Match Preview

Ross Hutchins was so actively supporting his fellow team mates from the sidelines on Friday you would forgive him if he wanted a little rest after the days play.

As soon as the last of the crowd left the arena he a Colin Fleming were on court getting in some practice ahead of todays vital and potentially tie deciding rubber.

Both Ross and Colin are in great doubles form. Ross currently ranked 44 and has a decent start to the year. His good run started the week after he and Jamie Murray lost in the Davis Cup at Wimbledon. He and regular partner Stephen Huss then won in ATP Beijing and lost in back to back ATP finals in Moscow and Lyon. Huss then had a well earned rest and Ross teamed up with Eric Butorac and they made the semis in Bratislava losing in two TB sets. During February he and Huss then made back to back semis in ATP events in San Jose and then Marseille.

Fleming has been re-building his doubles career since coming back into tennis during 2008. His ranking has risen to 289 and with no points to defend until August that is only going to rise. Colin will be hoping for some LTA wildcards this year to aid his ranking. If he continues to play well he will surely be odds on for a wimbledon wild card.

He has notched up 6 Futures titles (4 with Ken Skupski and 2 with Jonny Marray) and 1 Challenger title with Ken since his return. 6 titles in a row to boot.

The Ukraine pairing has not been confirmed but it is expected to be Stakhovsky and Bubka.

Stakhovsky is currently at a career high of 88 in doubles and is a very good doubles player. He won ATP Moscow with the Italian Starace (See below) in 2008. Bubka is ranked 183 on the back of several doubles semi-final and final appearances during 2008 and early 2009 but has not even a futures title to show for it. Bubka has beaten several Brits in doubles matches notably he and Stakhovsky beat Delgado and Jamie Murray last year. However he has lost to Hutchins and Skupski twice and Eaton and Auckland once.

Hutchins played doubles against Stakhovsky last year in the final of ATP Moscow and lost in 3 sets. Lets hope Ross can use that experience and play at the top of his game along with Colin to claim GB a point and take the tie into Sunday.


-- Edited by Drew at 11:45, 2009-03-07

Breeeeeeeeeeeeeak! Colin to serve for the second set!

This is easily the best quality match of the tie so far, very enjoyable.

Unfortunately both Colin and Ross are horrible returners, so can't see them breaking back here.

Gah, their groundstrokes are beyond awful

I know you are passionate about tennis John but this had nothing to do with Boggo not being picked or playing it in Glasgow. The whole crowd were behind the team and the atmosphere was electric. This defeat is all about the lack of depth in the mens game. If Andy had been fit and played we would have won it end of story.

Josh, Chris, Colin & Hutch all played well in parts and showed fantastic effort but effort alone is not enough. Colin played really well I felt throughout and it was hi passing shots that led to us winning set2.....Ross had problems returning serve but served really well at times (Dropped 1 pt on serve in the 4th set).

Stakhovsky was very poor and the Ukraine win is down to the son of a famous pole vaulter. Bubka junior was taken to a break point in his first service game. He held. Thereafter he dropped 3 pts in set 2, 0 in set 3, 5 in set 4 and 0 in set 5. Yes 6 love service games. Only 6 or 7 aces but the placement and power was constant and we needed an Andy Murray to return his serves.

I just hate 'Dead Sundays'

Agreed jamathews. And I'm not solely blaming the defeat on the guy's who went out on the court. That would be unfair on them, can't deny they tried their best.

The whole thing, however, was a shambles from start to finish. It started with the ridiculous decision to hold these playoffs and descended from there. Just dreadful, and for that the blame lies with the captain.