Davis Cup 2012: Spain up 2-0; France vs USA tied at 1-1

There were no major upsets in the first day of Davis Cup 2012 quarterfinals in the Spain vs Austria tie. The defending champions beat the Austrians in the first two singles matches to be one win away from a trip to the semifinals. Nicolas Almagro and David Ferrer both won their matches in Oropesa Del Mar, Spain in three straight sets to take a commanding 2-0 lead into the second day of the tie. They need to win just one more match before advancing to the semifinals.

Almagro was first to go against Austria’s #1 Jurgen Melzer. Melzer was Austria’s best hope for a win having been a former French Open finalist and reaching a career high best of #8 in the world rankings. He couldn’t do anything consistent enough to trouble Almagro and the match was soon over in less than two hours with Almagro running away with a 62 62 64 victory.

"It was an extremely difficult match because of the deep surface that the Spanish made," said Melzer after losing the match. "I tried everything to find a way past him but he was extremely strong today. My match was the one we thought we had the biggest chance to win and now we need a wonder."

"I’m very happy with my match today, I think I played one of my best matches in Davis Cup," explained Almagro. "The score was easy but the match wasn’t. I had to fight for every point and I think I was more focussed than him. I beat a great player in a great competition like Davis Cup so I’m very happy."

In the second match, world #5 Ferrer proved too much for the 139th ranked Andreas Haider-Maurer. The 61 63 61 victory was overwhelmingly one-sided and it was over in less than 90 minutes. "I won relatively easily and am happy with my game today," said Ferrer after winning. "Maybe the opponent played a little bit bad and made many mistakes but I played very solid and consistent."

In France, the American team split their first two matches with France to enter the second day with a potential of grabbing the lead and the momentum going into the last day. The clay court is not Team USA’s forte, but top American John Isner provided hope by downing world #13 Gilles Simon in straight sets 63 62 75 to come out on top in the second rubber. Earlier in the day, world #6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga captured France’s first point by using his experience in defeating American teenager Ryan Harrison 75 62 26 62.

Simon was outclassed by Isner in the first two sets but challenged the American in the third set. Isner who reached his highest ranking of #10 after beating Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells last month played confident tennis in a surface that didn’t play to his big-serving game. "I took the court very confident," Isner declared. "To me no matter who I was going to play today, I was going to feel confident no matter what. So that was the case today. I went out there and I played very well, simple as that. I was very happy with how I played and I am happy that I was able to help the team out."

In the first match, Tsonga won despite not playing his best tennis. He credited it to his advantage in experience over the young Harrison. "… Maybe my experience helped me. I’ve played many times now in Davis Cup so I’m used to it and he’s not." Harrison who is known for his tantrums on-court, received a warning for racket abuse from umpire Enrique Molina for slamming a racket after getting broken. After the match, Harrison commented on his first Day 1 Davis Cup experience. "I wanted to keep going. I was disappointed for it to end. It's a great experience to represent your country, playing in an environment where you're representing something greater than yourself. I loved it. It was a great experience."

The United States may have an advantage in Day 2 where they will be represented by the experienced doubles players and current world #1 pair of Bob and Mike Bryan. The two will take on France’s Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra with the winner having a pivotal 2-1 advantage going into the reverse singles on Sunday.