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Link Back -> Andrew Murray message board -> British women discussion section -> FED CUP 2017 - Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 - Tallinn, Estonia (week commencing 6 Feb)
Post Info TOPIC: FED CUP 2017 - Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 - Tallinn, Estonia (week commencing 6 Feb)
indiana


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FED CUP 2017 - Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 - Tallinn, Estonia (week commencing 6 Feb)
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tony_orient wrote:

Laura ahead of Tara is an interesting selection, but then again Jo and Heather will be the singles players barring withdrawals anyway. Not sure what the first choice doubles team will be though - maybe Jo & Joss with Laura playing the dead doubles rubbers instead of Jo.

 

No doubt Jo and Heather will be our singles players. But in this week long format who knows what might happen so the next singles player should be the one judged most likely to step in and secure possible necessary win(s). In Naomi's ongoing absence I find it very difficult then not to see that as Tara, who is also fresh from a nice run in Hong Kong.

In Jo and Heather we also have strong doubles options and indeed Tara anyway is no doubles slouch if it came to it so nothing really additional there.

Be interesting to see how both Laura and Tara play in Aussie Open qualifying. Laura of course can and may rise to the occasion, she might play well in Estonia given the chance, but I still see it as a surprising choice.



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steven


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I too hoped Naomi playing doubles with Heather in Melbourne might mean she was going to be playing Fed Cup (I too can't understand why she still doesn't want to, since nobody involved in the very legitimate grievance she had with them seems to be there any more) and I too am mystified by Laura being picked ahead of Tara, though I do agree with picking 3 singkes players instead of a specialist doubles team when there are so many ties to get through and hence so much potential for picking up injuries/niggles, even though Judy tended to get away with taking that risk.

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Helen40


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Maybe Anne fancied picking a team she knew, as it's her first outing as captain. It's a shame for Tara not to be part of it and get the experience as she's clearly in better form than Robbo at the moment. Still, hopefully Tara will be able to capitalize and pick up more ranking points that week.

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AliBlahBlah


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I know many in these page love to bash the BBC, under any premise.
I have no problem with the BBC, and would ordinarily not participate.
But, for the general amusement, here is the Beeb's take on the squad announcement:
DfBQxL9.png



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philwrig


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I'm sure this was a tight call, Laura looked to be playing much better last week, Tara clearly also playing well. Looking at the non selection of some big names ( Aga the obvious one ), we really should progress with no fuss, if everyone stays fit and healthy.

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PaulM


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Yeah no Aga. A lot of the other teams look weaker than I was expected. Really shouldn't be any excuses.

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PaulM


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All nominations in other than Hungary. We will be in a group of 4, so obviously you want to avoid Latvia, as Ostapenko is the second best player in the field.

Austria: Barbara Haas, Tamira Paszek, Julia Grabher, Pia Koenig
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Dea Herdzelas, Jelena Simic, Anita Husaric, Nefisa Berberovic
Bulgaria: Tsvetana Pironkova, Isabella Shinikova, Viktoriya Tomova, Sesil Karatantcheva
Croatia: Ana Konjuh, Donna Vekic, Tena Lukas, Lea Boskovic
Estonia: Anett Kontaveit, Valeria Gorlats, Maileen Nuudi, Maria Lota Kaul
Georgia: Sofia Shapatava, Ekaterine Gorgodze, Mariam Bolkvadze, Oksana Kalashnikova
Great Britain: Johanna Konta, Heather Watson, Laura Robson, Jocelyn Rae
Israel: Julia Glushko, Deniz Khazaniuk, Maya Tahan, Shelly Krolitzky
Latvia: Jelena Ostapenko, Diana Marcinkevica, Daniela Vismane
Poland: Magda Linette, Katarzyna Piter, Paula Kania, Magdalena Frech
Portugal: Michelle Larcher de Brito, Ines Murta, Maria Koehler, Joana Valle Costa
Serbia: Nina Stojanovic, Ivana Jorovic, Dejana Radanovic, Olga Danilovic
Turkey: Cagla Buyukakcay, Ipek Soylu, Ayla Aksu, Pemra Ozgen

 

On paper, this is the weakest Euro/Africa Group I line-up I can remember for a while.



-- Edited by PaulM on Monday 9th of January 2017 09:46:18 PM

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AliBlahBlah


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If Latvia have only called three, they could still shuffle in Sevastova, making it even more necessary to avoid them.
A peaking Konjuh could cause problems, and Vekic might remember how to play, making Croatia useful to steer clear of.
Pironkova can peak, but has no backup.
The rest really should be manageable. But we've said that before...

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philwrig


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PaulM wrote:

All nominations in other than Hungary. We will be in a group of 4, so obviously you want to avoid Latvia, as Ostapenko is the second best player in the field.

Austria: Barbara Haas, Tamira Paszek, Julia Grabher, Pia Koenig
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Dea Herdzelas, Jelena Simic, Anita Husaric, Nefisa Berberovic
Bulgaria: Tsvetana Pironkova, Isabella Shinikova, Viktoriya Tomova, Sesil Karatantcheva
Croatia: Ana Konjuh, Donna Vekic, Tena Lukas, Lea Boskovic
Estonia: Anett Kontaveit, Valeria Gorlats, Maileen Nuudi, Maria Lota Kaul
Georgia: Sofia Shapatava, Ekaterine Gorgodze, Mariam Bolkvadze, Oksana Kalashnikova
Great Britain: Johanna Konta, Heather Watson, Laura Robson, Jocelyn Rae
Israel: Julia Glushko, Deniz Khazaniuk, Maya Tahan, Shelly Krolitzky
Latvia: Jelena Ostapenko, Diana Marcinkevica, Daniela Vismane
Poland: Magda Linette, Katarzyna Piter, Paula Kania, Magdalena Frech
Portugal: Michelle Larcher de Brito, Ines Murta, Maria Koehler, Joana Valle Costa
Serbia: Nina Stojanovic, Ivana Jorovic, Dejana Radanovic, Olga Danilovic
Turkey: Cagla Buyukakcay, Ipek Soylu, Ayla Aksu, Pemra Ozgen

 

On paper, this is the weakest Euro/Africa Group I line-up I can remember for a while.



-- Edited by PaulM on Monday 9th of January 2017 09:46:18 PM

 And in previous years we've had some high profile withdrawals closer to the event. Turkey could be the surprise, other than that Croatia, a weakish Polish team, Bulgaria, and as you say a one woman team in Latvia, look the only dangers.



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cwej


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Very odd decision picking Robson over Moore, but personally I'd have scrapped both Rae and Smith and taken Robson AND Moore. All four of Moore, Robson, Konta and Watson are decent doubles players - to be honest, as decent as Rae and Smith have ever been, and basically have reached almost as high or higher than them in the rankings, without doubles being their specialism.

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LordBrownof


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cwej wrote:

Very odd decision picking Robson over Moore, but personally I'd have scrapped both Rae and Smith and taken Robson AND Moore. All four of Moore, Robson, Konta and Watson are decent doubles players - to be honest, as decent as Rae and Smith have ever been, and basically have reached almost as high or higher than them in the rankings, without doubles being their specialism.

Very good points, cwej! 



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tony_orient


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If we don't get a withdrawal from Heather or especially Jo between now and the start of the group we should be strong favourites to qualify

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Coup Droit


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LordBrownof wrote:
cwej wrote:

Very odd decision picking Robson over Moore, but personally I'd have scrapped both Rae and Smith and taken Robson AND Moore. All four of Moore, Robson, Konta and Watson are decent doubles players - to be honest, as decent as Rae and Smith have ever been, and basically have reached almost as high or higher than them in the rankings, without doubles being their specialism.

Very good points, cwej! 

 

Yes, absolutely. Well said, cwej.



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verveandsolley


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so is anyone going to this?

 

I'm tempted... Had an awesome time in Tallinn a few years ago. 



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PaulM


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A potentially sticky draw with Portugal, Turkey and Latvia.

 

Would play winner of Croatia's group which includes Hungary (Babos is committed to play). So probably about as tough as it could have been, but in a far weaker year than past history.



-- Edited by PaulM on Monday 16th of January 2017 03:27:46 PM

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