The Davis Cup gets underway today with the World Group first round ties. Each match will have two singles games today so let's have a quick look at who to watch out for today. France gets their tie with Israel underway around noon with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga taking on Amir Weintraub. This should be a very comfortable start for the French side and I'd expect Tsonga to win in three. The second rubber from this tie sees Richard Gasquet face Dudi Sela. This should be slightly more difficult but given the form Gasquet is in they should take a 2-0 lead by the end of play today.
Swiss star, Stanislas Wawrinka will be closely watched today after his performances down under and he faces a man who knows what that feels like in Lukas Rosol. Rosol beat Nadal at Wimbledon last year but hasn't been able to string two wins together since. Wawrinka should win this one in straight forward fashion. Tomas Berdych should level this tie up for the Czech Republic when he faces Henri Laaksonen in the second rubber. Interesting tie this one, I fancy 1-1 heading into tomorrow.
Italy and Croatia meet on the clay of Turin today and this one is very close to call. Fabio Fognini opens against Marin Cilic and normally I'd go for Cilic but I think the clay might just give Fognini an edge. The second tie is another close one but Andreas Seppi is playing great tennis right now and I fancy him to beat Ivan Dodig. This one could go either way but I have a feeling Italy might be 2-0 up by the end of play.
Belgium have a very difficult task on their hands when they face Serbia but I think they'll get a perfect start when David Goffin faces Viktor Troicki. Goffin is a stylish player with a fierce forehand and I don' see Troicki having enough to beat him. The second tie is a certainty for Serbia as Novak Djokovic faces Olivier Rochus. Rochus leads their head to head 3-2 but Novak is a changed man since their last meeting and he will win this one comfortably.
Argentina and Germany has got fifth rubber decider written all over it. I think they'll split today's results one apiece and the doubles will be crucial. Phillip Kohlschreiber will be just too good for Carlos Berlocq to give Germany a lead but I don't see any of the Germans beating Juan Monaco on the clay. He faces Florian Mayer who is a very good player but he won't find joy against Monaco.
The USA should take a 2-0 lead into the doubles tomorrow when they face Brazil. Sam Querrey and Tomasz Bellucci are evenly split but the medium pace indoor hard courts will swing it Querrey's way. The second tie sees John Isner return to action after a knee injury to face Thiago Alves. This game is only going one way with Isner taking the point for the USA.
Canada and Spain is a fascinating contest with Spain missing three top eleven players. Canada have a great chance of an upset and Milos Raonic will start them off by beating Albert Ramos. Ramos will have a good few months coming up on the clay but indoor hard courts won't so him any favours. I think the Spanish will get a point back when Guillermo Garcia-Lopez faces Frank Dancevic. There is a gulf in class between these two and I fancy the Spaniard.
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