Davis Cup 2012 - E-A Zone I R1 - Great Britain v Slovak Republic, 10-12 Feb

Gary Denton · Intermediate Club Player

RE: Davis Cup 2012 - E-A Zone I R1 - Great Britain v Slovak Republic, 10-12 Feb

thegingerlightbulb · Intermediate Club Player

First of all well done to Dan Evans who was excellent. I actually dont remember anyone who wasnt Tim, Greg or Andy actually stepping up and winning a tie for us at this kind of level, and i've followed tennis for almost 20 years now.

Secondly I also kind of agree with Ratty about the Davis Cup. However I believe the idea of the competition is great, its the format that needs changing. I feel it would be far better to have it either as a yearly or bi-yearly event at some point in the tennis calender (perhaps replacing the ATP tour finals?) I would like to see it become a 32 country event, like the world cup, maybe with qualifying matches for the lesser countries (and yes that probably includes us right now). I know that might mean a lot of matches but if the early rounds were perhaps best of 3 sets or best of 3 matches it could be done.

Any thoughts?

Ratty · County player

thegingerlightbulb wrote:
Any thoughts?

I agree. There's nothing wrong with the concept of a national-team competition, it's just the convoluted and confusing format in the lower divisions.

I have very fond memories of going to GB v Sweden in Birmingham (Enqvist beat Rusedski & Henman beat Bjorkman, if I remember rightly) about 10 years back, with a noisy and partisan crowd - but minus tedious "look-at-me" students.

scottie1 · Futures level

have been to braehead as well i find the students ott singing stuff like we love you wardy we doo === expect a child of 5 to sing that. but the lta ply them with booze so they are hear to stay i think

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

adz1983 wrote:
Breaking down the perception that tennis is a middle class/middle aged sport can only be helped by the likes of the Stirling Uni students. I for one enjoyed their chanting and was rather bored by the tutting from the over 60s brigade.
Scream from the rafters for all I care. Whip up the crowd. Have a couple of pints. Jeeeeeeez. Enjoy a good day out.

They almost had me switching of Eurosport. I've all in favour of a boisterous chanting crowd whipping up support, but the same unimaginative 5 words repeated ad-nasuea throughout the entire match was just iritating beyond belief.

RJA · Hall of fame

On another point the tie against Belgium will again be at the Braehead. While I certainly don't have a problem with us playing Davis Cup matches in Scotland this will be the fourth consecutive home tie at that venue. There are plenty of other places in the country that could host a tie and the location should be moved around to give the rest of a chance of attending.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i think if the tie had been held 4 times in a row at Wimbledon then there would have been complaints. however i can see sense in hosting at the same place whilst the venue is big enough to fit the tie. Even if the initial selection was probably in part to try to get Andy to play i think it's gone beyond that now we have a good record for the players there.

Also it's probably good to have some 'higher' profile tennis in Scotland, as fas as i know they don't host any events bigger than a futures right?

adz1983 · Intermediate Club Player

RBBOT wrote:
adz1983 wrote:
Breaking down the perception that tennis is a middle class/middle aged sport can only be helped by the likes of the Stirling Uni students. I for one enjoyed their chanting and was rather bored by the tutting from the over 60s brigade.
Scream from the rafters for all I care. Whip up the crowd. Have a couple of pints. Jeeeeeeez. Enjoy a good day out.
They almost had me switching of Eurosport. I've all in favour of a boisterous chanting crowd whipping up support, but the same unimaginative 5 words repeated ad-nasuea throughout the entire match was just iritating beyond belief.

And the alternative is....? Complete silence? Polite clapping?

Next come on down with a big crowd and make up some new chants.

steven · Tennis legend

Quick but fun/interesting Evo interview - http://bit.ly/wrCHQl

Naughty of me, but I took "People said I was out until five in the morning the night before I was playing at Wimbledon. It was complete rubbish, half of it" as meaning "only til 2.30" wink

Seriously though, it's great that he's grown up a lot (without getting tooo serious) and I hope he continues to reap rewards from doing so.

RJA · Hall of fame

The interesting bit his ambitious plans for the next few weeks. A couple of weeks ago I said that he didn't want to see him playing futures any more but I still expected him to play Tipton, Bath and then the Bath challenger to try and defend most of the 59 points he got at those three event last year. Instead we get

"Im going to Cherbourg next, then Mexico, and then trying to qualify for Miami. Ive got a ranking target for the year, but its not for sharing. Its between me and my coach.

By Mexico I assume that he means the Guadalajara 100K challenger in week 11.

wolf · Tennis legend

Good move for Dan to go for those events. To go back to the same events he always plays after the highs of Davis Cup I think would have been a mistake.