steven wrote:

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Spectator wrote:

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No, I don't think they have. In recent years Inglot has played some with Marray, but not with any of the other top GB players. But both are coached by Louis Cayer. Look like good choices that give the most possible valid combinations.

Somewhat staggered, by the way, to read that the court cost $750,000. That's a lot of money to spend for the privilege of trying to slow down Mr Murray. They obviously take their Davis Cup seriously.

 

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Impressive as the venue looks, looking at the time lapse video of the court being built really brought home what an awful waste of resources it is to create a court like that just for a single weekend.

 

Agreed. On all fronts - fiscal, environmental, you name it.

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RJA wrote:

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I am happy to see James selected ahead of Kyle and for me it really was the obvious choice. I am however less than impressed at how we got here. The obvious spinning to the press and comments from Greg Rusedski about Kyle likely playing strike me as an treating him rather badly. Unless it was a ruse that he was in on I really don't think that building him up for the tie and then leaving him out of the final squad is the way that he should have been treated.

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 I see what you mean, but I'm rather more cynical about the accuracy of the information coming from Greg these days - or indeed much else of the press. I highly doubt that behind closed doors Kyle was built up to expect a final squad spot anymore than he should have been. In fact, reading between the lines of this and previous ties I don't think Leon guarantees places to anyone, they all have to prove themselves in the week leading up to it to earn their spot - and yes, I do include Andy in that although it would obviously take quite a bad practice week for him to be out

I'm glad to see BBD get a squad position and part of me kind of maybe (can't you tell I'm torn) would like him to play the dubs because it's looking like Hutchins will be properly back soon and he and Fleming are therefore likely to lock out the dubs places on the team for the foreseeable future.

 

I'm looking forward to this, even with Isner out it could be very interesting, particularly how this "it's not really clay" court plays, rather like a clay court would be my suspicion but then Murray is a boxing fan, he knows the value of the pre-match chat better than most

RJA wrote:

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I am happy to see James selected ahead of Kyle and for me it really was the obvious choice. I am however less than impressed at how we got here. The obvious spinning to the press and comments from Greg Rusedski about Kyle likely playing strike me as an treating him rather badly. Unless it was a ruse that he was in on I really don't think that building him up for the tie and then leaving him out of the final squad is the way that he should have been treated.

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Greg has always been a bit of a loose cannon when he opens his mouth (that doesn't mean sensible things don't ever come out of it - he talks a lot of sense about preparation, player commitment and so on, and he remains one of my favourite British players of the last couple of decades), so I doubt much 'planning' went into his pronouncements in the disinformation sense. 

Because it's so difficult to compare James and Kyle based on recent results (James is 1-3 this year c.f. 9-2 for Kyle, but James has beaten WR 115 and all 3 of the players he has lost to are ranked higher than any of the 9 players Kyle has beaten), it was always obvious to me that how the players did in practice this week would have a large bearing on the decision, so I'm sure it was obvious to the players too. It sounds like James and Kyle played each other in a virtual play-off for the place on Wednesday and that was what clinched it.

I don't think Leon or the LTA tried to imply that Kyle would definitely be playing - I think it was the media who did that and were keenest for Kyle to play, because they see James as 'boring' and Kyle as someone fresh and new and therefore more of a story. 

What this also means is that Kyle would have been an 'easier' pick for Leon with a view to limiting press backlash if we lose, but thankfully Leon always seems to go with the selection he thinks is most likely to win the tie and take full responsibility for it in preference to trying to keep the press on side, which I think must have a very positive effect on the players he picks as well.

It continues to be the case that Leon appears to absolutely just want to have the best team for the tie from these available to him, the most capable abilitywise, physically and mentally, with bases covered, best to WIN ( to me that should be a given, but I am also pretty sure that it has not always been so with DC captains )

If that means pretty late decisions so be it. He accepts responsibility and as Steven suggests, I am pretty sure the players realise this and rezpect it. He's been generally so refreshing after JL.

Just wanted to say I totally agree about Leon Smith - I'm a fan. Lloyd to me was the exact opposite of what a DC captain should be.

Australia also on a sticky wicket vs France, hewitt and Krygios vs Tsonga and Gasquet.

Overcast and wet in San Diego. Court will be slower than expected. Too late on player choice, as suits Kyle better