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

The Knight · Challenger qualifying

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

The Knight · Challenger qualifying

Reports on Sky News and BBC website say Andy has pulled out of DC tie

Count Zero · Tennis legend

hmm, Screwed are we.

steven · Tennis legend

Confirmed by the LTA http://www.lta.org.uk/News/All-news-items/2009-03-02/Murray-withdraws-from-GB-Davis-Cup-tie/

steven · Tennis legend

Will JL put Fleming in for the doubles or will Josh play all three days, I wonder, assuming the tie lasts that long.

I assume JL won't change his team nominations until the very last moment, because of the rule about only changing two players, though I guess he could now nominate Chris instead of Andy and still have one change left.

freerider · Futures level

i would rather murray and stak were both out then both in - give the others a chance to shine

MRUK · Improver

Hey guys,

Think we can be positive about it. It is not a massive mismatch and these guys need some experience no? I'm weirdly optimistic...

this guys says some stuff here bout it...all fairly obvious but common sense nonetheless

alexkayblog.dailymail.co.uk

steven · Tennis legend

Welcome to the board Mr K, good to know we now have two nationals reading the forum ... and one even correcting the other through its pages, apparently wink

P.S. I agree with what the article says about getting behind the team we've got left - it's not an unwinnable tie by any means.

-- Edited by steven at 11:39, 2009-03-02

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Murray being out is a definate blow, but I still think that this tie is winnable, but obviously the two guarenteed rubbers that Murray would have provided us have disappeared.

I still think we have good shot in the doubles rubber as Hutchins is the best doubles player in the tie, and alongside Goodall they have reached an ATP final (and are better players now than they were then).

And in the two matches against Marchenko we still have a decent shot of winning, as Goodall definately should beat him, while in a 5th rubber Eaton (or Ward, who I would add to the team instead of Fleming as he is the better option for singles) would have a good chance with the crowd behind them.

And Eaton pushed Stak to a 3rd set TB last year, so there's a definate chance that he could trouble him on day 1 (and hopefully wear him out for the doubles the following day).

It's not like the Austria time where we all knew it would come down to the 5th rubber, as there are quite a few open matches in this one, with potentially all 5 able to go each way (especially if Stak isn't fit), so we still have a chance, but obviously it has diminished.

Drew · Mar 2, 2009

JL may opt for Fleming in lieu of Ward on the basis of Flemings undoubted talent for doubles. Josh will be key in his two singles rubbers and JL may want to keep him fresh.

The fact that Fleming is a Scot should have nothing to do with it but the atmosphere the last time in Braehead at times was poor...having a playing Scot to cheer could be a big positive.

So I would go with Fleming for the dubs slot on basis of his recent doubles sucess. Being a Scot is an added bonus no more.

BTW Friday play starts at 12 noon, 1pm on Saturday and 12 noon Sunday.

I would presume the draw would be...

Friday:

Goodall v Marchenko
Eaton v Stakhovsky

Saturday:

Hutchins / TBC v Stakhovsky / Bubka

Sunday:

Goodall v Stakhovsky
Eaton v Marchenko

scottie1 · Futures level

well i am disappointed as a Scot thatAndy is not playing but agree that Colin should play. Saw Wardy in edinburgh last year though and he looks a good player.
Seen Josh at Wimbledon as ayoung kid playing his first----------- this is his big chance he is brit no 2 lats hope he has more bottle than bogga!

Anyway I have tickts so going a long anyone Scottish crowds are more reserved but I agree a Scottish player would make all the difference!

tennisfan84 · Junior player

We're stuffed. Considering no brit with the exception of Murray, Henman or Rusedski has won a live singles rubber in the past ten years, are we really expecting 2 singles wins in the same tie. Goodall is good enough to win us one but two would be asking a bit much. Stakhovsky is a different league of player to the rest of the brits with the exception of Boggo. On current form Bloomers should be playing the 2nd singles place after Goodall. Shame Lloyd obviously hates him. I agree that Fleming should play in the doubles with Ross. They are our best chance of a rubber. Fingers crossed but I won't be betting my house. Where is Greg when you need him????

wolf · Tennis legend

I'm honestly a lot more excited about this without Andy. I am hoping the guys will rise and win the tie. I mean Marchenko is hardly unbeatable is he? The doubles will be crucial, and I would pick Fleming to partner Ross.

The Knight · Challenger qualifying

tennisfan84 wrote:

Where is Greg when you need him????

Still hiding from the Guardian and their hate towards hims

steven · Tennis legend

Shock news from the Daily Express - the headline "Fleming is in after Dr No" suggests that David Rice got the first free slot in the team, but that's not what it actually means - see http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/87297/Fleming-is-in-after-Dr-No - in fact Colin's not in yet either, but might be. The journo calls him "the highest ranked British doubles player on the ATP Tour" confuse and says he is nicknamed "the silent assassin" ... good job he's not from Norfolk, or that'd be the same two reasons not to have him on the team as Bloomers! evileye

I'm quite impressed with the Grauniad's article on the likely team today at http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/mar/02/great-britain-davis-cup-team - fairly well balanced (apart from the Boggo bash, but is there any journo who doesn't do that?), which is a bit of a shock given that it's by the same journo who did the hatchet job on Greg.