What looked like being a fairly straightforward assignment in Kazakhstan for Davis Cup holders the Czech Republic has turned into a quarter-final minefield following the late withdrawal of top player Tomas Berdych.
The towering Berdych, who led the Czechs to glory in the team competition last year against Spain, pulled out after injuring a shoulder in a quarter-final loss to Richard Gasquet in Miami last week.
That leaves Radek Stepanek, himself just back from neck surgery, as the No.1 with backing from Lukas Rosol, Jan Hajek and Ivo Minar.
The Kazakhs will look to their number one Mikhail Kukushkin to provide the inspiration in Astana backed by Andrey Golubev, who has a fine Davis Cup record on home soil.
The only previous time the two teams met in the competition was in 2011 when Kazakhstan won in the first round.
The Kazakhstan v Czech Republic tie is the only one of the weekend’s quarter-finals to be played in Europe – with the others being held in the United States, Canada and Argentina.
In Boise, Idaho, world No.1 Novak Djokovic continues his love affair with the Davis Cup as he once again leads Serbia into battle against the United States.
Djokovic was the inspiration behind the Serbs’ first ever Davis Cup crown win in 2010, and he was the first name on captain Bogdan Obradovic’s list for the trip to the United States.
Viktor Troicki will get the second singles slot and he will most likely link up with the hugely experienced Nenad Zimonjic for Saturday’s doubles tie going up against the mighty Bryan twins, Bob and Mike, who are 20-3 in Davis Cup play and won Olympic gold in London last year.
US skipper Jim Courier will field the giant pair of John Isner and Sam Querrey in the singles, with the latter having just taken over the US No.1 spot last week at 20th in the world.
The Americans, who defeated Brazil in the first round, lost their only prior Davis Cup meeting with Serbia 3-2 in the opening round at Belgrade in 2010, when Djokovic led Serbia to the title.
Vancouver’s Thunderbird Sports centre has been chosen to stage the Canada v Italy match-up with the playing surface seen to be particularly suitable for Canadian No.1 Milos Raonic.
The stakes will be high as between them the two countries have just the one Davis Cup triumph – going to Italy in 1976.
Raonic will be key to Canadian hopes of a first ever World Group semi-final and will likely have to win both of his rubbers against world No.19 Andreas Seppi and world No.36 Fabio Fognini.
The prize for the winners of this tie will be a clash with either the US or Serbia.
The remaining quarter-final takes place on the clay courts of Buenos Aires with what looks like an evenly-balanced match opposing Argentina and France.
With world top-tenners Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet backed by the likely doubles pairing of Michal Llodra and Julien Benneteau, the visitors have good strength in depth
But the slow clay surface will benefit the South Americans and boost their hopes even if they will have to do without top player Juan Martin del Potro, who is unavailable.
The Argentinians will field Juan Monaco, the veteran David Nalbandian as well as Carlos Berlocq and Horacio Zeballos, all of whom are at home on the clay.
