Andy withdraws from Davis Cup tie

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Andy withdraws from Davis Cup tie

wolf · Tennis legend

Disgrace. He should withdraw from the ATP tournaments, not the DC.

Armchair · County player

Hmmmm, so much for the team of fitness experts then.

steven · Tennis legend

So much for JL's theory that he didn't need to boss Andy around because he was professional enough to turn up fit and ready.

Andy won't be the first top 20 player to have pulled out of a DC tie in Argentina though - I looked the other day and the reason they keep winning 5-0 is that they always seem to end up playing the opponents' B teams.

john · Top national player

Bottle job, please don't bother coming back and playing an easier tie at the end of the year Andy. I'd rather play in Euro/Africa Group 2 with players who are proud to represent Great Britain than in the World Group with a choking mug who can't be bothered to turn up when we're probably going to lose.

-- Edited by john at 18:15, 2008-01-30

steven · Tennis legend

I wonder how long it will be before the BBC announce that they're not going to bother covering the tie on interactive any more? That would be even more annoying ... furious

-- Edited by steven at 18:38, 2008-01-30

DJ · County player

Andy's quite right to pull out; this is his career we're all dismissing. It's far more important for the future of our sport that we have a top player over the next few years for kids to look up to and try to emulate, than that we lose 1-4 to Argentina, rather than 0-5. British tennis desperately needs a fit, top-class player to retain the media's interest - Andy's the sole possibility; that's the best way for him to support British tennis.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Agree completely with DJ.

We have to accept that we are going to lose this tie and concentrate no the players ATP rankings until the next play-off tie.

wolf · Tennis legend

DJ wrote:

Andy's quite right to pull out; this is his career we're all dismissing. It's far more important for the future of our sport that we have a top player over the next few years for kids to look up to and try to emulate, than that we lose 1-4 to Argentina, rather than 0-5. British tennis desperately needs a fit, top-class player to retain the media's interest - Andy's the sole possibility; that's the best way for him to support British tennis.

So you would say the Marseille Open or whatever is more important than playing for your country?

DJ · County player

No, Wolf, I don't, but I don't think the two are simple alternatives. Playing now, when injured, is likely to mean an extended period out. A weak knee could even mean being permanently hors de combat.
A 'bipartite patella' sounds, to this layman, potentially very worrying (I assume it means his kneecap is in two parts). Presumably, it's a permanent weakness or, at least, not 'a good thing'. Do we have any medics who could enlighten us?

wolf · Tennis legend

If he is seriously injured, then fine. But if he was seriously injured he wouldn't be making up excuses like "changing surfaces quickly would be bad for me" and "the next two months for me are crucial if I am to compete with the top players".

seagull · Hall of fame

I have to say I am quite glad about this. Instead of flying halfway round the world to play gruelling match's in a hopeless cause he can concentrate on defending the shedload of points he has coming off.

But he owes the GB team big time now....be quite an experience for Baker & Boggo!!

afe · Social player

I had a feeling this might happen, and am pleased it has the withdrawal, not the injury. I would rather have a fit AM able to challenge the top players than possibly aggravating the injury, or picking up a worse injury, by being persuaded to play 3 5 set matches on clay with little chance of winning the tie. His wrist injury last year came from changing surfaces probably without sufficient preparation and that should not be repeated. I assume GB will have a relegation playoff late this year and no doubt Andy, if fit, will be giving his all to win that.

john · Top national player

afe wrote:

I had a feeling this might happen, and am pleased it has the withdrawal, not the injury. I would rather have a fit AM able to challenge the top players than possibly aggravating the injury, or picking up a worse injury, by being persuaded to play 3 5 set matches on clay with little chance of winning the tie. His wrist injury last year came from changing surfaces probably without sufficient preparation and that should not be repeated. I assume GB will have a relegation playoff late this year and no doubt Andy, if fit, will be giving his all to win that.

IMO Andy is no longer welcome to play for GB. He can't pick and choose when he "gives his all". He either wants to represent the country or he doesn't. He's made his choice.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I disagree, I think he is perfectly entitled to pick and choose.

That being said, I never wanted us to get into the World Group in the first place. I think because of our lack of depth, we would be better off playing at a lower level and trying to form a good DC team from the players coming up.