Davis Cup - Euro Africa Zone I - GBR v Ukraine 6-8 March 2009

Spectator · All-time great

RE: Davis Cup - Euro Africa Zone I - GBR v Ukraine 6-8 March 2009

Count Zero · Tennis legend

in today's guardian greg says he is not coming back.

mjd · Challenger qualifying

'I'm not coming back ever. You can quote me' - Greg

The story had still slipped out and John Lloyd, the captain, and Andy Murray suggested Rusedski's possible return for next month's tie against Ukraine in Glasgow was misguided.
Rusedski now shakes his head. "It's not happening ever again. I'm done. Sometimes it's better to let things go and so you can quote me on this. I'm not coming back ever again. I'm happy to be officially retired and I can't wait for this thing to be over so I can move on."

Link to the full Article

-- Edited by mjd at 10:25, 2009-02-17

steven · Tennis legend

Hutch gets the DC doubles slot

A bit of unexpectedly early news slipped in by the LTA this morning.

http://www.lta.org.uk/News/All-news-items/2009-02-16/Hutchins-selected-in-GB-Davis-Cup-team/

This early decision, probably the right one, should at least guarantee a storming week for Shaggy in Memphis! wink

(quite impressed with how easily he and Vemic beat Max Mirnyi and partner yesterday)

Rusedski interview (as referred to in the previous post)

It seems very honest and balanced, and a good read. I'm surprised he's not more angry at Lloyd and Murray (not for the fact he's not playing in the DC tie, but for having yapped to the media about it after telling him they weren't interested), though they manage to come out of it looking pretty small despite (or perhaps even because) he's so nice about them.

-- Edited by steven at 10:50, 2009-02-17

Count Zero · Tennis legend

probably the right decision, but as steven says no doubt jamie will go on a blinder.

i am not sure who leaked the greg story, did murray or JL/ or where they just reacting to questions they we asked of?

steven · Tennis legend

As far as I could gather, JL mentioned it while he was commentating on a match and the story just grew from there.

Drew · Feb 17, 2009

No matter how it came out its the right decision.

Now heres hoping Jamie can put in a great run this week !

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Well as far as DC goes it won't do him any good - JL has decided on Hutchins. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7894971.stm

So Jamie can concentrate on winning to improve his ranking instead.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Probably the right decision to play Ross as he is the better form, although Jamie is bound to win the title this week to make Lloyd look more of an idiot than he is, following not picking Bloomers only to see him qualify.

Vandenburg · Futures level

ok so hes my final team
Andy Murray
Hutchins
Eaton
Ward.

Montana Doug · Futures qualifying

Poor decision to leave Jamie out I think. I'd rather Andy win his two singles matches without having to worry about doubles. I remember Tim and Greg playing three five set matches in three days and I am not sure that is fair.....

Just my two cents, but it would have been Hutchins and Jamie in doubles for me, while Andy and Boggo would be playing singles.....I know I know, shoot me now...lol

Vandenburg · Futures level

no jaime is playing very poorley at the mo so needs to be left out, no 2 ways about it.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Montana Doug wrote:

Poor decision to leave Jamie out I think. I'd rather Andy win his two singles matches without having to worry about doubles. I remember Tim and Greg playing three five set matches in three days and I am not sure that is fair.....

Just my two cents, but it would have been Hutchins and Jamie in doubles for me, while Andy and Boggo would be playing singles.....I know I know, shoot me now...lol

The problem with that is that Jamie/Ross aren't guarenteed to win the doubles rubber, and if say Andy/Boggo got injured on the opening day and couldn't play the reverse singles, it would leave us very short on options.

Having two doubles specialists in the side only works if:

a) They are a near-on guarentee to win their doubles rubber
b) One of the doubles specialists should have a chance of winning a singles match.

It doesn't work for us as I doubt Jamie/Ross could compete against Marchenko (who'd likely be their number 2), but does work for the USA as Bob Bryan can compete with his serve, which is bigger than what Ross/Jamie has.

I don't think we'll go in with 2 doubles specialists for a long time after the disaster against Austria though.

indiana · Tennis legend

Very good summing up, in my opinion, FD.

Re the one doubles speciialist, I personally agree the Hutchins pick, but don't think it is as clearcut as Vendenburg makes out.

Jamie is not at the top of his game and I think Ross shades it just now, but I certainly don't agree its that black and white.

steven · Tennis legend

From the Times:

"Early this year Ivanovic, 21, identified the need for a full-time coach to help put her career back on track and formulated a short list of candidates. One surprise name that figured was that of John Lloyd, Britains Davis Cup captain, who only those with a long memory will recall coached with some effect Swedens Catarina Lindqvist. She reached a couple of grand-slam semi-finals and the worlds top ten but has been retired from the sport for more than 16 years. Then he was employed in an attempt to try and help Tracy Austin recapture former glories but that didnt come to much.

In the end Lloyd did not get the job ..."

Pity ...