Yes, it will be interesting to see what they decide, Isner's comments strike me a little bit of mind games, but that's always fun to watch in the lead up to a Davis Cup tie

wolf wrote:

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They lost to Melo & Soares and Zimonjic & Bozoljac. But they had only ever lost 2 matches before that.

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He nice to know Bryan's win ratio in Davies cup  

Tennisnow wrote:

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It seems likely that the Americans would choose clay for Andy's weakness on the surface, even if this isn't Isner/Querrey's favourite surface.

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 "It was confirmed today that the USA v GB Davis Cup tie will be held on red clay outdoors"

I called it!

 

 

Interesting, very interesting, and I certainly didn't call it.

Clearly if it causes Andy not to play, it will be a huge plus for the US.

But if Andy plays, and wins his two singles matches ( not too unlikely if he is really fit and well ! ), I feel the US are opening up more overall chance of GB sneaking a third win from somewhere.

philwrig wrote:

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Without Andy it'll be a rout, with Andy very interesting indeed. Hopefully he's fit. One thing for certain if Andy plays in Croatia on clay straight after the US open with a dodgy back, he'll 100% play here assuming of course he has fully recovered and doesn't have a setback at the Oz open. This is one of the reasons why he had the op, so that he could play on the clay without worrying about his back.

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Agreed. And add to the fact that he worked so hard in Croatia to get us back into the world group, I can't honestly see he will "opt out" (unless injury intervenes) now that we have finally achieved that goal.

Wow, they weren't bluffing about choosing clay. I think that's a pretty fascinating choice from the US team who are generally known as being clay-haters almost as much as us Brits.

To me it says that they aren't as sure about getting the win as I would have expected them to be. I know the team they have at the moment aren't as bad on clay as the previous generation (I loved Andy Roddick and miss him terribly but he was simply awful on the red stuff) but it seems Evo's antics at the US Open and the various doubles options we have has got them spooked. Choosing their least favourite surface (for all they are singing it's praises in the media) just because we like it even less is a defensive move and not what I would have expected of the Americans.

I hope Andy is fit for this tie, and is available though I believe the two go hand in hand, as this could turn out to be a very exciting match.

indiana wrote:

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Yes, maybe they read this forum and have been sold a huge dummy by Tennisnow LOL

I realise that Isner is certainly no slouch on clay, but I'd still bet on a fit Andy beating him. And overall, as I said, if Andy plays ( and I see the logic of expecting him to play if fit ), then I would be a bit more optimistic than previously about GB's chances. Andy may indeed have a relative "weakness" on clay, but if he plays I doubt that it will be his matches that ultimately determine the contest. I'd expect Andy to still win both his singles matches.

Though an in form clay-happy James might help !

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An in form James. Now there's a blast from the past. And whilst I know he did win a clay CH tournament back in the midst of time, the last few matches I've seen him play on clay have been simply woeful. An on form and fully fit Kyle would probably muller James on clay, even at just 18/19. Assuming Andy is fully fit and plays doubles with Colin, I would pick Kyle plus just one of James/Dan as the likely starter at #2 (whoever is playing the better at the time), but then decide who to play as #2 for the first and last rubbers dependent on form in training and the overall match situation.

I just can't see James actually WINNING a best of 5 set match on clay against any of the decent Americans, so in that sense, why even pick him for the squad. I could see Dan and Kyle winning, although they would both be massive underdogs.