Davis Cup: World Group Round 1 - Argentina v GB

DJ · County player

Davis Cup: World Group Round 1 - Argentina v GB

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i think the ref is european isnt he? i am sure i read somewhere abotu him, but i cant find it now.
they donmt use home refs, that would be awful.

thanks mj.

OldEchoMan · Social player

The referee is from Spain. You read it in a piece in The Times in which he was described as a bit of a wimp. No favours there, then

Count Zero · Tennis legend

song for the DC team:

thsi is from the original transformers cartoon movie, but thought it quite fitting for the lads out there.

Dare

Sometimes when your hopes have all been shattered
And there's nowhere to turn
You wonder how you keep going
Think of all the things that really mattered
And the chances you've earned
The fire in your heart is growing
You can fly, if you try leaving the past behind
Heaven only knows what you might find

Dare - dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand
Dare - dare to keep all your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare

Everybody's trying to break your spirit
Keeping you down
Seems like it's been forever
But there's another voice if you'll just hear it
Saying it's the last round
Looks like it's now or never
Out of the darkness you stumble into the light
Fighting for the things you know are right

Dare - dare to believe you can survive
The power is there at your command
Dare - dare to keep all your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare

Dare - dare keep all your love alive
Dare to be all that you can be
Dare - 'cause there is a place where dreams survive
And it's calling you on to victory

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Well done, Count!

Back to "Britannia rules the waves" - pity it's not going to be played in water, then. We definitely don't rule the red dirt!

DJ · County player

Madeline wrote:

pity it's not going to be played in water

If it were, it would be easy to imagine the home crowd bursting into that old football crowd favourite,

"You're going down!"

helki · Futures qualifying

I have just found this on my home page. We all got it wrong.

Mancini calls up Prieto

Doubles specialist takes place of injured Monaco

Last updated: 4th February 2008

Sebastian Prieto has been called into Argentina's Davis Cup team to face Great Britain, replacing the injured Juan Monaco.

Coach Alberto Mancini has turned to Prieto, 32, after Monaco suffered an ankle injury at the Vina Del Mar Open at the weekend.

Doubles specialist Prieto is ranked 31st in the world in doubles but does not have a singles ranking, having reached a career-high of 137th almost 10 years ago.

Prieto has begun training at Parque Roca alongside team-mates Jose Acasuso, David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri.

The British team, who arrived in Buenos Aires on Sunday night, will train on Monday evening after Argentina's session.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Oh lor! Acasuso and Prieto - that's no chance in the doubles either then!

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

so the doubles will be played by the team of Acasuso and Prieto then I guess. Not especially good news given they beat both Hutch and Murray on their way to the VDM title...but they didn't beat them together so they're in for a shock.

I'm with Count (not the singing part), I'm looking forward to this tie and I see no reason why Boggo and Baker can't get at least one win apiece...I'm going for all out optimism though and saying Numpty Nalbandian with be the loser to one or both of them.

And James, you are absolutely right winning isn't about getting more sets than your opponent, that is a tiny and part of the whole concept and one which is disgardable in favour of other, more important factors.

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Argentinean Davis Cup captain Alberto Mancini has been forced to call up Sebastian Prieto into his squad to replace Juan Monaco who has withdrawn from the tie following an ankle injury sustained during last weeks ATP event in Chile.

Prieto, a doubles specialist, has played four Davis Cup rubbers for Argentina, making his debut in 1999 against Venezuela. His last match was against Sweden last year when his team lost 4-1 in the quarter finals. Prieto is clearly in good form at the moment having just won the doubles title at the Vina Del Mar event in Chile with fellow Argentinean and Davis Cup team member Jose Acasuso.

Despite the late change, Mancini is full of confidence ahead of the tie.

We are feeling great physically and mentally. Without Murray the tie is a completely different one. We have even more possibilities of going through to the quarter finals but this doesnt mean that we can relax. It is Davis Cup and it will be tough.

Alberto Mancini, Argentinean Davis Cup captain

Mancini is yet to decide which member of his team will join world number nine David Nalbandian in the singles rubbers on the opening day.

I dont have the number two singles position decided yet. I have options and this is always great for a captain.

Agustin Calleri is the fourth member of the Argentinean team. The tie begins on Friday at the Estadio Parque Roca, Buenos Aires.

(From LTA web)

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Anyone else see 'the boys' hitting in Argentina on News24 today?

They said Andy had been replaced by Ross! Not strictly true of course, while they were saying that they were showing Richard serving,Topless! I expect that having only arrived there only recently his skin is still leaking.

John Lloyd said (approx) "An already tough task was now much tougher but with the right spirit - win or lose it could be a good experience "

Have copied and added link to this Video on Richard's website HERE

Interview: Great Britain's Jamie Baker (Audio)

-- Edited by mjd at 18:13, 2008-02-06

-- Edited by mjd at 19:00, 2008-02-06

-- Edited by mjd at 22:54, 2008-02-06

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

I hate to say this, but I think we'll struggle to get more than 20 games in the 10 or 12 sets of singles played. I suppose it will depend on the level of intensity of the argies, but I can't imagine them taking it easy on us with a partisan crowd behind them. The doubles should be competitive though.

I wonder what the odds are? PaddyPower only has betting for the Davis Cup outright - we are 200:1. The only way see us beating Argentina is if they get disqualified...

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Jamie Murray has criticised his brother Andy for pulling out of this weekend's Davis Cup tie in Argentina.

"It's disappointing he chose not to come and it kind of affects the way we feel about him. If he wanted to really push himself he could have come here."

Andy Murray said he was advised not to play on clay in Argentina after playing on hard courts in Australia and before playing on indoor surfaces.
(Isn't clay Andy's favourite surface?)

Ouch!

Full story on BBC

seagull · Hall of fame

OK Order of Play for Friday is:

Nalbandian v Baker

Calleri v Bogdanovic

GULP!!

Count Zero · Tennis legend

what time again is 'kick off'?