Davis Cup QF: All Three Hosts Go Into Sunday With 2-1 Lead

Aside from the Israeli's assured victory over Russia, there's a lot still hanging in the balance in these Davis Cup Quarterfinals, with the three remaining ties all at 2-1, with the home country having the advantage in each. A quick run down of what happened today and where it all stands going into the deciding matches Friday:

ARGENTINA @ CZECH REPUBLIC (CZECHS LEADS 2-1)
CEZ Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic (Indoor Hard)

Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Jose Acasuso/Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 6-1, 6-4, 6-3

Sunday's Expected Schedule:
Tomas Berdych (CZE) v Juan Martin del Potro (ARG)*
Ivo Minar (CZE) v Juan Monaco (ARG)*

A very easy win for the Czechs today, as the Argentines decided to rest their top players for Sunday's singles matches. Though Stepanek expressed some surprise at the switch after the match, it wasn't a bad decision at all. The risk, of course, is that the injured Radek Stepanek could be a last-minute sub for Ivo Minar. If Minar does indeed get the nod, look for Argentina to sweep on Sunday for the comeback win. If Stepanek feels well enough to play, look for the Czechs to make it into the semifinal.

USA @ CROATIA (CROATIA LEADS 2-1)
Sportska Dvorana, Porec, Croatia (Indoor Clay)

Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) def. Roko Karanusic/Lovro Zovko 6-3, 6-1, 6-3

Sunday's Expected Schedule:
Marin Cilic (CRO) v James Blake (USA)*
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Mardy Fish (USA)*

After Friday's singles matches proved a double marathon that lasted almost nine hours, the Bryan Brothers made things considerably more brief today, beating the Croatian reserve players in 68 minutes. I blinked and missed it. It was a long blink, to be fair. Croatian Captain Goran Prpic said before the tie that his strategy was to get three singles wins, and this match certainly showed that. While the Croatians had no chance against the Bryans, the inclusion of the doubles specialist twins gives the US significantly less flexibility on Sunday thanteams like Spain or Germany enjoy, as each of those teams brought four capable singles players.

I think Mardy Fish has a pretty good chance against Ivo Karlovic in the potential fifth match, but I don't think it will matter since James Blake hasn't much of a chance against Cilic. The Bryans said in their post-match interview that Blake was in great spirits today, but I have to think all the things that bothered him about the Croatian crowd on Friday will haunt him again tomorrow.

GERMANY @ SPAIN (SPAIN LEADS 2-1)
Venue: Plaza de Toros de Puerto Banus, Marbella (Outdoor Clay)

Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def Nicolas Kiefer/Mischa Zverev (GER)* 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-7(6), 6-3

Sunday's Expected Schedule:
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)*
Tommy Robredo (ESP) v Andreas Beck (GER)*

A nice if predictable win for the Spanish pair against two pretty solid players in Kiefer and Zverev. Germany probably needed to get a win in the doubles to have a shot, as I don't see Andreas Beck being able to beat Tommy Robredo's steady level of play. If the Germans pull a surprise and put in a somewhat gimpy Kiefer for the fifth rubber, it could make things more interesting.

With the tie in Tel Aviv now largely irrelevant, a nice later start on Sunday, with all three ties now in the Central European time zone. Any extra time to sleep is always appreciated.