Davis Cup - World Group Playoff - GBR v Austria - 19-21 September 2008

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

RE: Davis Cup - World Group Playoff - GBR v Austria - 19-21 September 2008

Vandenburg · Futures level

mm playing 2 doubles specialists worries me, a clear sign of weekness and depth in the game we have

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Somewhere in one of the online newspapers I read today (can't remember which one!) they said that Dan Cox, Dan Smethurst and Marcus Willis are going along as part of the team, to watch Andy at close quarters (hitting partners I assume)

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Great minds - I was just reading through the thread to check that this hadn't been included at the same time as you must have been typing it in. It was in the Times online -

"Hutchins made certain that the junior contingent that played in the US Open got close to Murray, watched his methods, listened and learnt. Marcus Willis, Dan Smethurst and Dan Cox have been seconded into the Great Britain squad for next week's Davis Cup tie against Austria at Wimbledon, to engage further in the Murray experience.

Drew · Sep 9, 2008

Madeline wrote:

Somewhere in one of the online newspapers I read today (can't remember which one!) they said that Dan Cox, Dan Smethurst and Marcus Willis are going along as part of the team, to watch Andy at close quarters (hitting partners I assume)

That would be good...maybe I can get some comment from them !

Drew · Sep 10, 2008

Just to let you all know we have eventually received the media accreditation from the LTA.

We can now get prepared.

We need to get the 'Davis Cup' page on bt.net updated with the teams and a preview.

I wonder if FD, Kundalini or someone else more gifted than me to write a preview piece ?

As before I will do :

* Match previews
* Match reports
* Personal Blog...light-hearted take on the whole event !
* Press Conferences
* Player Interviews (NB Count speak to Boggo !)

Any other suggestions then just post or PM me.

wolf · Tennis legend

Great Britain Vs Austria

Great Britain
Andy Murray
Alex Bogdanovic
Jamie Murray
Ross Hutchins
Captain: John Lloyd

Austria
Jurgen Melzer
Alexander Peya
Martin Fischer
Julian Knowle
Captain: Gilbert Schaller

Court 1 at Wimbledon will be the setting for this World Group tie between Great Britain and Austria, as both teams look to secure a slot in the 2009 World Group. GB will be slight favourites coming into this tie, with home advantage and the US Open finalist Andy Murray in their ranks, and the Austrians without their no.2 player, Stefan Koubek.

Andy Murray will be expected to win both his singles rubbers, although Melzer was two sets up against him in the recent US Open, and Melzer will be expected to beat Bogdanovic. This means the tie will probably be decided on whether Austria can win the two remaining ties, the doubles and probably Peya v Bogdanovic in the deciding rubber.

The doubles tie will be evenly fought, with maybe Austria being the favourites, as they possess Knowle, one of the best doubles player in the world, and the US Open champion of 2007. Knowle will in all likelihood pair with Melzer, who is also a top 50 doubles player, as the two used to team up regulary until Melzer was injured at the start of 2007. For Britain, it looks like Jamie Murray will play with Hutchins to give Andy a break and leave him fresh for his rubber with Melzer on day three. This looks like a risky decision with Jamie being out of form and Hutchins relatively inexperienced at this level.

If Britain fail to win the doubles, it is probable that Bogdanovic would have to come out and play the deciding rubber against Peya. It will be a pressure situation for Boggo, and one he hasnt coped well with in the past, and the British public has criticised him earlier this year for his seventh successive loss at Wimbledon. Peya, is a similar player ranking wise to Boggo, a career high of 92 compared to Alex's 108, and a current ranking of 168 compared to 172.

Whoever wins, the crowd that will gather at SW19 should be guaranteed three days of thrilling, high quality tennis.

-- Edited by wolf at 15:19, 2008-09-10

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Good preview, Wolf.

Akhenaten · Pro player

Yeah, that's excellent. Great work Wolf!

Drew · Sep 10, 2008

Great work Wolf that will do nicely.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

will boggo now be higher ranked than peya for the tie?

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I make Boggo 161 on 265 points, Peya 163 on 262 points at this moment. But Alex has played and won 2 matches this week, Peya only one so far.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

hopefully evil will do the business n peya then

steven · Tennis legend

In case anyone is wondering, the "Evil" Kunitsyn thing started off (linked to the initial sound of his first name, obviously) when he beat Rusedski in both Moscow and Dnepro in late 2005. Boggo has a good record against him though.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

its a generally evil sounding name tho isnt it.

boggo is 2 & 0 against him isnt he, both on fast courts.