2009 Davis Cup World Group

The World Group was the highest level of Davis Cup competition in 2009. The first-round losers went into the Davis Cup World Group Play-offs, and the winners progress to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinalists were guaranteed a World Group spot for 2010.

Participating Teams

Participating Teams
Argentina	Austria	Chile	Croatia
Czech Republic	France	Germany	Israel
Netherlands	Romania	Russia	Serbia
Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	United States

Draw

	First round 6–8 March					Quarterfinals 10–12 July					Semifinals 18–20 September					Final 4–6 December
	Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay)[1]
	1	Argentina	5
						Ostrava, Czech Republic (indoor hard)[2]
		Netherlands	0
						1	Argentina	2
	Ostrava, Czech Republic (indoor carpet)[3]
							Czech Republic	3
	8	France	2
											Poreč, Croatia (indoor clay)[4]
		Czech Republic	3
												Czech Republic	4
	Birmingham, United States (indoor hard)[5]
										5	Croatia	1
	4	United States	4
						Poreč, Croatia (indoor clay)[6]
		Switzerland	1
						4	United States	2
	Poreč, Croatia (indoor hard)[7]
						5	Croatia	3
	5	Croatia	5
																Barcelona, Spain (indoor clay)[8]
		Chile	0
																	Czech Republic	0
	Malmö, Sweden (indoor carpet)[9]
																2	Spain	5
		Israel	3
						Tel Aviv, Israel (indoor hard)[10]
	6	Sweden	2
							Israel	4
	Sibiu, Romania (indoor carpet)[11]
						3	Russia	1
		Romania	1
											Murcia, Spain (clay)[12]
	3	Russia	4
												Israel	1
	Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (indoor hard)[13]
										2	Spain	4
		Austria	2
						Marbella, Spain (clay)[14]
	7	Germany	3
						7	Germany	2
	Benidorm, Spain (clay)[15]
						2	Spain	3
		Serbia	1
	2	Spain	4

First round

Argentina vs. Netherlands

Argentina 5	Estadio Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, Argentina[1] 6–8 March 2009 Clay		Netherlands 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 Juan Ignacio Chela Jesse Huta Galung 6 2 2 6 6 2 6^4 7^7 6 2   2 Juan Mónaco Thiemo de Bakker 6 1 6 2 7^7 6^1       3 Lucas Arnold Ker / Martín Vassallo Argüello Jesse Huta Galung / Rogier Wassen 6 4 7 5 6 3       4 Martín Vassallo Argüello Matwe Middelkoop 6 2 6 4         5 Juan Ignacio Chela Thiemo de Bakker 7 5 6 2

Czech Republic vs. France

Czech Republic 3	ČEZ Aréna, Ostrava, Czech Republic[3] 6–8 March 2009 Carpet (i)		France 2
1 2 3 4 5 1 Tomáš Berdych Gilles Simon 7^7 6^3 4 6 7^7 6^2 6 3     2 Radek Štěpánek Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 5 7 2 6 6^1 7^7       3 Tomáš Berdych / Radek Štěpánek Richard Gasquet / Michaël Llodra 6 3 1 6 6 4 6 2     4 Radek Štěpánek Gilles Simon 7^7 6^2 6 3 7 6       5 Jan Hernych Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 2 6 7^7 6^5 6^0 7^7

United States vs. Switzerland

United States 4	Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, Birmingham, United States[5] 6–8 March 2009 Hard (i)		Switzerland 1
1 2 3 4 5 1 James Blake Stanislas Wawrinka 6 3 4 6 3 6 6^3 7^7     2 Andy Roddick Marco Chiudinelli 6 1 6 3 7^7 6^5       3 Bob Bryan / Mike Bryan Yves Allegro / Stanislas Wawrinka 6 3 6 4 3 6 7^7 6^2     4 Andy Roddick Stanislas Wawrinka 6 4 6 4 6 2       5 James Blake Marco Chiudinelli 6 4 7^8 6^6

Croatia vs. Chile

Croatia 5	Višenamjenska Sportska Dvorana Žatika, Poreč, Croatia[7] 6–8 March 2009 Hard (i)		Chile 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 Mario Ančić Nicolás Massú 6 3 6 3 7^7 6^4       2 Marin Čilić Paul Capdeville 6 1 6 2 6 1       3 Mario Ančić / Marin Čilić Paul Capdeville / Nicolás Massú 6 3 6 3 3 6 6 4     4 Roko Karanušić Guillermo Hormazábal 7 5 6 3         5 Ivo Karlović Hans Podlipnik-Castillo 6 3 7^7 6^4

Sweden vs. Israel

Sweden 2	The Baltic Hall, Malmö, Sweden[9] 6–8 March 2009 Carpet (i)		Israel 3
1 2 3 4 5 1 Thomas Johansson Harel Levy 6^3 7^7 6 4 7 5 4 6 8 6   2 Andreas Vinciguerra Dudi Sela 6 4 3 6 6 3 3 6 9 11   3 Simon Aspelin / Robert Lindstedt Amir Hadad / Andy Ram 6 4 1 6 7^7 6^4 6 4     4 Thomas Johansson Dudi Sela 6 3 1 6 6 4 4 6 2 6   5 Andreas Vinciguerra Harel Levy 4 6 6 4 4 6 6 3 6 8

Controversy and riots

Sweden attracted controversy when they forbade fans from seeing the matches inside the Baltic Hall, fearing anti-Israeli violence.^[16] Several Swedish politicians, including the mayor of Malmo and the head of the Green Party, said that they wanted to cancel the match instead of having an Israeli team play in the city, but after it was strongly pointed out that Sweden would suffer a forfeit loss and elimination of the Cup tournament, the prospect of a cancellation was nixed. A proposal to move the matches to Stockholm fell through because of limited preparation time.^[17] Israeli player Andy Ram condemned the switch, calling it a "stupid decision".^[18] In the end, anti-Israel protesters rioted outside the stadium while the Swedish team was stunned when Israel defeated them.

The Davis Cup fined the Swedish tennis federation $25,000 and ordered them to pay an additional $15,000 in what would have been gate receipts. The city of Malmö was also banned from hosting Davis Cup matches for the next five years, and Sweden will lose its choice of venue if it happens again, being required to guarantee that future matches will be open to the public.^[19]

Romania vs. Russia

Romania 1	Sala Transilvania, Sibiu, Romania[11] 6–8 March 2009 Carpet (i)		Russia 4
1 2 3 4 5 1 Victor Crivoi Marat Safin 6^5 7^7 4 6 4 6       2 Victor Hănescu Mikhail Youzhny 4 6 2 6 4 6       3 Marius Copil / Horia Tecău Marat Safin / Dmitry Tursunov 4 6 6^2 7^7 7^7 6^4 7^7 6^5 6 4   4 Victor Hănescu Dmitry Tursunov 6 4 7 5 3 6 4 6 2 6   5 Victor Crivoi Teymuraz Gabashvili 4 6 2 6

Germany vs. Austria

Germany 3	Olympia Eissportzentrum, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany[13] 6–8 March 2009 Hard (i)		Austria 2
1 2 3 4 5 1 Rainer Schüttler Stefan Koubek 4 6 5 7 7 5 2 6     2 Philipp Kohlschreiber Jürgen Melzer 6^4 7^7 4 6 6 4 6 3 6 3   3 Nicolas Kiefer / Philipp Kohlschreiber Julian Knowle / Alexander Peya 6 3 7^8 6^6 3 6 6 4     4 Nicolas Kiefer Jürgen Melzer 7^7 6^3 6 4 6 4       5 Christopher Kas Stefan Koubek 2 6 3 6

Spain vs. Serbia

Spain 4	Parque Temático Terra Mítica, Benidorm, Spain[15] 7–8 March 2009 Clay		Serbia 1
1 2 3 4 5 1 David Ferrer Novak Djokovic 6 3 6 3 7^7 6^4       2 Rafael Nadal Janko Tipsarević 6 1 6 0 6 2       3 Tommy Robredo / Feliciano López Viktor Troicki / Nenad Zimonjić 6^5 7^7 4 6 6^7 7^9       4 Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic 6 4 6 4 6 1       5 David Ferrer Viktor Troicki 6 0 6 3

Quarterfinals

Czech Republic vs. Argentina

Czech Republic 3	ČEZ Aréna, Ostrava, Czech Republic[2] 10–12 July 2009 Carpet (i)		Argentina 2
1 2 3 4 5 1 Tomáš Berdych Juan Mónaco 6 4 2 6 2 6 6 3 6 2   2 Ivo Minář Juan Martín del Potro 1 6 3 6 3 6       3 Tomáš Berdych / Radek Štěpánek José Acasuso / Leonardo Mayer 6 1 6 4 6 3       4 Tomáš Berdych Juan Martín del Potro 4 6 4 6 4 6       5 Radek Štěpánek Juan Mónaco 7^7 6^5 6 3 6 2

Croatia vs. United States

Croatia 3	Višenamjenska Sportska Dvorana Žatika, Poreč, Croatia[6] 10–12 July 2009 Clay (i)		United States 2
1 2 3 4 5 1 Ivo Karlović James Blake 6^5 7^7 4 6 6 3 7^7 6^3 7 5   2 Marin Čilić Mardy Fish 4 6 6 3 6^3 7^7 6 1 8 6   3 Roko Karanušić / Lovro Zovko Bob Bryan / Mike Bryan 3 6 1 6 3 6       4 Marin Čilić James Blake 6 3 6 3 4 6 6 2     5 Roko Karanušić Bob Bryan 7 5 3 6 6^4 7^7

Israel vs. Russia

Israel 4	Yad Eliyahu Arena, Tel Aviv, Israel[10] 10–12 July 2009 Hard (i)		Russia 1
1 2 3 4 5 1 Harel Levy Igor Andreev 6 4 6 2 4 6 6 2     2 Dudi Sela Mikhail Youzhny 3 6 6 1 6 0 7 5     3 Jonathan Erlich / Andy Ram Igor Kunitsyn / Marat Safin 6 3 6 4 6^3 7^7 4 6 6 4   4 Dudi Sela Igor Andreev 3 4         retired   5 Harel Levy Igor Kunitsyn 6 4 4 6 7^7 6^2

Spain vs. Germany

Spain 3	Plaza de Toros de Puerto Banus, Marbella, Spain[14] 10–12 July 2009 Clay		Germany 2
1 2 3 4 5 1 Fernando Verdasco Andreas Beck 6 0 3 6 6^4 7^7 6 2 6 1   2 Tommy Robredo Philipp Kohlschreiber 3 6 4 6 4 6       3 Feliciano López / Fernando Verdasco Nicolas Kiefer / Mischa Zverev 6 3 7^7 6^1 6^6 7^8 6 3     4 Fernando Verdasco Philipp Kohlschreiber 4 6 2 6 6 1 6 2 6 8   5 Juan Carlos Ferrero Andreas Beck 6 4 6 4 6 4

Semifinals

Croatia vs. Czech Republic

Croatia 1	Sportska Dvorana 'Zatika', Porec, Croatia[4] 18–20 September 2009 Clay (i)		Czech Republic 4
1 2 3 4 5 1 Ivo Karlović Radek Štěpánek 7^7 6^5 6^5 7^7 6^6 7^8 7^7 6^2 14 16   2 Marin Čilić Tomáš Berdych 3 6 3 6 6 3 6 4 3 6   3 Marin Čilić / Lovro Zovko Tomáš Berdych / Radek Štěpánek 1 6 3 6 4 6       4 Roko Karanušić Jan Hájek 6^4 7^7 4 6         5 Lovro Zovko Lukáš Dlouhý 6 3 6 4

Spain vs. Israel

Spain 4	Polaris World la Torre Golf Resort, Murcia, Spain[12] 18–20 September 2009 Clay		Israel 1
1 2 3 4 5 1 David Ferrer Harel Levy 6 1 6 4 6 3       2 Juan Carlos Ferrero Dudi Sela 6 4 6 2 6 0       3 Feliciano López / Tommy Robredo Jonathan Erlich / Andy Ram 7^8 6^6 6^7 7^9 6 4 6 2     4 David Ferrer Andy Ram 6 3 6 1         5 Feliciano López Harel Levy 5 7 2 6

Final

Spain vs. Czech Republic

Spain 5	Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain[8] 4–6 December 2009 Clay (i)		Czech Republic 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 Rafael Nadal Tomáš Berdych 7 5 6 0 6 2       2 David Ferrer Radek Štěpánek 1 6 2 6 6 4 6 4 8 6   3 Feliciano López / Fernando Verdasco Tomáš Berdych / Radek Štěpánek 7^9 6^7 7 5 6 2       4 Rafael Nadal Jan Hájek 6 3 6 4         5 David Ferrer Lukáš Dlouhý 6 4 6 2

References

1. "Argentina v Netherlands". daviscup.com.
2. "Czech Republic v Argentina". daviscup.com.
3. "Czech Republic v France". daviscup.com.
4. "Croatia v Czech Republic". daviscup.com.
5. "United States v Switzerland". daviscup.com.
6. "Croatia v United States". daviscup.com.
7. "Croatia v Chile". daviscup.com.
8. "Spain v Czech Republic". daviscup.com.
9. "Sweden v Israel". daviscup.com.
10. "Israel v Russia". daviscup.com.
11. "Romania v Russia". daviscup.com.
12. "Spain v Israel". daviscup.com.
13. "Germany v Austria". daviscup.com.
14. "Spain v Germany". daviscup.com.
15. "Spain v Serbia". daviscup.com.
16. No fans allowed when Sweden hosts Israel in Davis Cup - ESPN.com
17. Sweden-Israel Davis Cup matches still to be played with no fans - ESPN.com
18. Andy Ram says fan ban at Israel-Sweden Davis Cup 'stupid decision' - ESPN.com
19. Davis Cup fines Swedish tennis for playing Israel without fans