Davis Cup 2013 - World Group Playoff - Croatia v GB - 13-15 September

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Davis Cup 2013 - World Group Playoff - Croatia v GB - 13-15 September

British_is_Best · County player

Article on the Davis Cup website about Dan Evans: www.daviscup.com/en/news/155141.aspx

RJA · Hall of fame

Just going to drop this in here. It is Borna Coric's press conference after winning the US Open boys singles. Some interesting stuff

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/video/2013-09-08/0140fee967a000000fb5.html?chip=9

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Kyle Edmund and Jonny Marray added to Davis Cup squad http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/kyle-edmund-and-jonny-marray-added-to-davis-cup-squad-8804076.html

indiana · Tennis legend

Quelle surprise ! - not

Bob in Croatia · Improver

Just to give you an idea of how much rain there was, this was the practise court at 2pm. By 4pm they were playing on them !!

-- Edited by Bob in Croatia on Wednesday 11th of September 2013 06:15:26 PM

steven · Tennis legend

Just had a look at the report of today's GB press conference on the Croatian tennis federation site (edit: link - http://bit.ly/19IkNM6 ) - only got bits of it but they seemed to be concerned about clay being Evo's favourite surface, which didn't make sense until I looked at his ATP write-up ...

"Birmingham-born Dan Evans started playing tennis aged seven, with his father David, and first sport he played was squash...Parents David (an electrician) and Bernadette (a nurse); sisters Clare and Laura...Favourite surface is clay...Enjoys playing golf (nine handicap) and watching football (supports Aston Villa)...Member of British team that won the World Junior Tennis Competition in the Czech Republic in 2004...Formerly trained at LTA Academy in Loughborough under Mark Taylor...His former coaches included, Graeme Adams, Mark Hilton and Leighton Alfred...Favourite sports personalities are Tiger Woods and David Beckham...As a junior captured four titles, reaching 2008 Australian Open boys' singles quarter-finals...Made ATP debut as a wild card at Queen's Club in June 2008...Made Grand Slam debut as a wild card at 2009 Wimbledon...Made his Davis Cup debut for Great Britain versus Poland in Euro/African Zone I tie in September 2009...Trains at Roehampton, which is LTA national training centre...Favorite tournaments are Wimbledon and Queens Club in London...Has one-handed backhand and considers favorite shot slice backhand...Goal is to break into Top 100 and win an ATP World Tour title...His best tennis memory is winning fifth and decisive Davis Cup match vs. Russias Evgeny Donskoy in April."

As far as I can gather, he put them right biggrin (shame!)

-- Edited by steven on Wednesday 11th of September 2013 07:38:13 PM

DWH · Club Coach

Short video of some doubles practice from the LTA youtube account with Jonny, Colin, Andy and Louis Cayer. But the best part is the cameo by Ross at the end looking happy! smile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poTm12R1xmY

Jan · Hall of fame

so, so good to see Ross joining them!

Bob in Croatia · Improver

Yes, I have safely made it to Umag and I have also managed to "clone" myself again.

When I arrived today there was thunder, lightening and a whole lot of rain. I went down to the courts at 2pm and they were under water. A short siesta later and I thought I would try again. At 4.30pm they were all practising and the courts were damp, but playable. The forecast is apparently not very good for the next couple of days either, according to the locals.

Perhaps interesting to note that Andy was playing singles with Wardy. Now it may well be that Evo had already had a hit by the time that I got there, but Wardy and Muzza were playing a set and Evo was just watching.

Also watched some of doubles practice. Two things to note - firstly, Beechy should come out of retirement as he out played them all !! And secondly, (as Jan said above) it was just fantastic to see Rosco on court with a racket in his hands. That sight alone has made the trip worthwhile.

Finally, spoke very briefly to Kyle as well. My oh my he has been working out. Looks like has has swum 10 miles butterfly every day since I last saw him in Coventry for the last DC tie. He has really bulked up around the shoulders.

We are second on for practise tomorrow at 12 noon local time.

Jan · Hall of fame

Bob I'm very slightly jealous!

Spectator · All-time great

The Croatian clone/cousin is another good reporter. Journalistic talent must run in the family.

Lovely to get the report on training. Thank you for that. Wouldn't read anything into Ward playing (as you don't) - could mean anything. Was the doubles practice just Mr Fleming and Mr Murray? Or did Mr Fleming and Mr Marray play as a team at all?

philwrig · Hall of fame

Bob in Croatia wrote:
Yes, I have safely made it to Umag and I have also managed to "clone" myself again.

When I arrived today there was thunder, lightening and a whole lot of rain. I went down to the courts at 2pm and they were under water. A short siesta later and I thought I would try again. At 4.30pm they were all practising and the courts were damp, but playable. The forecast is apparently not very good for the next couple of days either, according to the locals.

Perhaps interesting to note that Andy was playing singles with Wardy. Now it may well be that Evo had already had a hit by the time that I got there, but Wardy and Muzza were playing a set and Evo was just watching.

Also watched some of doubles practice. Two things to note - firstly, Beechy should come out of retirement as he out played them all !! And secondly, (as Jan said above) it was just fantastic to see Rosco on court with a racket in his hands. That sight alone has made the trip worthwhile.

Finally, spoke very briefly to Kyle as well. My oh my he has been working out. Looks like has has swum 10 miles butterfly every day since I last saw him in Coventry for the last DC tie. He has really bulked up around the shoulders.

We are second on for practise tomorrow at 12 noon local time.

For a Croatian your use of the English language is top notch, look forward to hearing more of your on site reports.

Bob in Croatia · Improver

Spectator wrote:
The Croatian clone/cousin is another good reporter. Journalistic talent must run in the family.

Lovely to get the report on training. Thank you for that. Wouldn't read anything into Ward playing (as you don't) - could mean anything. Was the doubles practice just Mr Fleming and Mr Murray? Or did Mr Fleming and Mr Marray play as a team at all?

For the part I was there, it was Beechy/Fleming v Hutchins/Marray although in fairness they were doing drills rather than "playing".

On another note, there are a few other GB fans already here and as always, wanting pictures with the players. Andy is obviously well versed in this matter and was the consumate professional. Evo, was like a "fish out of water" but still behaving like a consumate professional in fulfilling his duty.

In truth, they all looked very relaxed.

Bob in Croatia · Improver

philwrig wrote:
For a Croatian your use of the English language is top notch, look forward to hearing more of your on site reports.

Would love to teach you a couple of words but I don't even know how to say Yes/No or Please/Thank you.

And as for embarrassing, when I went to hotel reception to change some currency, I even had to ask them the NAME of their currency which apparently is the KUNA. As a reporter, I really should do my homework.