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Brian Swartz · 06-11-2019, 02:07 AM

World Team Cup Wrap-Up

Ireland won over The Netherlands as expected, 3-2 but one of the Dutch victories was De Jong over Hughes in a 5-setter on the last day, with the issue already settled. The other was doubles. John Hart got two wins as expected, Seamus Hughes the other over Ollie Haas. Only one match was in straight sets; de Jong and Haas are a good combo and they haven't peaked yet, at least in theory. But the Irish are on another level, setting a world record with their 5th straight world championship. They are unlikely to have the longevity that Sri Lanka (8 wins in 10 years) or Spain (7 in 10) even further back in the day achieved, but they've still done something that has never been matched … and probably never will.

I'm not at all bitter. Not the least little bit. That has nothing to do with me posting this shot of our glory days gone by:

Hard to believe it was almost 20 years ago. But records were made to be broken and all that.

Playoffs

** Czech Republic vs. Morocco - Two Level-1 nations that didn't win a single RR match. Morocco did better at that stage, but stumbled to a 3-2 loss here and is relegated to Level 2. Veteran Jacek Andrejova beat current no. 49 Mangellat Al-Nasr in five sets on the fourth day to clinch the victory. The glory days of Sbai are long gone, and after promoting back up last year, Morocco is headed back down. They are really the better nation right now - Iglar isn't walking through that door for the Czechs either - but it was just a bad surface matchup I think.

** Germany vs. Croatia - Germany takes a close 3-2 decision, their second of the year against Croatia; first was in the level 2 semis. Second straight year that the Croats suffer a narrow playoff defeat and stay down. Meanwhile Germany has been stuck below for several years, so the second-tier champs have cause to celebrate. Third-ranked Srba Dobic
got no help, and that was pretty much the story here.

** India vs. Russia - With Brian Meikeljohn having given up the sport, India has nothing, and they were blanked 5-0 by the Russians. Behind Stachovsky (19th) and Rubley (33rd), they'll be hoping for better than the trio of 4-1 defeats suffered this year.

** Romania vs. Austria - 30th vs. 25th in the national rankings. That's awfully low for a playoff tie with promotion to the top tier on the line. What makes it particularly strange is that both nations are arguably deserving. Both have a pair of rising stars, but Austria prevailed 3-2 behind Harald Wentz and Willy Weigl despite the latter getting blanked in both his matches. Wentz and a five-set doubles win got them the victory. Romania nearly made it back-to-back promotions after boosting up from Level 3 a year ago; don't bet against them breaking through next season. For Austria, it's their first time in the top flight in more than 20 years. '55 was the last time, after the age of a real blast from the past ... Julian Hammerstein. The last several years they've been at level 2, level 3 for a while before that, even level 4 for an extended period. So this is a long-awaited resurrection of sorts.

Final National Rankings

1. Ireland - 2797
2. Italy - 2271
3. United States - 2122
4. Spain - 2079
5. The Netherlands - 2068
6. Sri Lanka - 2061
7. Czech Republic - 2018
8. Sweden - 1970
9. Argentina - 1967
10. Thailand - 1955

Ireland has the most points and highest lead I've ever seen. They could do nothing at all for two years probably and still be safe. Meanwhile we've slipped to 6th despite the QF run ... would definitely be two spots higher without that loss to Mexico. Yuck. There's work to do, to put it mildly.

WTC Preview

Sri Lanka is in group 1, and for the first time in decades is favored to lose by the rankings. #3 USA and #4 Spain oppose us, along with #15. That's is a truly murderous group. The Americans have Pargeter in doubles and Molyneaux, so they'll be tough, but the lack of a quality second singles player could hurt them. Spain has Aviles and they're never at a loss for doubles players, while Russia's team is quite similar to ours at the moment. So we could sneak out of the group or lose all three and finish dead last, depending on how the ball bounces. Surface draws will be vital. I'm pretty annoyed by this whole situation.

06-11-2019, 02:07 AM	#1062
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	World Team Cup Wrap-Up Ireland won over The Netherlands as expected, 3-2 but one of the Dutch victories was De Jong over Hughes in a 5-setter on the last day, with the issue already settled. The other was doubles. John Hart got two wins as expected, Seamus Hughes the other over Ollie Haas. Only one match was in straight sets; de Jong and Haas are a good combo and they haven't peaked yet, at least in theory. But the Irish are on another level, setting a world record with their 5th straight world championship. They are unlikely to have the longevity that Sri Lanka (8 wins in 10 years) or Spain (7 in 10) even further back in the day achieved, but they've still done something that has never been matched … and probably never will. I'm not at all bitter. Not the least little bit. That has nothing to do with me posting this shot of our glory days gone by: Hard to believe it was almost 20 years ago. But records were made to be broken and all that. Playoffs Czech Republic vs. Morocco - Two Level-1 nations that didn't win a single RR match. Morocco did better at that stage, but stumbled to a 3-2 loss here and is relegated to Level 2. Veteran Jacek Andrejova beat current no. 49 Mangellat Al-Nasr in five sets on the fourth day to clinch the victory. The glory days of Sbai are long gone, and after promoting back up last year, Morocco is headed back down. They are really the better nation right now - Iglar isn't walking through that door for the Czechs either - but it was just a bad surface matchup I think. Germany vs. Croatia - Germany takes a close 3-2 decision, their second of the year against Croatia; first was in the level 2 semis. Second straight year that the Croats suffer a narrow playoff defeat and stay down. Meanwhile Germany has been stuck below for several years, so the second-tier champs have cause to celebrate. Third-ranked Srba Dobic got no help, and that was pretty much the story here. India vs. Russia - With Brian Meikeljohn having given up the sport, India has nothing, and they were blanked 5-0 by the Russians. Behind Stachovsky (19th) and Rubley (33rd), they'll be hoping for better than the trio of 4-1 defeats suffered this year. Romania vs. Austria - 30th vs. 25th in the national rankings. That's awfully low for a playoff tie with promotion to the top tier on the line. What makes it particularly strange is that both nations are arguably deserving. Both have a pair of rising stars, but Austria prevailed 3-2 behind Harald Wentz and Willy Weigl despite the latter getting blanked in both his matches. Wentz and a five-set doubles win got them the victory. Romania nearly made it back-to-back promotions after boosting up from Level 3 a year ago; don't bet against them breaking through next season. For Austria, it's their first time in the top flight in more than 20 years. '55 was the last time, after the age of a real blast from the past ... Julian Hammerstein. The last several years they've been at level 2, level 3 for a while before that, even level 4 for an extended period. So this is a long-awaited resurrection of sorts. Final National Rankings 1. Ireland - 2797 2. Italy - 2271 3. United States - 2122 4. Spain - 2079 5. The Netherlands - 2068 6. Sri Lanka - 2061 7. Czech Republic - 2018 8. Sweden - 1970 9. Argentina - 1967 10. Thailand - 1955 Ireland has the most points and highest lead I've ever seen. They could do nothing at all for two years probably and still be safe. Meanwhile we've slipped to 6th despite the QF run ... would definitely be two spots higher without that loss to Mexico. Yuck. There's work to do, to put it mildly. WTC Preview Sri Lanka is in group 1, and for the first time in decades is favored to lose by the rankings. #3 USA and #4 Spain oppose us, along with #15. That's is a truly murderous group. The Americans have Pargeter in doubles and Molyneaux, so they'll be tough, but the lack of a quality second singles player could hurt them. Spain has Aviles and they're never at a loss for doubles players, while Russia's team is quite similar to ours at the moment. So we could sneak out of the group or lose all three and finish dead last, depending on how the ball bounces. Surface draws will be vital. I'm pretty annoyed by this whole situation.