Davis Cup 2011 - EA Zone II, Round 2 - GB v Luxembourg

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Davis Cup

steven · Tennis legend

Btw, tweet of the day from Alex Ward:

"Can't believe robert *** moved to luxembourg and changed his name?!"

You'll have to guess the surname, the special automatic legal safeguards on the site prevent me from typing the name in full

I'm not sure what all the shock and horror from the journos is all about though. Did they want Muzz to play? Yes. Should Luxembourg be allowed to play in DC even if they only have one decent player? Yes. Were both of those things together likely to result in this kind of mashing one day? Of course they were!

indiana · Tennis legend

The one thing about Muller winning that first match is that the tie will still be on after the doubles, whatever its result so there will presumably be no temptation to let Evo play Muller in Andy's place ( and assume Wardy will win his match )

I'd been reading Andy saying the tie was a good chance to give guys like Wardy and Evo the chance to play the likes of Muller in Davis Cup, so I wonder if that was in the team's thoughts. I doubt the Braehead crowd would have been that amused if Andy's only singles match had been his epic contest from today.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 8th of July 2011 07:45:32 PM

Ratty · County player

RJA wrote:
Was always going to be a tough match but you have to feel that James did not play well today.

Well maybe, and while I'm sorry to repeat my suspicion that James' exploits at Queen's will prove to be a flash in the pan, I would think that the most likely explanation for the routine defeat is the simple one that Muller is just quite a lot better than James.

RJA · Hall of fame

Incidentally Hungary and Belarus are 1-1 after the first day.

With Mirnyi playing in the doubles you have to fancy Belarus to take the lead today.

mjd · Challenger qualifying

First set
GBR (Murrays) 7-5 Luxenbourg
Not as easy as expected as Muller not playing.

mjd · Challenger qualifying

2nd set a bit easier
Vameer broken twice 6-2

mjd · Challenger qualifying

GBR win 7-5 6-2 6-0

scottie1 · Futures level

they won but did not look that great in first set

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Is it just me, or is Jamie Murray's forehand a real liability? Good at the net, good backhand, quite good if a bit erratic serve, but that forehand seems to land in the net or out of court most of the time.

Anyway, well done, lads. I'll only be able to see the start of tomorrow's match but I don't expect Andy to have too much trouble, though not as easy as Friday for sure.

scottie1 · Futures level

i think that might be why he gave up singles

Ratty · County player

steven wrote:
Btw, tweet of the day from Alex Ward:

"Can't believe robert *** moved to luxembourg and changed his name?!"

Wardy had better get his wallet out. An ALLEGEDLY anonymous tennis player ALLEGEDLY has a bit of a track record of ALLEGEDLY extracting cash from people who diss him (or her).

steven · Tennis legend

Belarus did win the doubles today but it took them 5 sets, even with Mirnyi playing. So the Huns have to win both of the reverse singles rubbers for us to get another home tie in September (assuming no disasters in Glasgow tomorrow), which is a rare feat from 1-2 down (the last time we managed it was against Brazil at Wimbledon back in 1969!) but judging by the scorelines on Friday, not completely beyond them.

Hungary last managed to win from 1-2 down in 1995 and it was probably their biggest DC win to date - they beat the Aussies (Philippoussis and Woodbridge playing singles, with the Woodies playing doubles) from 1-2 down in a World Group qualifier in Budapest, one of only two times they have ever qualified for the World Group since its inception.

Belarus have only lost from 2-1 up once since they became a separate team in 1994, away to Romania in 2005.

British_is_Best · County player

I have a feeling that Hungary could well win this tie despite trailing 1-2. Ignatik (WR 153), the Belarus number 1, has played 10 sets over two days having been taken to 5 in both the singles and the doubles, so one feels he may be ever so slightly worn out today, especially as the tie is on clay. By contrast, the Hungarian number 1, Balazs (WR 224) only played the singles, winning in straights against Betau. If that were indeed to go the Hungarian's way it would leave the tie level at 2-2 with (assuming there are no changes to the line-up) Hungary fielding Kellner (WR 249) against Betau (WR 364).

Going back to GB's chances in that potential promotion clash, who would we prefer to face? I think the surface will be the same whether home or away as I guess we would host on indoor hard and, to the best of my knowledge, Belarus tend to play indoors at home. Belarus have the highest ranked player in Ignatik but he is their only singles player inside the top 350. They do, however, have Mirnyi (DR 3) on the team. Hungary, meanwhile, have two players in the top 250 (Balazs and Kellner) and Fucsovics lurking in the background (2010 Junior Wimbledon Champion) but no doubles specialists.

In conclusion, I have no idea what would be best and hope that this post doesn't go to jinx our chances of winning our current tie, or I may have to leave the board for a while for fear of being hunted down! wink

RJA · Hall of fame

Balazs has indeed beat Ignatik (7-6, 6-3, 7-6) to level the tie at 2-2. Hungary must now be considered the favourites.