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

Spectator · All-time great

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

steven · Tennis legend

Yes. He'll probably make the final decision about the doubles after checking how Andy is feeling once he gets to Croatia.

indiana · Tennis legend

All seems sensible. I can imagine that it does indeed remain 4 from 5 and Leon has announced the least hastle producing 4 for now. While as I have said I really can't see him ultimately being media influenced, best to keep things as quiet as possible for now.

I am fairly certain that Jonny will travel. Kyle probably too.

korriban · Challenger level

A very wise selection - if Andy pulls out, you bring in Jonny. If Andy plays, you could still bring in Jonny if one of Dan or James is demonstrably playing much better than the other on the clay during final training - foregoing your flexibility on singles during the tie, but resting Andy up for day 3. And if you want to keep the singles flexibility (with Dan AND James), then Andy will have to play doubles with Colin.

The other question I have is over #1 and #2. Can you put your "better" player as #2 if you wish, or are you forced into making the higher ranked of the two players your #1?

On a practical note, where 2 players have quite similar rankings to each other, but the lower ranked is a better match player under pressure or has more experience or has lost ranking points due to injury, you might genuinely believe your lower ranked player is your strongest player.

In this case, there's obviously no debate on who is a better player. However if Andy plays as our #2, I believe it means he starts the tie against the opposition #1 and finishes the tie against their #2......which means we should have our best chance of winning all 3 points from opening singles and doubles; then potentially letting Andy sit out the final singles............unless the score is 2-2 and he's still needed. Clearly would be the best way to go if allowed.

is there this flexibility on #1s and #2s?

indiana · Tennis legend

korriban, no flexibility, a team's #1 and #2 are as defined in the world rankings.

The match will conclude on Day 3 with #1 vs #1 then #2 vs #2.

indiana · Tennis legend

GB did once famously / infamously effectively switch round Greg and Andy in the 2005 away tie to Switzerland.

Greg was still ranked higher than Andy, but feeling they would like to set up an Andy vs Fed match on day 3 and that Greg had basically zero chance against Fed on clay :

They started the match with Andy as #1 and Alan Mackin as #2.

Fed beat Alan for the loss of two games ( and rather undiplomatically did indicate afterwards that he had had harder matches ! ), but unfortunately Andy lost to Stan, which wasn't in the script.

We then lost the doubles so the match was lost and the masterplan of Andy vs Fed and then Greg vs Stan in the deciding match left in tatters.

The Andy vs Fed match never happened since Fed and I think subsequently Andy pulled out of Day 3.

paulisi · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:
Do I dare say clear favourites !

clear favourites - Andy should be an easy winner of both singles. We have the higher ranked doubles team and Dan or James are capable of at least beating their no.2

PS i wouldn't be suprised to see all those GB players in Brasov to attending.(i.e Oli)

Spectator · All-time great

Russia were clear favourites in the last match, too. (Professional Eeyore: qualifications available upon demand)

Jesting aside, I never believe in something like DC it's much use talking about favourites. Clearly if Mr Murray arrives in Croatia fresh, if he is able to make the transition to clay happily, if Mr Evans and Mr Ward are in top form ... etc, then we would be favourites. But there are a lot of ifs there. And it's the Davis Cup. Anything can happen.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Fair enough and I am playing an element of devil's advocate with my suggestion. However, I do think the pure intimidation factor of benching Andy on day 1 would be a good counter attack against the home advantage of Croatia. As for the chance of being 0-2 at the end of day 1 if we were then I'm not sure we would deserve to be in the world group. We can't rely on Andy to be available next tie and the result against Russia said to me that we don't need or want to.

Still, I trust Leon Smiths decisions as captain (something I couldn't say about the last one) in whoever he chooses to play and when. In fact, my suggestion of an Andyless day 1 is based in part on my respect and confidence in him as an on court captain where I think he is our strongest weapon.

-- Edited by imoen on Wednesday 4th of September 2013 03:57:04 AM

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

I find that an interesting election, and it is the first time in a while that we haven't had a dedicated doubles team named from the outset and chance is always interesting. A mix up that I would be tempted to use from this team would be play Dan and James as the singles guys on day 1, see what they can do and give Andy an extra day to rest to and switch surfaces (also think of the confidence boost to picked over the world number 3) then play Andy and Colin in the dubs then Andy and Dan/James on day 3 as needed to get the win.

A bit unorthodox I know but there nothing that says we have to win in the first two days or they day 2 has to be the one your star player sits it....discuss

Tennis36 · Masters Series Champion

imoen wrote:
I find that an interesting election, and it is the first time in a while that we haven't had a dedicated doubles team named from the outset and chance is always interesting. A mix up that I would be tempted to use from this team would be play Dan and James as the singles guys on day 1, see what they can do and give Andy an extra day to rest to and switch surfaces (also think of the confidence boost to picked over the world number 3) then play Andy and Colin in the dubs then Andy and Dan/James on day 3 as needed to get the win.

A bit unorthodox I know but there nothing that says we have to win in the first two days or they day 2 has to be the one your star player sits it....discuss

doubt that completely, we could easily be 2-0 down after the first day, putting enormous pressure on us

Spectator · All-time great

If Mr Murray is playing and all players are healthy, I would prefer to see the dedicated doubles team (assuming they match up well against Dodig) with Mr Murray and another singles player, determined by Mr Smith on the basis of practice in Croatia. If Mr Murray is not playing but the rest of the players are healthy, then Mr Ward, Mr Evans and the dedicated doubles team would seem logical. Feels like best way of winning two points at least in the first two days.

Fortunately, however, I am not in charge. And Mr Smith, with his enviable captaincy record, is.

indiana · Tennis legend

Re discuss....on balance I don't think I like it, Imoen, though is often worth thinking outside the box.

Although GB are probably favourites ( although I am not sure how strong ) the only match that I would have thought virtually a banker is Andy vs Croatia # 2 on Day 1.

While Andy will have limited prep time I think he should still be a better bet than James or Evo ( who would not be bankers ) to beat the Croatia # 2, plus it would give him a live singles match before the tougher test on Day 3 to get into more of a groove.

Of course, if Andy was struggling through niggles and / or lack of prep time it would be an option.

Who Andy replaced on Day 3, to me would then depend on the scoreline after Day 2.

If GB were 2-1 down, he would logically replace our starting #1 so that he played the #1 vs #1 match and the starting #2 played the #2 vs # 2 match.

If however, we were 2-1 up, then I'd put him in instead of our starting #2 and he would then play the final probably decisive #2 vs #2 match, which should surely secure the tie.

indiana · Tennis legend

I don't quite get the if we struggle without our best player, eg. be 2-0 down after Day 1, then we don't deserve to win the tie. Although to be fair it's not an unfamiliar sentiment.

Andy's British, and if he plays for the team we should make best use of him and if we win we will very probably deserve to win.

If Barcelona leave Messi on the bench and are behind at halftime, and then he comes on, plays very well and scores 2 goals that win the mstch, do Barcelona not deserve to win ?

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
I don't quite get the if we struggle without our best player, eg. be 2-0 down after Day 1, then we don't deserve to win the tie. Although to be fair it's not an unfamiliar sentiment.

Andy's British, and if he plays for the team we should make best use of him and if we win we will very probably deserve to win.

If Barcelona leave Messi on the bench and are behind at halftime, and then he comes on, plays very well and scores 2 goals that win the mstch, do Barcelona not deserve to win ?

Barcelona NEVER deserve to win wink

Vamos los blancos. Hala Madrid biggrin