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

Spectator · All-time great

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

SMC1809 · All-time great

I'm probably in a minority here, but I'm just not interested in Davis Cup. If there were ranking points available, I'd be more interested, but as it stands currently, it's somewhere below doubles and just above mixed doubles for me.

Because of that, I don't agree that the Win is what really matters. The way you treat people is far more important than the result, so I have every sympathy with Jamie if he has been dropped after travelling back for this tie.

I'm a big fan of Evo's play, but surely his inclusion is "out of nowhere" as he wasn't included in the original line-up. What must Ed and Kyle think their purpose is? If Evo was a consideration, why wasn't he the hitting partner / reserve in the first place?

korriban · Challenger level

Been away so missed all the fun today!!

What a complete and utter shambles this is! I keep hearing the Muppet theme tune in my mind! Either Leon Smith is completely incapable of making a decision, or Jamie's form in training was inexcusably bad, or both. What an earth does the "honour" of being the fifth player actually mean (even if that was fudged by having 2 fifth players!) if you are bypassed by a "seventh" pick??!!! What must Ed and Kyle be thinking?

What this means, I suspect is that Leon Smith made what he realised was a mistake in leaving out Evo, or perhaps he had pressure put on him not to pick Evo in the first place, but insisted on it at the last moment, post training.

The good news is that none of this is going to matter anyway. But it leaves a very sour taste in the mouth somewhere, and reeks of amateurism. Can anyone imagine Judy Murray allowing a complete horlicks like this.

Above all, wishing all of you going to watch a fantastic time, win or lose, and i'll be conjuring up all my Sith powers to create a nice shock or two. Enjoy!

indiana · Tennis legend

Spectator, I actually do get the impression that some folk are saying that sticking with Jamie, once he had been selected, travelled across and missed tournaments, comes before the WIN even if Leon now thinks that Evo is the better option.

Now I am not saying that I don't see the arguement that sticking with Jamie is more important and "right". I just happen to disagree if he is now not considered the more likely winner.

If the outcry was really principally about what Jamie was giving up and then not playing, without recompense from the LTA, well presumably noone knows if and how Jamie is being recompensed and / or what future assurances have been given !

Re Jamie having a lot of points to defend and missing tournaments to come across to the Davis Cup, well yes there is some issue there, but as far as I can see Jamie has already played 10 tournaments this year, more than anyone else in the top 25, possibly as I suggested because he had already been factoring in that he would likely be across in the UK for Davis Cup.

I am afraid that frankly, and sorry if this seems harsh re a player that I have a lot of time for, Jamie's ranking issues stem much more from him only earning 44 points in these 10 tournaments than whatever he may be being forced to miss because of the Davis Cup.

Anyway, I see that I am very much in a minority here, though I hold to the views that I have expressed and tried to explain.

C'mon GB, all the best to the team and their supporters !

Ratty · County player

I can't really get too fussed about this weird East Oceana Group Division 2, Davis Cup thingy.

But on the basis that Baker - the very essence of a honest trier - has no chance at all of beating Tursunov or Donskoy, and Evans has just a ghost of a chance if he has an "on" day, then why not go for Evans?

korriban · Challenger level

According to Neil Harman this is the first time ever that a GB DavisCup match has not been picked up by any terrestial or satellite channels at all, such is the lack of interest in GB tennis outside the Summer. As I understand it, the only place to watch is live streaming on the LTA website, which (inevitably) the LTA is positioning as a good news story.

And I agree with Ratty, since a 10% chance of a win is better than a zero chance (sorry Jamie), but surely the LTA could have made this call without last minute drama, avoiding embarrassment for the player and ridicule for themselves

-- Edited by korriban on Friday 5th of April 2013 08:50:44 AM

-- Edited by korriban on Friday 5th of April 2013 08:56:49 AM

PaulM · Tennis legend

Come on boys.

I didn't realise that Dan's only played one event outside the UK in the last 12 months, which was in Ireland!

Is Jamie still there? I do think it's interesting to bring in a non-nominated player so late, particularly one who was not one of your two "fifth men".

That would basically be like Judy having a team of Heather, Laura, Anne and JoKo, with Bally as a reserve 'fifth lady', and then deciding to drop Heather two days before the tie and bring in Tara instead.

-- Edited by PaulM on Friday 5th of April 2013 01:09:24 PM

Bob · Social player

Ratty wrote:
I can't really get too fussed about this weird East Oceana Group Division 2, Davis Cup thingy.
But on the basis that Baker - the very essence of a honest trier - has no chance at all of beating Tursunov or Donskoy, and Evans has just a ghost of a chance if he has an "on" day, then why not go for Evans?

Emotions aside, spot on Ratty

johnnylad · Tennis legend

What time does it start today?

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

And is the beeb showing it?

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Thanks Korriban.

British_is_Best · County player

Agree that it perhaps is a tad harsh on Jamie but, as many have said, it is probably the correct call. Dan has a greater (albeit still slight) chance of an upset. Jamie would have been a better pick than Dan, in my opinion, if we were either playing a) a team with a clear cut number 1 but with a number 2 singles player that our players would have been favoured to beat (eg. Luxembourg or Finland) or b) a team with players ranked around our own where we would be looking for someone who could be relied upon to put in a solid performance (eg. Bosnia and Herzegovina). However, on this occasion we are looking for both our players to try and cause an upset of higher ranked opposition.

Best of luck to the team today, looking forward to cheering them on!

johnnylad · Tennis legend

the time anyone?

RJA · Hall of fame

johnnylad wrote:
the time anyone?

14:00

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

I also have little interest in this even more so after the way Jamie has been dumped. As has been commented before the 4 singles players should be concentrating on getting their rankings inside the top 200 DC did nothing fit Evans last year when you consider he is about 50 places further down the rankings.