Czech Republic are to prevail, especially as Bob and Mike Bryan, the Australian Open champions, look certs for the doubles' rubber.

Worryingly Berdych has lost both his previous meetings with Blake. As for Roddick, much will depend on whether he has got that Roger Federer mauling in Melbourne out of his system.

The nations have met five times and USA hold a 4-1 advantage. The last three encounters have all gone to the fifth rubber but the USA are 1.22 favourites to triumph and set up a second-round clash with the winners of ...

Switzerland v Spain

The good news for Spain is that there is no Roger Federer in the Swiss team so Rafa Nadal and David Ferrer should be able to provide the fire power to overcome the Swiss in this fifth meeting between the nations. Spain have won their last three encounters and are trading at 1.35 with Betfair to go through inside Geneva's Palexpo stadium.

Belarus v Sweden

A first-time meeting between these two nations, although Belarus have won 10 of their previous 11 home ties so Mats Wilander's team will have to be on their guard in Minsk. Even so, the strength in depth from Robin Soderling, Jonas Bjorkman and Thomas Johansson should be enough to overcome a Belarus team relying heavily on Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Votchkov. Sweden are trading at 1.45 with Betfair to win and set up a second-round clash with the winners of ....

Austria v Argentina

Another first encounter and one that could be close with David Nalbandian missing from the 2006 runners-up's line-up. Austria will call on World No 30 Jurgen Melzer and No 71 Stefan Koubek. Argentina rely on Jose Acasuso at No 40 and Juan-Martin Del Potro at No 67.

In the only singles meetings between the players Acasuso stands 1-0 against Melzer and Koubek 1-0 against Acasuso so the tie is probably the most wide open of the eight.
Betfair have Austria at 1.8 to make home advantage in Linz count while Argentina are 1.75.

All markets are in the early stage and expect to see odds changing as line-ups are finalised ahead of Friday's opening rubbers.