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

Count Zero · Tennis legend

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

steven · Tennis legend

I agree with Bethan and the Count (what, both at once, surely not?), the thrust of the article seems to be that if you get yourself ranked high enough to play in AO Q then lose, it's worse than not getting yourself ranked high enough to play in AOQ at all.

It seems highly likely that if Boggo had been in Glasgow, he'd have won - after all, he did beat Robert 3 & 2 the last time they played! Plus Slabba's score only one ranking point less than Colin, with Boggo, Slabba and Colin way ahead of any of the other Brits except Andy. Not that selection should quite as short term as this, but still.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

Of course we didn't see how the players behaved out there and played, perhaps they all threw in lifeless performances.

The way i see JL's position: he cant guarantee that our number 2 will win. The most likey to get a win is boggo, but his track record is dire and anyway he is tarnished goods as far as the media goes.

So he's got a whole bunch of other players, only one of whom has any DC experience (baker), and none of whom have been inside the world top 200 for anything longer than a brief spell.
So anyone them are just as likely to win as each other and any of them are just as likely to lose on any day, there is no way to know. So the safest option is to go for which ever one will be seen, by the press and the public, to try hardest. Simple really, his main aim, if things do go pear shaped, will be to try and keep the press of his back and keep his job. He took some flak post Austria tie for 1) picking Boggo again and 2) not playing Andy in the dubs.

Of course if Andy plays 3 rubbers this should be in the bag, but on several occasions Andy has not been at his best health wise at the DC (vs Israel at Eastbourne, Serbia and possibly vs Austria) so the possibility has to be covered

seagull · Hall of fame

Surely there is no need to pick Hutchins and Jamie Murray as Andy will play dubs this time.

Therfore put Baker and Evans or whoever in and see who looks better in training

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i think JL said he wont pick 2 dubs specialists again.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

It worries me that Andy has quite a heavy schedule ahead of this tie. Isn't he playing 3 tournaments in a row immediately beforehand? I hope he isn't expected to play all 3 rubbers - though I admit we're unlikely to win if he doesn't.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Looking at what Lloyd has said regarding those who went to Australia, I think they could have a defamation case against him if they really wanted one - he's effectively accused them of not trying, which although it could well be the case, is not something I'd expect to be true, and it's just a case of them losing to a better players than them.

If Lloyd is discounting them, then Evans would be the player I'd look to put in at the moment as the experience will help him on his way up the rankings, while as long as Andy plays three ties, we aren't going to lose this match (and I would be very disappointed if we couldn't win a 5th rubber here against the Ukrainian number 2 if it went to that)

Baker still hasn't recovered from illness it doesn't seem as his result last week wasn't what you'd expect from him, and he'll be outside the top 500 when the rankings are next updated, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him named in the squad.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

there's still a few weeks left for player to turn things around.
mainly it seems JL will be looking at futures results. Boggo is probably the only one who will play at Challenger lvl, and i think his next event wont be until Wroclaw.

At the moment Evans and baker really seem to be the fav's. Flembo could well get himself back into contention which would be a great turn around for him coming back. I worry bout bakers fitness over a potential 5 sets, but if he can get some runs going deep into several futures he can dort that out.

indiana · Tennis legend

It is such a sad, sad state of affairs that we ( and Lloyd ) are desperately searching for the least bad option as a second singles player, someone who hopefully may have a chance of beating someone probably ranked well outside the top 200 in the world ( which maywell outrank who is finally chosen ! )

There are clearly many many reasons and many many faults ( often discussed in this forum ) but nnone can doubt what a fundamentally shocking position this is to be in for British tennis !!

I would select that Andy Murray chappee, Goodall, Hutchins ( or J Murray dependant on next few weeks ) and Evans ( or Eaton if he finds some form and fa ast surface is selected for Glasgow ).

Anyway, that won't be his team. I think for one Jamie Baker will be in ( who I do really like, but he is no way near back to his best, sorry way to go )

Hopefully Llyod will approach this as impartially as us, and not in some pique, or job protection wish. If he is in his mind discounting four of the six top ranked singles players ( who are least ranked good enough to get to Aussie Open Qualifying ) that is a disgrace ( as is seeming to cover all four with some implied blanket attitude allegation ).

Count Zero · Tennis legend

so Lloyd has taken the option of holding a play off to decide who gets to play in the DC!!

Boggo isn't invited as he has had enough chances in the past and failed to make an impression (and cause he'd probably win the play off i reckon)

its between Josh Goodall, James Ward, Alex Slabinsky, Jamie Baker, Dan Evans and Colin Fleming

"They will all play three five-set matches each and if any player wins them all they will automatically get a place in the side," said Lloyd. "I have told them that they should be doing a couple of hours extra training over the next month. If anybody shows they are not physically fit they have no chance of being picked. I've spoken to Andy, and it's an idea that appeals to him."

Bogdanovic, the No 185, who has regularly frozen on the Davis Cup stage in the past, is a significant absentee from the play-off tournament, along with Richard Bloomfield, the No 5, and Chris Eaton, the No 7, who qualified for Wimbledon last summer and went on to win a match in the first round.

"Alex and Chris were both upset," Lloyd said. "Alex was upset because he was the only British man who won a round here in qualifying [for the Australian Open]. I told him he'd had a lot of chances and I wanted to try something different. As for Chris Eaton, he has now lost to Dan Evans twice in the last two weeks.

"It's a chance to separate the men from the boys. I've told them that it's up to them how much they want to play in the Davis Cup, that if I were them I'd be training for an extra couple of hours a night. They're possibly going to be playing 15 sets in five days and the ones that don't look physically right won't be picked. I've spoken to Andy about it and he is very much into the idea. I think it appealed to him."

British players can earn up to £10,000 in a Davis Cup tie. "It's decent money for these guys and I want them to earn it," Lloyd said. "They're not earning it by being ranked in the 200s and 300s. Unless their rankings justify being automatically selected, it's not going to happen any more."

i have taken the above form various sources, and here is a link to the times article which has a bit more:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article5576401.ece

-- Edited by Count Zero at 00:41, 2009-01-24

wolf · Tennis legend

I would tell Lloyd to stick it. This will just cause players to miss another tournament or two. Bloomers must be gutted; if only he hadn't lost to Fleming twice. Why Baker is there and Bloomers isn't is beyond comprehension.

Lloyd needs to go as captain because he doesn't have a clue. He's just copping out making a choice by having a play-off. I wonder if it will be best of 3 or 5 sets?

Count Zero · Tennis legend

bets of 5 sets and apparently spectators are encouraged!
also will be umpires, line judges and ball boys.

they don't give the reason for not picking bloomers, but i assume its the same as why he didn't pick eaton.

James · Satellite level

Well personally I like the idea.. It will give Lloyd a more conclusive view of who is in the best vain of form without having to decide whether success in lower tournaments super seeds early losses in stronger ones and whether the chosen surface suits a certain player's game; and other such subjective issues.

I presume that this mini-tournament will be held in Glasgow?

wolf · Tennis legend

So Baker can lose to foreigners and be picked but Bloomers loses to a fellow Brit and he is out of the picture? Nice. Bloomers & Eaton should have been in to make a round 8.

Hope Josh wins.

Vandenburg · Futures level

its a strange one
i dont think bloomers can be picked, i cant work out what bloomers mind is, he plays barley enuf events a year to stay afloat in rankings....
Eaton-no
boggo-no
so i firmly would go with ward

goodall whos ranking has improved so much over the year is still a good futures player and not a challanger player.