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Post Info TOPIC: Fed Cup 2010: Europe/Africa Zone Group 1
baxi2


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RE: Fed Cup 2010: Europe/Africa Zone Group 1
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Here's an interesting view from the AndyMurray.com site , somebody who watched the match:-

"I could not go yesterday but went today and saw the end of Anne's match and the other two. Unfortunately I did not see GB win even a set. I honestly did my best to shout "come on GB" as much as I could and I honestly think I made the GB camp shout more! I did my "job".
But, as an aside, I felt several things were badly thought out by GB concerning off-court things.
1. Austrians divided themselves into two groups, one near the court and their players, the other at the other end - approx two groups of six. They had this habit of clapping more and more swiftly to encourage their player(s). Very effective to "get" a court atmosphere with about twelve people! GB camp had a bit of cheering. By the end I was shouting "Come on GB" over the top of the Austrian clapping.
2. Ten miles down the road from the venue there is an international British school (the mother's children go there). the LTA could have contacted them, offered a couple of the girls as a visit to the school one off period, and arranaged for a couple of hundred screaming teenager Brits to provide atmosphere (I did my best, but I was one). GB has many ex-patriot communities and international schools all round the world. Plan it next time. Using the Embassy or consulate. Find out the school. Find out the ticket source. Put the two together.
3. Most serious concern by far.... It felt like every Austrian watched every point of every game of every set of every match (or weren't there). GB started the doubles 3-0 up. At 3-1 the first BP on GB (Anne's)'s serve, guess want happened? Bally and another girl arrived with coffee and some food for the coaches. General merriment all round. While GB dropped serve.
Along with the doodling with mobile phones (my phone went off as soon as I sat down - I was there to support not to communicate with the rest of the world.... see other threads for noetics).
4. Frankly, I felt that a Capello would not go amiss in sorting out the right atmosphere amongst the British camp. Discipline. You are courtside from the beginning to the end to support your team. The Austrians had it. We did not. Unforgiveable in a team competitions. Sorry. rant....
5. Did not like the overall atmosphere between the male coaches and the female players. Did not at all like the attitude of the on-court coach to Anne - there seemed to be too much tension there. Anne had a toilet break between the doubles sets and she literally pushed her chair a bit further back to seemingly get away from him. Not sure if that was Nigel Sears.
Very nice bald coach btw who was really pleased at my encouragement.
Bally comes across as a very nervy player. So much power, but.... great volleying in her match... just could not hold serve when it counted...same with the doubles.... Anne basically was too far down to come back.... I had hoped we might get the second set in doubles but other than that we did not look at all as if we stood a chance in any set in the singles. Sorry to say...
Oops starting to ramble.... that's enough. Don't shoot me for the off-court comments, but meticulous preparation should consider those things as well."



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philwrig


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The only thing I would say in GB's defence is that we had already lost the match by the time the doubles had started.
Yep all week it has been evident that the Austrian team have received tremendous vocal support.
Alex Willis's blog for Ace on the LTA site mentioned their support in their match against Belarus. Unfortunately us Brits tend to be a more reserved bunch and find it awkward to be equally as vocal.

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djlovesyou


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I notice it's Anne vs Dzehalevich and Katie vs Govortsova for today's singles.

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indiana


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Well it's time both the Davis Cup guys and the Fed Cup girls were taught about supporting a team !!!!

I'm sure they are quite capable of giving loud encouragement and as was said just not being there half the time is inexcusable.

How often do folk report how much better the opposition support have been ?



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philwrig


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Annie K wins 1st set in tie break 10-8. Good response after yesterday.

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indiana


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Hmm, so she's competitive with the WR 156. 

Fair enough and that's a reasonable level to have obtained in her second singles match back.

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Tutu


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Hm. Even if it meant sacrificing team GB's chances of getting promoted for another year, i'm glad that it seems like this week and these couple of matches have already helped Anne hugely.

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philwrig


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Nice win for Anne 7-6 6-1 and shows she's not a million miles away from her best. Still doesn't excuse the decision made yesterday but does show that she is in decent fettle and augurs well for the season ahead.

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indiana


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...and more than competitive in the second set  smile    Yes, looks as if it coming together.

These matches will have helped Anne greatly and that's good.

Am I happy about this at the expense of maybe having sacrificed GB's Fed Cup chances ?  No !


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djlovesyou


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Get the feeling that Katie will get whomped by Govortsova as usual now.

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DavidC


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Katie lost the first set 6-3 (broken in the 8th game)

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Peter too


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Katie 3-6 after going with serve up to 3-4

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Josh


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Any news of how the Austrians are getting on against the Bosnians??

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DavidC


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Austria have won 2-0, though their result was irrelevant to us as Austria would have won the group even if they lost to Bosnia because of having beaten the winner of GBR-BLR

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DavidC


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Katie 3-6 2-3* (2 breaks to 1 in set 2)

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