Davis Cup 2014 - World Group Round 1 - 31 Jan-2 Feb - USA v GB

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Davis Cup 2014 - World Group Round 1 - 31 Jan-2 Feb - USA v GB

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Can't remember the last time I sat up until 2am to watch a tennis match (I know - I'm a lightweight).

Problem is, if I go to bed now I won't sleep anyway and it's all Wardy's fault. Guess I could forgive him this time. I am floating on cloud 9.

So proud. Just so darn proud. What an awesome result.

As for the doubles, I would play Inglot with Fleming. Murray getting injured before playing Querrey would be a disaster.

And finally

Leon - You are a genius.

RJA · Hall of fame

paulisi wrote:
Italy away, Argentina at home if we win. Come on the Argies, stick it on grass and we will be big favourites(assuming we win)

Grass in early April, I think even Mr Murray would object to such a dangerous idea. A nice quick indoor court should do the trick.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
paulisi wrote:
Italy away, Argentina at home if we win. Come on the Argies, stick it on grass and we will be big favourites(assuming we win)
Grass in early April, I think even Mr Murray would object to such a dangerous idea. A nice quick indoor court should do the trick.

Agreed. Let's Rock the Ricoh - again.

But first, let's make sure we win this one first.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, 40 ranking points for James ( and Andy of course ). I hadn't realised until a few minutes ago that he would even have got 10 points if he had lost.

Hopefully he will be up for no points on Day 3, because there are no points for "dead rubbers".

RJA · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
RJA wrote:
paulisi wrote:
Italy away, Argentina at home if we win. Come on the Argies, stick it on grass and we will be big favourites(assuming we win)
Grass in early April, I think even Mr Murray would object to such a dangerous idea. A nice quick indoor court should do the trick.
Agreed. Let's Rock the Ricoh - again.
But first, let's make sure we win this one first.

And then Grass against Switzerland for the SF in September wink

-- Edited by RJA on Saturday 1st of February 2014 01:09:05 AM

RJA · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:
Yes, 40 ranking points for James ( and Andy of course ). I hadn't realised until a few minutes ago that he would even have got 10 points if he had lost.

Hopefully he will be up for no points on Day 3, because there are no points for "dead rubbers".

Do you reckon Andy will be annoyed if Colin and Dom see off the Bryan's and deny him the 80 points he was expecting from this tie?

Priesty · Challenger level

Fantastic!! Well done Wardy!! biggrin biggrin biggrin

Agree with Bob - rest Murray for the doubles, odds are well against us whoever plays the Bryans so keep him fresh for Sunday so he can finish the job.

And even though he didn't get to play, I would imagine it's done young Kyle no harm whatsoever to be a part of the whole atmosphere.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I speculated yesterday that if GB were 2-0 up ( positive thoughts ! ) that Andy wouldn't play in the doubles. In any other circumstances, I thought he would play in the doubles.

Now we have splendidly reached that scenario, yes, I am certainly with Bob on this one.

Andy should certainly be beating Querrey. I don't see any point in risking him in an odds against doubles, and it's just working out ideally that we have two good doubles specialists, who can still give it a go anyway.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Totally agree, and give Mr Inglot a go, he is after all our highest ranked dubs player.

steven · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
paulisi wrote:
40pts according to Steven's tweet
That is correct, he would have got 10 points even if he had lost.
If he were to play a second live rubber, which he shouldn't have to, he could pick up another 40 points.

Yes, I wonder if the 10 points for a live rubber loss in R1 (the only DC round in which you get any points for a loss) was a 'brainwave' to try to get top players to play in R1 more often ... because the top players really care about 10 points

Just about calming down after the end of that match. Brilliant recovery from Wardy, who seems to love playing DC these days Remember the bad old days when the lower-ranked Brits used to be scared to death in DC? I think the transformation has lots and lots to do with Leon, who in his interview, while not trying to take any credit, explained the simple things he tries to do before and during ties (including not looking like you want to kill your player when they come back to the chair after a bad game, mentioning no names wink ) and thereby managed to get across exactly why he is GB's best DC captain for years. I also think it really helps James having someone there to remind him during the match to stop being passive!

It was great to see Leon's bold choice paying off again too (Kyle would have been a bold choice too, obviously, but in a different way, and on Twitter early, there was loads of why didn't he pick Kyle, why didn't he pick Evo, James never wins big matches, etc - all the usual rubbish)

He may have trouble keeping Mr Ultra Competitive off the court wink but I'd like to see Leon go with Colin and Dom for the doubles. Two main reasons:

1) While we have decent chances in all three of the remaining rubbers, the most plausible scenario for losing the tie now would be if Andy got injured, which suggests it's better to save him for the match he's more likely to win and not risk him in the doubles (I suppose he's a bit less likely to injure himself in a doubles match, but still ...)

2) If Colin and Dom played and actually managed to win so that the 3 points had been gained by all 4 members of the team instead of most of them by Andy, can you imagine what that would do for the team's confidence (and Andy's confidence in them) going forward? Not to mention that it might stop the media going on and on about Andy having to do it all on his own.

Having said that, if Leon wants to finish it off as quickly as possible and thinks Andy & Colin would have a decent chance of doing so, then I could understand him taking that option too. Anyway:

Day 1

R1: Andy Murray WR 6 beat Donald Young USA WR 79 (CH 38 in 2012) b 6-1 6-2 6-3

R2: James Ward WR 175 beat Sam Querrey WR 49 (CH 17 in 2011) by 1-6 7-6(3) 3-6 6-4 6-1

What will day 2 bring?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

steven wrote:
Day 1
R1: Andy Murray WR 6 beat Donald Young USA WR 79 (CH 38 in 2012) b 6-1 6-2 6-3
R2: James Ward WR 175 beat Sam Querrey WR 49 (CH 17 in 2011) by 1-6 7-6(3) 3-6 6-4 6-1
What will day 2 bring?

Who knows & who cares? Team GB covered itself in glory by putting itself within touching distance of latter-day DC glory on the first day. Ashamed to admit that I fell asleep before Dino's greatest moment ( ), but absolutely delirious to learn what he did when I awoke. Whatever Leon decides tomorrow, in him I trust! wink

Shhh · Challenger level

Fantastic result. Well done James, Leon...............and of course Andy. I too would like to see Dom feature in the doubles based on his results but, we don't know how well his game blends with Colins........funny things partnerships! Given his record so far, basically I trust in Leon to make the right call.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

With this commanding lead give the doubles specialists a go .

Although colin Fleming & Andy might have a better understanding from their north of Scotland days.

It's going to be tough to win the doubles rubber against the no1 in world it's a non brainer for a captain in the minor leagues save AM and give Big Dom a chance after all he's ranked top 30 world

This why I favour all GB pairings that play together week in week out !

I would have played the highest all GB pair in the ATP rankings to reward that policy & encourage all GB pairs so would

Have taken bro's skupski

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

I didn't realise that ranking points were available for DC. They don't mention it on the ATP rankings faq page. Its on the ITF site though: http://www.daviscup.com/en/rankings/atp-ranking-points.aspx. It tok me a while to figure out why some players have odd points totals until I read the above link properly - there are also ranking points available in the world group play offs.

So, Dino goes up to a ranking of the low 150s! Just 15 points behind Dan E....No prize money, but his sponsors and all tennis cognoscenti are rubbing their hands with glee! Everyone loves a DC specialist! Congratulations mate!