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Brian Swartz · 02-22-2023, 07:27 PM

World Team Cup Playoffs

Austria (9th) vs. Russia (17th)

Austria aimed for back-to-back promotions here, while Russia was in their second relegation playoff in three years from Level 1. After getting blanked by Ireland in the Level 2 semis, Austria didn't exactly have the momentum coming in. Young phenom Jan Schleicher, ranked 28th and not yet to his 21st birthday, carries the Austrians but without enough help.

It was even worse than that for the Austrians here. Schleicher lost both of his singles matches in five sets, and Russia sweeps it 5-0.

Great Britain (12th) vs. Chile (23rd)

Great Britain are Level 2 champions; they've faced Ireland in the final at the second tier two years in a row. Last year they narrowly lost, this year the opposite. Chile meanwhile faces their second relegation challenge from Level 1 in three years, but actually made the quarterfinals the year between. 22-year-old Chris King is ranked 19th and clearly the standout, question being whether Great Britain can get another win from anywhere.

The answer to that was no. The British will have to try again after a 3-2 defeat. King lost only one set, but they won no sets in any of the other rubbers.

Ireland (6th) vs. Norway (27th)

Ireland has been knocking on the door of Level 1, good enough for at least a couple of years but unfortunately running into Canada in both promotion playoffs. This year it's Norway, who was good enough to consistently make the knockout rounds at Level 1 several years ago but has been in decline. Ireland has two Top-20 players in Daniel Long and Matthew Hughes; Norway no longer has any in the Top 80.

Norway easily took the doubles, and actually was surprisingly annoying in the concluding reverse singles matchups. Still, they were clearly overmatched here and Ireland gets their deserved promotion 4-1. The correct result, Norway is really Level 2 quality at this point.

Sweden (34th) vs. Guatemala (13th)

Another case of a rising nation against a falling one. Sweden is the one in decline; Guatemala has been in Level 2 for four years now. Each of the previous three has ended in a promotion playoff defeat. This meeting is on grass, and each nation has one pretty high-ranking player, and a second that is around 130th. The standard-bearers are Patrik Rask (22nd) and Bartolome Riffo (36th and falling). It might well have gone differently for Guatemala these past few years if the manager of |Juan Pablo Amoretti (94th) had seen fit to make their player available for the WTC, but they opted out.

Riffo won his first match, but that was the only point Guatemala would get as Sweden retains their spot 4-1. Both of the theoretically competitive singles matchups were pretty one-sided in Sweden's favor.

Synopsis

Ireland up, Norway down, but the rest remain as they are so the status quo mostly wins here. Guatemala perhaps, and esp. Great Britain and Russia will probably be back for another try at reaching the top tier next year.

02-22-2023, 07:27 PM	#1385
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	World Team Cup Playoffs Austria (9th) vs. Russia (17th) Austria aimed for back-to-back promotions here, while Russia was in their second relegation playoff in three years from Level 1. After getting blanked by Ireland in the Level 2 semis, Austria didn't exactly have the momentum coming in. Young phenom Jan Schleicher, ranked 28th and not yet to his 21st birthday, carries the Austrians but without enough help. It was even worse than that for the Austrians here. Schleicher lost both of his singles matches in five sets, and Russia sweeps it 5-0. Great Britain (12th) vs. Chile (23rd) Great Britain are Level 2 champions; they've faced Ireland in the final at the second tier two years in a row. Last year they narrowly lost, this year the opposite. Chile meanwhile faces their second relegation challenge from Level 1 in three years, but actually made the quarterfinals the year between. 22-year-old Chris King is ranked 19th and clearly the standout, question being whether Great Britain can get another win from anywhere. The answer to that was no. The British will have to try again after a 3-2 defeat. King lost only one set, but they won no sets in any of the other rubbers. Ireland (6th) vs. Norway (27th) Ireland has been knocking on the door of Level 1, good enough for at least a couple of years but unfortunately running into Canada in both promotion playoffs. This year it's Norway, who was good enough to consistently make the knockout rounds at Level 1 several years ago but has been in decline. Ireland has two Top-20 players in Daniel Long and Matthew Hughes; Norway no longer has any in the Top 80. Norway easily took the doubles, and actually was surprisingly annoying in the concluding reverse singles matchups. Still, they were clearly overmatched here and Ireland gets their deserved promotion 4-1. The correct result, Norway is really Level 2 quality at this point. Sweden (34th) vs. Guatemala (13th) Another case of a rising nation against a falling one. Sweden is the one in decline; Guatemala has been in Level 2 for four years now. Each of the previous three has ended in a promotion playoff defeat. This meeting is on grass, and each nation has one pretty high-ranking player, and a second that is around 130th. The standard-bearers are Patrik Rask (22nd) and Bartolome Riffo (36th and falling). It might well have gone differently for Guatemala these past few years if the manager of \|Juan Pablo Amoretti (94th) had seen fit to make their player available for the WTC, but they opted out. Riffo won his first match, but that was the only point Guatemala would get as Sweden retains their spot 4-1. Both of the theoretically competitive singles matchups were pretty one-sided in Sweden's favor. Synopsis Ireland up, Norway down, but the rest remain as they are so the status quo mostly wins here. Guatemala perhaps, and esp. Great Britain and Russia will probably be back for another try at reaching the top tier next year.