Davis Cup 2013 - World Group Playoff - Croatia v GB - 13-15 September

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Davis Cup 2013 - World Group Playoff - Croatia v GB - 13-15 September

RJA · Hall of fame

philwrig wrote:
RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
Andy has confirmed that he will still be playing this tie, per presser from Montreal.
I will believe it when I see him on court in Croatia. If he were to reach the final of the US Open he will still be in New York on Monday night and realistically if he wins it there are all sorts of media expectations for what the player will do the following day. That being the case you would be looking at a Tuesday night flight back to Europe, a bit of a rest on Wednesday and one day's clay court preparation on Thursday. After 5 tough weeks on hard courts that strikes me as total lunacy.
He's already promised Leon about his participation previously, and given their close friendship, and this recent committment I will be shocked if he doesn't go to Croatia. Andy tends to be a man of his words.

I am sure that he will want to be there and he has now said he will be there regardless but if he reaches the US Open final I am far from convinced that having a knackered Andy, with a niggle or three, trying to play a couple of 5 set matches on clay is a remotely good idea. Djokovic tried that in 2011 and it ruined the remainder of his year.

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 6th of August 2013 01:55:12 PM

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

This has become a v. long thread, so apologies if I'm repeating something here. The tie is going to be on red clay at Stadion Stella Maris. http://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=100019834

Personally, I think the Croats would be mad to choose any other surface. Andy has often complained about switching from hard to clay as the change affects his knees. Andy would be a strong favourite to win both his singles on a hard court. Maybe still a favourite on clay, but very much less so.

The Croations favourite surface is certainly a fastish hard court, but they don't hate the dirt half as much as we do. Apart from Andy, when did a Brit last win a match at ATP level on red clay? I'm sure it was Tim in the mid noughties. Dino did extremely well to get to the final of a red clay $50k event in China in April, but lost in the first round of red clay challengers in Santiago and Salinas earlier this year. Dan won a futures event in Sweden, but didn't have to beat anyone inside the top 400. Dan was beaten by Ashley Hewitt on the Hartru in Newcastle in May.

So, I think we'll win the doubles, but our no. 2 player will lose both singles. The crux of the tie is whether Andy can win both his matches on a slow dirt court....

RJA · Hall of fame

To be honest I would be amazed to see Andy playing this tie. He will be playing two masters series and a Grand Slam over the next 5 weeks, then two weeks off before he plays Bangkok, probably followed by Tokyo and then Shanghai. I just cannot see him wanting to play a Davis Cup tie on clay in the middle of his two week rest period.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Andy has confirmed that he will still be playing this tie, per presser from Montreal.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:
Andy has confirmed that he will still be playing this tie, per presser from Montreal.

smile coz my hotel is booked !!!

paulisi · Tennis legend

Isn't there some ruling about mandatory appearances in Davis Cups?(assuming fit)

If Cilic is not available then GB should progress. It would be Dodig and another(Karlovic retired from Davis Cup?)

RJA · Hall of fame

philwrig wrote:
Andy has confirmed that he will still be playing this tie, per presser from Montreal.

I will believe it when I see him on court in Croatia. If he were to reach the final of the US Open he will still be in New York on Monday night and realistically if he wins it there are all sorts of media expectations for what the player will do the following day. That being the case you would be looking at a Tuesday night flight back to Europe, a bit of a rest on Wednesday and one day's clay court preparation on Thursday. After 5 tough weeks on hard courts that strikes me as total lunacy.

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

I ceratinly think he wants to play it - it's obvious from his tweets that he's following the other Brits closely. I do think he feels he's started something after winning Wimbledon and he wants to inspire the people below him - certainly if you read Mike Dickson's piece that's what he's suggesting.

Having said that, I agree with the above that if he makes the USO final (and that's quite likely) then it would be pretty mad to do this, but maybe he figures he's got to stop somewhere on the way to Thailand.

philwrig · Hall of fame

RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
Andy has confirmed that he will still be playing this tie, per presser from Montreal.
I will believe it when I see him on court in Croatia. If he were to reach the final of the US Open he will still be in New York on Monday night and realistically if he wins it there are all sorts of media expectations for what the player will do the following day. That being the case you would be looking at a Tuesday night flight back to Europe, a bit of a rest on Wednesday and one day's clay court preparation on Thursday. After 5 tough weeks on hard courts that strikes me as total lunacy.

He's already promised Leon about his participation previously, and given their close friendship, and this recent committment I will be shocked if he doesn't go to Croatia. Andy tends to be a man of his words.

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

With a bit of luck number 2 can pull off a win and Kyle can get his game on clay!

scottie1 · Futures level

RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
Andy has confirmed that he will still be playing this tie, per presser from Montreal.
I will believe it when I see him on court in Croatia. If he were to reach the final of the US Open he will still be in New York on Monday night and realistically if he wins it there are all sorts of media expectations for what the player will do the following day. That being the case you would be looking at a Tuesday night flight back to Europe, a bit of a rest on Wednesday and one day's clay court preparation on Thursday. After 5 tough weeks on hard courts that strikes me as total lunacy.
He's already promised Leon about his participation previously, and given their close friendship, and this recent committment I will be shocked if he doesn't go to Croatia. Andy tends to be a man of his words.
I am sure that he will want to be there and he has now said he will be there regardless but if he reaches the US Open final I am far from convinced that having a knackered Andy, with a niggle or three, trying to play a couple of 5 set matches on clay is a remotely good idea. Djokovic tried that in 2011 and it ruined the remainder of his year.
I think evans and Ward wont win this tie on clay for GB Andy should at least play 1 tie possibly two
Seems he cant win if he doesnt play he gets criticised and if he plays people question his fitness after us open.
The best judge of this is Andy himself.

I dont think Kyle or Oli Golding are ready for Davis Cup But Corrie or Cox should go for hitting partners

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 6th of August 2013 01:55:12 PM

RJA · Hall of fame

James has entered the clay court Brasov challenger the week before this tie. Evo has opted for the hard court challenger at St Remy. I would guess this means that James will almost certainly get the nod ahead of Evo.

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 13th of August 2013 06:38:07 PM

steven · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
James has entered the clay court Brasov challenger the week before this tie. Evo has opted for the hard court challenger at St Remy. I would guess this means that James will almost certainly get the nod ahead of Evo.

That's a good point, though even if we are drawing the right conclusion from that, you'd think Leon would want Evo playing on clay the week before in case he ends up being needed. I'd certainly pick James as the no. 2 now given the surface, but who knows what kind of form they'll be in at that stage and even if James still gets the nod in September, any kind of injury for Andy or James would result in Dan being needed.

seagull · Hall of fame

Both Evo and Wardy (and Kyle) have not entered any of the 6 challengers available this week. Not sure what that tells us (maybe that Murray is doubtful?)