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

baxi2 · Lower Club Player

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

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Can anyone help me with the rule for who plays first on the Friday?

korriban · Challenger level

baxi2 wrote:
I agree with spud ,Dom was a revelation yesterday and for me is potentially our best doubles player.
Would make a great team with Andy ,he's much more offensive than Hutchins and shows more courage under pressure !

I don't mean to be argumentative for the sake of it, but I did watch the entire match yesterday. Whilst I completely understand him having mega nerves in the first few games, and also recognise that our team was up against the mighty Bryans (so were unlikely to win), I thought Dom was actually rather poor throughout and I simply don't get the "revelation" or "potentially our best doubles player" tags at all.

There's no question he has a mighty serve and there's no questioning his doubles ranking. Facts are facts. But every time I've seen him, doubles and singles, he comes across as relatively slow to the ball, he shanks an incredibly high percentage of his returns and his technique can break down dramatically under pressure. Yesterday was a great case in point - his footwork and technique on overheads and volleys was simply non-existent at times, lots of times, particularly in the first 2 sets - and I lost count of the shanks on his backhand return.

Dom's doubles ranking and success in the Grand Slams suggests that he must have lots of "on" days as well, which I presumably have missed, but I don't think yesterday was one of them. Colin played much better than Dom overall, I thought.

Good luck to Andy later today! biggrin

RJA · Hall of fame

Helen40 wrote:
Can anyone help me with the rule for who plays first on the Friday?

On the first day each teams "number 1" plays the other teams "number 2". Which match is played first is down to some sort of draw, coin toss, etc.

scottie1 · Futures level

korriban wrote:
baxi2 wrote:
I agree with spud ,Dom was a revelation yesterday and for me is potentially our best doubles player.
Would make a great team with Andy ,he's much more offensive than Hutchins and shows more courage under pressure !
I don't mean to be argumentative for the sake of it, but I did watch the entire match yesterday. Whilst I completely understand him having mega nerves in the first few games, and also recognise that our team was up against the mighty Bryans (so were unlikely to win), I thought Dom was actually rather poor throughout and I simply don't get the "revelation" or "potentially our best doubles player" tags at all.
There's no question he has a mighty serve and there's no questioning his doubles ranking. Facts are facts. But every time I've seen him, doubles and singles, he comes across as relatively slow to the ball, he shanks an incredibly high percentage of his returns and his technique can break down dramatically under pressure. Yesterday was a great case in point - his footwork and technique on overheads and volleys was simply non-existent at times, lots of times, particularly in the first 2 sets - and I lost count of the shanks on his backhand return.
Dom's doubles ranking and success in the Grand Slams suggests that he must have lots of "on" days as well, which I presumably have missed, but I don't think yesterday was one of them. Colin played much better than Dom overall, I thought.
Good luck to Andy later today!

I agree Korriban I thought Inglot was decidedly average. I didn't think they would beat the Bryans And appreciate he had not played with Fleming.

Too many serves in the net and returns getting blasted wide. First time I have seen him so maybe unfair to judge on this match.

However to say he was a revelation is not my opinion. Fleming is definitely No 1 British doubles player on consistency alone.

Inglot deserved his chance but yesterday showed he is not any better than Hutchins or Skupsi

RJA · Hall of fame

Just going back to the first day Ross Hutchins said something very interesting about Colin Fleming. I am paraphrasing here but he said something like "Colin likes to play with a superior partner or with a big personality, he likes to feed off somebody on court".

That probably explains, at least in part, why the Fleming / Marray partnership last year didn't quite click.

Ratty · County player

I like Ross Hutchins' commentating. He's unobtrusive, knowledgeable, tells me things I don't know, and doesn't feel the need for the usual "me, me, me" all the time. Other commentators should take note.

Tennis Nut · Social player

scottie1 wrote:
korriban wrote:
baxi2 wrote:
I agree with spud ,Dom was a revelation yesterday and for me is potentially our best doubles player.
Would make a great team with Andy ,he's much more offensive than Hutchins and shows more courage under pressure !
I don't mean to be argumentative for the sake of it, but I did watch the entire match yesterday. Whilst I completely understand him having mega nerves in the first few games, and also recognise that our team was up against the mighty Bryans (so were unlikely to win), I thought Dom was actually rather poor throughout and I simply don't get the "revelation" or "potentially our best doubles player" tags at all.
There's no question he has a mighty serve and there's no questioning his doubles ranking. Facts are facts. But every time I've seen him, doubles and singles, he comes across as relatively slow to the ball, he shanks an incredibly high percentage of his returns and his technique can break down dramatically under pressure. Yesterday was a great case in point - his footwork and technique on overheads and volleys was simply non-existent at times, lots of times, particularly in the first 2 sets - and I lost count of the shanks on his backhand return.
Dom's doubles ranking and success in the Grand Slams suggests that he must have lots of "on" days as well, which I presumably have missed, but I don't think yesterday was one of them. Colin played much better than Dom overall, I thought.
Good luck to Andy later today!
I agree Korriban I thought Inglot was decidedly average. I didn't think they would beat the Bryans And appreciate he had not played with Fleming.
Too many serves in the net and returns getting blasted wide. First time I have seen him so maybe unfair to judge on this match.
However to say he was a revelation is not my opinion. Fleming is definitely No 1 British doubles player on consistency alone.
Inglot deserved his chance but yesterday showed he is not any better than Hutchins or Skupsi

Yes, I was at the match and Dom was very poor and I expect nerves has alot to do with it. Not sure which match baxi2 was watching but he's has more I'm sure but he didnt bring it to the court yesterday

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Ratty wrote:
I like Ross Hutchins' commentating. He's unobtrusive, knowledgeable, tells me things I don't know, and doesn't feel the need for the usual "me, me, me" all the time. Other commentators should take note.

Seconded. He offered some particularly interesting insights to the doubles yesterday whilst managing not to compromise any "trade secrets" about his partnership with Colin and Colin's strengths and weaknesses - despite the others often asking both subtly and blatantly for more information than it would have been sensible for Ross to give.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

imoen wrote:
Ratty wrote:
I like Ross Hutchins' commentating. He's unobtrusive, knowledgeable, tells me things I don't know, and doesn't feel the need for the usual "me, me, me" all the time. Other commentators should take note.
Seconded. He offered some particularly interesting insights to the doubles yesterday whilst managing not to compromise any "trade secrets" about his partnership with Colin and Colin's strengths and weaknesses - despite the others often asking both subtly and blatantly for more information than it would have been sensible for Ross to give.

Yep, I agree too. He has a nice turn of phrase and some interesting stuff to say.

Jan · Hall of fame

yes - "fourthed" (if there is such a word!) I think Ross is doing a great job!

RJA · Hall of fame

Italy away in the QFs if we get through. That will be tough especially as Murray v Fognini on clay could go either way.

-- Edited by RJA on Sunday 2nd of February 2014 06:24:06 PM

LouieG · County player

Assuming Murray beats Querrey, is it likely that Ward will play?

RJA · Hall of fame

LouieG wrote:
Assuming Murray beats Querrey, is it likely that Ward will play?

More often than not the 5th rubber isn't played if the tie has been decided (unless it was 3-0 after Day 2 and then both dead rubbers must be played).

indiana · Tennis legend

I don't see why James wouldn't play even if it is a dead rubber.

He, Colin and Dom have all played once so far here. And Dom and Colin, although both have singles talents, were not picked for their singles nor are they future serious singles candidates.

If we had picked only one doubles specialist, then I could see them giving the other singles player a match, and indeed if that was Kyle it would probably be a good idea.