Davis Cup - Euro Africa Zone I Play-offs - GBR v Poland 18-20 September 2009

The Hoose · Satellite level

RE: Davis Cup - Euro Africa Zone I Play-offs - GBR v Poland 18-20 September 2009

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

If there is the slightest doubt about Murray's wrist injury then he shouldn't play today.

Even if Murray does play, there is no guarentee that we will the match and to have any chance really, we are relying on Murray to beat Janowicz tomorrow, so if he gets injured today and can't play tomorrow, we are screwed.

zarrafak · Lower Club Player

If Andy Murray pulls out of the doubles today, which looks certain. Lloyd HAS to name Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski for the doubles. I know it's difficult "politically" to drop Ross Hutchins as our No1 doubles player - but, Murray excepted, he's never regularly partnered any of the other players in the team.
As every doubles player knows good doubles is about understanding, anticipation and co-ordinating with your partner.

Colin and Ken have played regularly together for almost a year now and won quite a few titles up to Challenger level. They definitely now have a deep understanding of each others game and have the experience to keep their heads in these situations.They have beaten some of the best established pairs in the world along the way.

Ken Skupski is in front of his home town crowd. The atmosphere could be electric and extremely hostile to the Polish pair, who on their day are one of the top pairs in the world. Colin and Ken have pushed them all way earlier this year, but the atmosphere here could prove the deciding factor in favour of the British pair.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

zarrafak wrote:

If Andy Murray pulls out of the doubles today, which looks certain. Lloyd HAS to name Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski for the doubles. I know it's difficult "politically" to drop Ross Hutchins as our No1 doubles player - but, Murray excepted, he's never regularly partnered any of the other players in the team.
As every doubles player knows good doubles is about understanding, anticipation and co-ordinating with your partner.

Colin and Ken have played regularly together for almost a year now and won quite a few titles up to Challenger level. They definitely now have a deep understanding of each others game and have the experience to keep their heads in these situations.They have beaten some of the best established pairs in the world along the way.

Ken Skupski is in front of his home town crowd. The atmosphere could be electric and extremely hostile to the Polish pair, who on their day are one of the top pairs in the world. Colin and Ken have pushed them all way earlier this year, but the atmosphere here could prove the deciding factor in favour of the British pair.

He can't name Skupski though because he wasn't in the final 4 man squad.

The final squad was Murray, Evans, Fleming and Hutchins, so if Murray doesn't play, it can only be Fleming and Hutchins who will play doubles.

zarrafak · Lower Club Player

I thought a 'sub' was permitted in the event of an injury to one of the 4 nominations, say if Hutchins 'twisted and ankle' in practice or something!

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

zarrafak wrote:

I thought a 'sub' was permitted in the event of an injury to one of the 4 nominations, say if Hutchins 'twisted and ankle' in practice or something!

Looking through the rules, it seems that you cannot change the squad of four once the tie has begun, so even if Hutchins got injured know, we couldn't bring in someone from outside the 4 man squad to replace him.

It's a shame that we can't nominate Flemski to play the doubles match, but if the rumours about Murray's injury are true that he had been suffering for a few weeks, then picking a squad that presumes he will play doubles wasn't the best way to go.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

BBC Live ticker is reporting that Murray is to play doubles this afternoon.

Not sure whether or not it is the right decision as earlier this morning all interviews were suggested that he had one match maximum left in him this weekend and if this was a regular ATP event, Murray would have withdrawn injured.

I've got a horrible feeling that we'll lose the doubles today and then Murray won't be able to play tomorrow as well.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

According to Jonathan Overend, Murray has been practising with a single-handed backhand this morning and will play on the deuce side, rather than on the ad side where he'd usually play, meaning Hutchins will be playing on the wrong side than he usually does.

wolf · Tennis legend

GB lead 3-2*

The boys look sharp at the moment, we need Ross to start making some returns and we could start to get a lead.

The Hoose · Satellite level

The Brit boys have levelled it at one set all.

wolf · Tennis legend

Poland lead 5-2* third set.

GB made a tactical switch at the end of the first set and Andy and Ross switched sides after they realised Andy's wrist didn't need protecting and that worked as Ross started to make some returns and they finally broke on their 10th break point.

Ross is struggling somewhat with balls directed straight at him at the net, and he missed two in a row on Andy's serve as they got broken in the third set.

The Hoose · Satellite level

and the Poles take the third set 6-3.

The Hoose · Satellite level

The Britboys are a break down in the fourth now.

wolf · Tennis legend

The Poles win 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

The Brits were the better team in the first two sets, but the Poles upped their games after that.

Only taking one break point out of what must have been about 25 chances (?) was the deciding factor.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

If the Brits could have taken even about 20% of their break point chances, they'd have won that match without question.

Seemed to be very evenly matched, perhaps with the Poles slightly stronger, but the biggest difference was that on the big points, the Poles played very well and we didn't... I'd be surprised if we even got a return in play on half of our break point chances.

Still have a chance of winning the tie though with the 5th rubber and there's no reason why Evans shouldn't be able to beat someone ranked over 300 places below him, as long as he plays well, but the Poles are probably favourites now.