Fed Cup 2011

johnnylad · Tennis legend

RE: Fed Cup 2011

steven · Tennis legend

djlovesyou wrote:

That Switzerland match will be vital. I can't see Denmark winning any match besides Wozniacki, the rest of the team is really that bad. They were the same last year.

I would say that our girls are in much better form than the Swiss and should be favourites for this.

I agree. The Swiss tie could go either way though, so I hope they're not slow out of the blocks.

As for Heather's column, which does actually look like it was written by her, the bit that intrigued me the most was where she said she had a lot to learn from Bally in terms of eating healthily. It was only a small comment, but it was nice to see her saying that - the more positive peer pressure there can be between the Brits, the better. (I don't know this for sure, and I hope it's completely untrue, but until recently I often got the impression there was a fair bit of negative peer pressure among some of the guys training in the UK under the LTA, where it wasn't cool to behave professionally)

-- Edited by steven on Tuesday 1st of February 2011 10:38:31 PM

steven · Tennis legend

Despite what the write-up on the LTA site suggested yesterday, their twitter is now reporting that Heather and Anne will play the singles matches against Switzerland, i.e. no Elena. That means Heather will play Bacsinszky and Anne will play Schnyder, whom she beat late last year, (and there's no reason why they shouldn't win those matches) but taking the risk of leaving out our best singles player seems a bit crazy to me unless Elena is not feeling 100%.

-- Edited by steven on Wednesday 2nd of February 2011 08:41:59 AM

PaulM · Tennis legend

This could be Austria all over again. Unless Bally is injured she should be playing.

steven · Tennis legend

It's not looking good - Bacsinszky is 4-1 up

I hope Elena isn't injured for her sake, but if she isn't, leaving her out of the singles in the key tie in the group would be just as bad as what happened last year.

steven · Tennis legend

1st set Switzerland 6-1 ... only 45 minutes into the week's matches and already what looked like a great chance of getting through is unravelling. This can't be happening, can it ...

PaulM · Tennis legend

Nigel's favouritism strikes again?

Dreadful decision making not to play Bally at all.

steven · Tennis legend

Heather has broken in the first game of the 2nd set, which is encouraging.

RCD · Intermediate Club Player

Live(ish) updates via the LTA's twitter feed are on: http://twitter.com/BritishTennis

Currently, 1-6 1*-0 Watson broke Bacsinszky first game, 2nd set

steven · Tennis legend

... but Bacsinszky has broken straight back

Could the logic be that many people see the doubles in this tie as key, so he wants our best player fresh for that and believes Anne can repeat her recent win over Schnyder? Problems with that line of thinking would be:

1) Elena is very much a singles specialist
2) We would probably have had more chance of winning both singles rubbers with our strongest pair than of winning the doubles rubber, whatever team we put out for that
3) We need to make sure we win at least one singles rubber else the doubles is rendered virtually irrelevant

Hopefully all will become clear later.

LordBrownof · Futures level

If Nigel doesn't understand the difference between a good singles player and a good doubles player he should be sacked on the spot!

Surely Elena has just picked up a niggling injury and they want her fresh for Wozniaki?

steven · Tennis legend

LordBrownof wrote:

If Nigel doesn't understand the difference between a good singles player and a good doubles player he should be sacked on the spot!

Surely Elena has just picked up a niggling injury and they want her fresh for Wozniaki?

That's still the most likely explanation, but saving her for Wozniacki makes little sense - she's highly unlikely to beat Caro and we're almost certain to win the no. 2 singles match whoever plays, with a very good chance in the doubles as well. Today's tie with Switzerland is the one that looked like it could go either way.

steven · Tennis legend

Two holds, then Heather broke for 3-2 but Bacsinszky broke straight back yet again.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

long game now..... cmon Hev

RCD · Intermediate Club Player

From the twitter feed:

"Switzerland hold serve and then break-it's 5-3 and Switzerland are serving for match"