VANtage Point: DAVIS CUP '09 begins - can Spain defend?

To paraphrase a famous bird, “I’m coocoo for Davis Cup!”

Sorry, I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Welcome back to VANtage Point (or just welcome if you haven’t seen this before). Before I start talking about my favorite time of the year, there were some pretty solid performances last week to acknowledge, particularly down in Mexico.

A Look Back: Hard, clay, nails, whatever. I guess it wouldn’t matter what surface you put Venus Williams on the way she’s playing right now. She picked up her second title in two weeks at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco over the weekend, beating my pick Flavia Pennetta. As for the men there, my runner-up pick, Nicolas Almagro, defended his crown and took out Gael Monfils.

This Week’s Spotlight: Davis Cup - need I say more? Well, that’s what I get paid the big bucks for (yeah, right)...to say more! For all the longtime tennis players out there, remember when you were a kid and thinking you’d want to go pro? And how cool it would be to win Grand Slams? My dream was always to be on the Davis Cup team. What can I say? I guess I’m just a patriotic cornball! Anyway, 2009 action kicks off this weekend and the World Group has some great ties going on with defending champ Spain vs. Serbia, the U.S. vs. Switzerland (sans Roger Federer) and the Czech Republic vs. France, among them. I can’t go into great detail here about every tie, but I’ll definitely be following them all!

Players to Watch: Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll give you a PTW for each tie, how about that?

- Argentina vs. Netherlands: David Nalbandian. Rough loss in Acapulco; how’s he playing?

- Czech Republic vs. France: Tomas Berdych. The Czechs are hosting, but that French team is ferocious. Radek Stepanek’s been playing lights out; can he get backup from the Berd Man?

- U.S. vs. Switzerland: James Blake. He can’t go out there and lay an egg against Stanislas Wawrinka when they play.

- Croatia vs. Chile: Nicolas Massu. The former Olympic gold medalist has to snap out of his funk for Chile to have a chance.

- Sweden vs. Israel: Harel Levy. Israel can pull off an upset here as that Swedish lineup is lame beyond lame, but the Israeli veteran has to come through.

- Romania vs. Russia: Marat Safin. What can you say about him that hasn’t been said?

- Germany vs. Austria: Jurgen Melzer. If he plays up to his ability, Austria can pull off the upset.

- Spain vs. Serbia: Rafael Nadal. How’s he feeling?

And the Winners Are: Here’s my tie winners and the scores: Argentina, 5-0; Czech Republic: 3-2; U.S., 4-1; Croatia, 3-2; Israel, 3-2; Russia, 4-1; Austria, 3-2; and Spain, 3-2.

Van Sias writes the blog Tennis Talk, Anyone?

(image via getty)

PHOTO OP: Hair today, gone tomorrow - so it is with Carla

A newly-cropped Carla Suarez Navarro (left) may have been on her favored clay in Acapulco but it didn't help much. The Spaniard fell to Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-4, 7-5 in the tourney's second round.

So if I remember correctly, a few of you felt Carla was bordering on a hairy situation at the Aussie Open (right) and I won't argue there. I mean, her hair had a life of its own and almost made the main draw too. But I'm not sure I'm feeling the new 'do either. There MUST be a middle ground people.

What do you guys think?

DO TELL!

(images via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Hair today, gone tomorrow - so it is with Pablo

In a battle of sizzling Spaniard's in Acapulco, Pablo Andujar was knocked out of the tourney's first round 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-2 by Carlos Moya. The former No.1 will next face Argentina's Leonardo Mayer for a spot in the quarterfinals.


Now let's talk Pablo: HOT DAMN. Seriously, what's there NOT to like? Oy.

So maybe I'm just splitting hairs here (no pun please) but -

a) do you like him with the close shaven look from Acapulco
b) with some longer locks (below)
c) RiCH you're hitting the crack pipe again. The boy's sex personified - hair, no hair, clothed, no clothed

What do you guys think?

DO TELL!

(images via Getty)

Quote of the Day: Venus on Acapulco

So, nothing too interesting yet, just living the dream in Acapulco!

- Venus Williams on her trip to Acapulco for the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL

Winning big, traveling the world, wearing fun wigs - it's not fair! Now we all know why she's playing there: BECAUSE SHE CAN.

*stomps, pouts, holds breath 'til blue*

(image via Getty)

VANtage Point: Buh-bye Dubai, hello Acapulco!

What a week that was in Dubai, huh? I can’t remember the last time a tournament was caught up in so much controversy. But the organizers brought it upon themselves and hopefully have learned better from it. We are in the 21st century after all! Now it’s the guys’ turn over there, at least those who are showing up. (Hats off to you, A-Rod!) But like Rafa + Roger, VANtage Point is bailing on the tournament and looking elsewhere.

A Look Back: Venus Williams was back at in Dubai, picking up her 40th career crown by taking out surprise finalist Virginie Razzano. I have to tell you, I really didn’t see V's win coming! One of these days I’ll learn to always pick at least one of the Williams sisters when both of them are in the draw.

This Week’s Spotlight: I’m actually giving you twice the Point this week, all for the low-low price of "FREE", by taking a look at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, a co-ed event in sunny Acapulco (let’s just call it my recession special!). This is the last stop on the early-season Latin American clay-court swing, and both the men's and women's draws have some pretty decent names amongst them. David Nalbandian + Gael Monfils are the top two seeds on the men’s side, while the women’s field has none other than Venus Williams leading the way.

Players to Watch: For the men’s side, I’m going with the hottest player on the planet right now, Tommy Robredo, who is coming in with a 10-match winning streak. He could meet up with Juan Monaco in the second round, who he just squeaked out a win against in the finals in Buenos Aires. And, I’m announcing it here on the Point first: Watch out for Tommy at this year's French Open!

As for the women, I think you have to watch Venus. Like me, are you asking yourself "What is she doing here, flying from Dubai to Mexico, going from hard court to clay?" There's a lot going on here but I do hope she plays well, more so for the fans’ sake. Watch her while you can, though, because if she does play, I think she'll fall to Lucie Safarova in the quarters.

The Final Fours: Nicolas Almagro over David Nalbandian and Tommy over Thomaz Belluci. For the women, I’m going with Gisela Dulko beating Lucie Safarova and Flavia Pennetta over Tathiana Garbin.

And the Winners Are: Tommy, who keeps it rollin’ with his third title in a row, and Flavia, who owns this tournament.

Van Sias writes the blog Tennis Talk, Anyone?

(images via Getty)