Davis Cup 2013 - E-A Zone Group I R2 - GB v Russia - 5-7 April

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Davis Cup 2013 - E-A Zone Group I R2 - GB v Russia - 5-7 April

RJA · Hall of fame

Well what a day that turned out to be. Those who paid to go certainly got value for money and while we got nothing from the day both Dan and James can hold their heads high after two fine performances, although I suspect that Ward will be more than a tad rueful that he let a two set lead slip. Terrible pity that we couldn't have nicked just one of the matches as it would have given us a real chance to put some pressure on the Russians.

Dan again proved what a good player he can be and in some ways it only makes it even more criminal that he has never come close to realising his potential. It really is so very difficult to understand just why he cannot come close to producing such a level on a consistent basis. There never seems to be any lack of effort on the court from him and given that he played a 4 hour match without any serious signs of fatigue you have to assume that he puts in the work off the court as well. I don't know what his coaching set up is like at the moment but he doesn't seem to have a full time coach. Given that the LTA are still supporting him financially I wonder if this kind of performance should motivate them to have one final splurge and get a high calibre and strong willed 'in your face' coach to work with him for a while. Yes I know that they tried this approach with Boggo and the results were less than stellar but I think that most of us thought that Gilbert was a terrible match up for Boggo's easy going personality. I get the feeling that a Gilbert like coach (and I am not talking about getting someone as expensive as Gilbert) would get a very good response from Dan.

Spectator · All-time great

Mr Evans' issues are, as he honestly says, his own. Everyone on this board's always known that: it's not just talent or LTA support that matters: you have to want to work and to win. He doesn't always. Fair enough. (Not sure it's a class thing, though, Mr Evans. May feel better to say that's it - and that the largely middle-class tennis world just doesn't understand - but I think drive cuts across class pretty neatly, actually.) Mr Ward, who seems to be a very hard worker, is also very gifted: there was some really superb play there. Since he does seem to want to work and to win, I hope he does so ... starting with Sunday?! (Would be nice if Mr Evans could motivate himself to win on Sunday, too ....)

-- Edited by Spectator on Saturday 6th of April 2013 08:08:52 AM

korriban · Challenger level

While we, Andy apart, can only select players who have to play their best to have any chance, and have limited experience of coming through high pressure high stakes matches, Davis Cup is going to be a tough watch. Roll on the days when we can field 2 singles players who can win these type of matches playing below their best.

Big shame that James' form/belief fell away from 2 sets and 2-0 up, though sounds like he fought to the end. Dan seems to be getting all the headlines after his interview, and I'll add to the other posters in congratulating him on playing well (though he was always behind in rhe match) and encouraging him to knuckle down for 12 months and see where it takes him. No chance of this happening one feels, but if you don't ask........

RJA · Hall of fame

Spectator wrote:
Mr Evans' issues are, as he honestly says, his own. Everyone on this board's always known that: it's not just talent or LTA support that matters: you have to want to work and to win. He doesn't always.

Oh I certainly agree that in the end Dan, and Dan alone is responsible for his career. You can't blame the LTA for him not making the most of his ability but my previous post was aimed not at casting aspertions at the LTA but at finding a positive way forward. At the moment the LTA seems happy to fund him enough that he can carry on drifting from British futures to British futures and I don't see this as a sensible approach. I think they should either enforce a strong willed coach upon him or stop funding him and force him to sink or swim by himself. The current situation seems to be the worst of both worlds.

I do however think your assertion that he does't always want to work and to win is unfair. I have watched him play around a dozen futures matches in the last two years and I haven't once seen him give anything less than 100% on court. It is hard to work out exactly why he struggles so often in what should be routine matches but it isn't lack of effort and his short comings in these matches clearly frustrate him just as much as us. He is clearly in some kind of rut at this level and probably needs some kind of inspiration or outside help to get him out of it.

Spectator · All-time great

Thanks, RJA. I didn't intend my post as a counter to your comments ... indeed, your comments seem eminently fair. (And interesting. I didn't realise the LTA funded Mr Evans. I thought that they didn't give him anything other than the standard bonuses for wins ... so very interesting to learn otherwise!)

In terms of wanting to win, I wasn't referring to what he feels when on the court ... or what he gives in a match. Rather I meant that presumably if he wanted to win consistently, he'd need to have the wider lifestyle of dedication and single-mindedness that he suggests he doesn't want. No point wandering into a game or an exam or a concert or whatever and doing your best on the day if you haven't prepared. If you've got terrific gifts, as he evidently does, you'll go to a certain point ... but it won't be world class.

Nor was my "fair enough" meant sarcastically. It's his talent, and his decision what he does with it. If he wants to be OK enough to keep going while enjoying a different kind of lifestyle, that's his choice. May be deeply frustrating to others and -- as you suggest -- at some level frustrating to him, as he presumably knows what he's capable of. But his choice nonetheless.

DF · Tennis legend

First set to the British doubles pairing

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

DF wrote:
First set to the British doubles pairing

by 6-1! smile

paulisi · Tennis legend

Good start from CoJo

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

And the boys break to 0 in the third game of the second set. smile *2-1

Spectator · All-time great

Saw Marray play last year; haven't seen Fleming play in a long time. Knew he was a good player, obviously; didn't realise just how good his tennis was to watch.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Second set in the bag by 6-4.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:
[...] haven't seen Fleming play in a long time. Knew he was a good player, obviously; didn't realise just how good his tennis was to watch.

OEM described him in his summary of the players in the team in Thursday's Times as "a fine strategist". wink

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Early break (to 30) in the opening game of the third set...

scottie1 · Futures level

Colin has always been a good doubles player and in my view an under rated singles player