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

LordBrownof · Futures level

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

daisy · County player

LordBrownof wrote:
I'm now very tempted to join you all! As a Coventry native, I can easily stay at my parents so it would be silly not to make the most of the opportunity!

Hi - I've sent you a PM.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

OK. I have my flights and hotel booked. Really looking forward to having a great time and meeting everyone.

Will be sleeping in the fridge for the next week just to acclimatise !!

Miriambee · Futures level

I might come for 1 day, where abouts have you guys got tickets?

daisy · County player

DC line-up might not be who we expected ... this according to a tweet from Neil Harman.

Neil Harman @NeilHarmanTimes 9m

A major surprise in offing for GB tie @DavisCup against Russia. @Evo151216 likely to play singles http://thetim.es/17dRGAg

An extract from his Times piece - where he lists the GB Team as James Ward, Dan Evans, Colin Fleming and Jonny Marray.

When it comes to a natural touch and feel for the tennis ball, there is only one better player in the country and Andy Murray is dodging the Davis Cup for a fourth tie in succession.

It is a considerable gamble by Leon Smith, the Great Britain captain, to name Evans for the Euro-Africa Zone Group 1 tie against Russia, which starts tomorrow at the Ricoh Arena, and yet it is believed he will pick the 22-year-old from Birmingham.

Smith will have had to put either James Ward or Jamie Bakers nose out of joint, as they are stationed at No 214 and No 235 in the ATP world rankings and Evans is down at No 325. And if Great Britain lose a tie for which they are long odds against, it will be a significant test for a captain who has become increasingly adept at diplomacy.

-- Edited by daisy on Thursday 4th of April 2013 08:05:50 AM

RJA · Hall of fame

This is a tough one.

On one hand I agree that Evo is probably more likely to spring an upset. However I don't really think he has done enough in the last 6-12 months to deserve the chance ahead of Jamie. In the last year Evo has played just 3 main draw matches at challenger level, winning 1 and losing 2 (one of those to Baker). Unless Jamie is injured I think he has every right to be more than a little upset.

-- Edited by RJA on Thursday 4th of April 2013 10:28:51 AM

RJA · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:
The players picked should be the players Leon reckons have the most chance of winning. Noone "deserves" to be picked unless that is conclusively the case from their recent form.

My use of the word "deserves" probably didn't convey my feelings accurately. The word "warrant" would have probably been more accurate.

-- Edited by RJA on Thursday 4th of April 2013 12:53:53 PM

RJA · Hall of fame

The Magician Santoro wrote:
It really annoys me how the Davis Cup seems to mess up a lot of people's schedule, I can understand for the two guys playing and having a 5th guy as a reserve, but we've got two additional spares there too, who will not be playing, and could be picking up points elsewhere.

Indeed. If you look at Jamie he has come back from Mexico/US for this tie. He obvioulsy hasn't played this week and hasn't entered a tournament for next week or the week after. The earliest he will now play is week commencing 22nd April and he hasn't entered a challenger that week (future lists will be out later today). He has 7 points coming off next Moday and another 27 on the 29th April so will drop to around 270-275 in the rankings. On the face of it, he appears to have been screwed over pretty badly.

-- Edited by RJA on Thursday 4th of April 2013 03:19:32 PM

daisy · County player

Miriambee wrote:
I might come for 1 day, where abouts have you guys got tickets?

Hiya. I am not able to be there on Saturday after all so if you wanted to come that day we've a spare (deal price) ticket. Please PM me if interested. I need to know pronto!

Drew · Apr 4, 2013

Yeah I just saw that....

Drew · Apr 4, 2013

daisy wrote:
DC line-up might not be who we expected ... this according to a tweet from Neil Harman.
Neil Harman @NeilHarmanTimes 9m
A major surprise in offing for GB tie @DavisCup against Russia. @Evo151216 likely to play singles http://thetim.es/17dRGAg
An extract from his Times piece - where he lists the GB Team as James Ward, Dan Evans, Colin Fleming and Jonny Marray.
When it comes to a natural touch and feel for the tennis ball, there is only one better player in the country and Andy Murray is dodging the Davis Cup for a fourth tie in succession.
It is a considerable gamble by Leon Smith, the Great Britain captain, to name Evans for the Euro-Africa Zone Group 1 tie against Russia, which starts tomorrow at the Ricoh Arena, and yet it is believed he will pick the 22-year-old from Birmingham.
Smith will have had to put either James Ward or Jamie Bakers nose out of joint, as they are stationed at No 214 and No 235 in the ATP world rankings and Evans is down at No 325. And if Great Britain lose a tie for which they are long odds against, it will be a significant test for a captain who has become increasingly adept at diplomacy.

Perhaps an injury?

wolf · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
In Jamie's particular case, I really don't see how folk are so much feeling that he appears to have been treated poorly, let alone "screwed over pretty badly".

I just do not get this outrage !

If Jamie is not suffering from some sort of injury then he has been treated very, very poorly. You don't select someone then drop them the day before a tie. Fair enough if Leon had selected Dan in a squad of five, but as far as I know he didn't.

Just seen Leon's interview on the LTA site. Went with Dan on a "gut feeling" which he seems to have just devoloped out of nowhere. Ridiculous. If he thought Dan was more capable of beating higher ranked opposition than Jamie then fair enough (I agree) but he should have made that decision when picking the team in the first place.

-- Edited by wolf on Thursday 4th of April 2013 03:45:48 PM

British_is_Best · County player

I think this is a good move if correct. As much as I admire and respect Jamie Baker I cant help but feel that Evans has a greater chance at upsetting the Russians than Jamie. Looking forward to going tomorrow and cheering on our team, whoever they are!

RJA · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:
I just do not get this outrage !

Well perhaps you need to consider what Jamie has sacrificed in order to play in this tie. Starting this week there were three hard court challangers in Mexico, given that he was already in that part of the world he would have probably played 2 if not all 3 of them. By making himself available for this tie he has ensured that his ranking will drop below 270 at a very bad time of year for that to happen and his options over the coming weeks to rectify the situation are not exactly attractive. He either tries to play European challengers on clay (not likely), travels to one off challengers in delightful places like Uzbekistan or settles for playing some 10K futures. He may well miss out on the Roland Garros quallies and could easily start the grass court season (where he has quite a bit to defend) out of the top 300 which will seriously jeapordise his chances of a Wimbledon wild card.

Given the circumstances I could have understood if he had not wanted to play in this tie so for him to make himself available, get selected and then to be dropped the day before the tie seems to me to be pretty disgraceful. I have no problem with Evo being picked but the way that it has happened is simply not on.

-- Edited by RJA on Thursday 4th of April 2013 04:00:45 PM

British_is_Best · County player

Davis Cup twitter account has confirmed that Dan Evans will replace Jamie Baker