Fed Cup 2018 World Group II Play-Off - Japan v Great Britain - 21-22 April

indiana · Tennis legend

Fed Cup 2018 World Group II Play-Off - Japan v Great Britain - 21-22 April

Michael D · All-time great

I'm going to copy blob's initial detailed comment into here, where he lays out their choice of players:

"Away
The draw is very close after that.
All depends on if Osaka plays; if she does, then she is capable of winning any singles rubbers.
But for others singles: Hibino, Nara, Kato, Doi, Ozaki, Hozumi, Hibi
We would be favourite on the turnarounds, especially if Johanna can pick up some form.

Japan are pretty good in doubles though, with Aoyama, Ninomiya, Hibino, Hozumi & Kato all in the top WR60 for doubles; all can also provide the double threat singles and doubles.

Intriguing match-up. If Osaka plays, I'd have Japan favourite, if not, it's very close.

It is a long trip in the middle of nowhere, out of season for that part of the world though, which might have implications to players personal seasons."

Mervatron2 · Futures level

Oh god really. Away again?

flamingowings · All-time great

Having all these away ties (and perhaps too, languishing in this group) does no favours in trying to harness the spirit and such that the DC has re: Team GB.

skibbarriz · Strong Club Player

Ah well. If they want to be World Group 2 members then in truth they've got to be capable of coming through challenges of this standard.

It was great that they'd didn't have to face the other 3 seeded nations. But we can't place our hopes on back-dooring it by getting weak match-ups. Win this tie and they'll be able to enter the group with their heads held high, knowing they belong in it.

Michael D · All-time great

If Naomi Osaka plays, although we may be the seeded country I doubt we would be favourites. Some interesting choices will await Annie K re her team for this meeting, depending on everyone's fitness and availability. If her form continues, Gabi Taylor might start to come into consideration. The dynamic is very different from the Davis Cup, with four singles matches first, and then the doubles at the end and only really required if a breaker is needed. I think team selection, beyond Jo and Heather, if they are both available, is going to depend a lot on form over the next few months, and that goes for Anna too.

JonH · All-time great

Looking at head to heads, it could well come down to Heather Watson being able to beat the #2 from Japan. Konta seems to have the mark of Osaka, and obviously the #2 they put out. Osaka and Heather played once, but it was curtailed with Osaka clearly on top, so that match up of Heather v Nara or Hibino could end up being the tie - the doubles looks like Japan could be favourites. Presumably they will favour a slightly faster court surface?

Of course, if Osaka doesnt play...but presumably with Olympics in Tokyo in a couple of years time, Osaka will want to nail a place on the team by playing all the Fed Cup she can?

Miriambee · Futures level

Interesting that Katy D and Gabi have just beaten Hozumi and Hibi comprehensively in straight sets, though 1 TB, in Australia.

JonH · All-time great

The venue for this tie has been fixed - it is in a place called Miki in an arena called the Bourbon Beans Arena, on hard decoturf indoor, I think decoturf is what they play the US Open on?

Says it is medium paced as a surface

Michael D · All-time great

The men play Davis Cup there too.

www.facebook.com/photo.php

blob · All-time great

Miki is right next to Osaka (~50 minutes drive), and the ancestral home town of the mother Naomi (& her tennis playing sister, Mari, obviously).
I'd presume this more or less guarantees that if Naomi is fit, then she's playing.

JonH · All-time great

Makes sense. I'm intrigued by what bourbon beans are or who they are?!

blob · All-time great

JonH wrote:
Makes sense. I'm intrigued by what bourbon beans are or who they are?!

It's not as exciting as it sounds. It's this company: http://www.bourbon.co.jp/company/english/about/enkaku.html

They've had manufacturing bases in greater Osaka/Kobe area for 50 years. They won the naming rughts in 2008 as part of their civic responsibility outreach.
I say this as if I knew any of this 5 minutes ago
I realise now that I've actually had their chocolate coated cheese slices (a joke gift from my sisters travels), which were every bit as awful as they sound.

JonH · All-time great

Probably the wrong place but fed cup semis both destined for indoor clay. Germany vs Czech Republic in stuttgart and France v USA in aix - en - provence

Michael D · All-time great

So we are in week 13 now, just 3 weeks to go to the Japan Fed Cup match. If you were Annie K then and picking 4 players today to represent us in Japan, which 4 players would you select? Ok, I'm assuming Jo and Heather are givens, but who would be the other two players?

-- Edited by Michael D on Monday 26th of March 2018 03:27:01 PM