There is Davis Cup action this weekend taking place across the globe with last year’s finalists both playing with a home-court advantage as defending champions France host the Netherlands in Albertville, and runners-up Belgium host Hungary in Liege.
Some nations are missing their biggest stars with Spain hosting Great Britain without an injured Rafael Nadal, and the Brits fielding a team without Andy Murray, who is recovering from hip surgery.
Serbia are Novak Djokovic-less in their home tie against USA while Switzerland face Kazakhstan sans Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.
Here’s a look at the standout statistics ahead of this weekend’s Davis Cup World Group matches.
1 – Spain’s top player this weekend in their tie against Great Britain, Pablo Carreno Busta, has won just one of the four live rubbers he has ever contested in Davis Cup.
1 – win and four losses for Germany’s top man this weekend, Alexander Zverev, in Davis Cup.
2 – Only twice have all five rubbers of a Davis Cup tie gone to 5 sets – the 1946 European Zone semi-final that saw Yugoslavia defeat France 3-2 and the 2003 World Group play-off when Romania defeated Ecuador 3-2.
2 – Japan are bidding to reach the World Group quarter-finals for just the second time.
3 – France joined Great Britain in third place on the list of most Davis Cup titles won when they triumphed over Belgium in the final last year to claim a 10th trophy in the competition.
4 – Serbia have won four of their last five home ties. They host USA in Nis this weekend.
5 – years since Serbia have last won a tie on clay. They play USA on indoor clay this weekend.
5 – Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut is on a five-match winning streak in Davis Cup. He’ll be looking to extend that when they face GB this weekend in Marbella.
5 – Great Britain are looking to reach the quarter-finals for a fifth straight year.
5 – Australia have played five of their last six ties at home. They host Germany in Brisbane this weekend.
5 – Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has won five of his last six Davis Cup rubbers, with the only loss coming against David Goffin in the semi-finals last year.
6 – hours and 43 minutes, is the length of the longest singles rubber in Davis Cup history. It took place when Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer defeated Brazil’s Joao Souza in the World Group first round in 2015.
7 – France have won seven of their last eight home ties in Davis Cup.
7 – Great Britain’s Jamie Murray has won seven of his last eight Davis Cup doubles rubbers.
9 – France are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for a ninth consecutive year.
10 – wins and 0 losses for France against the Netherlands in their Davis Cup history. They square off in Albertville, France this weekend. Their most recent meeting was in 2009.
10 – comebacks from 0-2 down in Davis Cup World Group ties have ever been completed. Sweden has produced four of these comebacks. Croatia recorded the most recent one, defeating USA in Portland in the quarter-finals in 2016.
13 – Andreas Seppi is competing in Davis Cup for the 13th year, putting him joint-third on the list for most years played by an Italian player, along with current captain Corrado Barazzutti.
14 – Great Britain and Spain are meeting for a 14th time in Davis Cup but the first since 1986. The Brits lead their head-to-head 8-5.
15 – nations in total have ever won the Davis Cup with USA leading with 32 title wins in the competition.
17 – Belgium’s David Goffin has won 17 of his last 18 Davis Cup singles rubbers.
24 – wins and 10 losses for Marin Cilic in Davis Cup singles rubbers – the most by any Croatian. He could equal Ivan Ljubicic’s record for most Davis Cup match wins by a Croatian player (in singles and doubles) if he triumphs in three rubbers this weekend against Canada in Osijek.
25 – Italy’s Fabio Fognini could reach 25 Davis Cup match wins if he claims a rubber this weekend against Japan. He is currently 24-11 overall in the competition and has competed for his nation every year since 2008.
25 – years since Germany last won the Davis Cup (they are three-time champions in the competition).
28 – years since Belgium and Hungary last squared off in Davis Cup. Their last meeting was in 1990, before seven of the nine players nominated for this weekend’s tie in Liege were born.
86 – years since Japan and Italy had last played each other in Davis Cup. They face off this weekend in Morioka.
Getting ready for 🇯🇵 vs 🇮🇹 @DavisCup #DavisCup #morioka #japan pic.twitter.com/iXFrfAJ7Kz
— Fabio Fognini (@fabiofogna) January 30, 2018
