Fed Cup 2014 - Europe/Africa Zone Group I

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

RE: Fed Cup 2014 - Europe/Africa Zone Group I

Spectator · All-time great

I think Ms Robson's absence has definitely hurt ... but my recollection is that major papers covered the DC tie against Russia even though (a) it wasn't a WG match, (b) Mr Murray wasn't playing and (c) we were supposed to have little chance of winning.

Josh · Challenger level

I'd have thought it's the format that doesn't lend itself to media coverage. Each tie over and done with in an afternoon and a completely different to the DC format which is what most of the journos are used to. Pretty sure both the Sweden and Argentina ties had more press coverage.

No excuse for it not to feature more in the media, just a possible reason why.

Sim · County player

Spectator wrote:
I think Ms Robson's absence has definitely hurt ... but my recollection is that major papers covered the DC tie against Russia even though (a) it wasn't a WG match, (b) Mr Murray wasn't playing and (c) we were supposed to have little chance of winning.

If the Fed cup was being held in Coventry then I am sure it would have got more coverage!

Armchair · County player

I imagine a lot of resources are being used at the Winter Olympics as well, leaving things a bit thin on the ground elsewhere.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Armchair wrote:
I imagine a lot of resources are being used at the Winter Olympics as well, leaving things a bit thin on the ground elsewhere.

Absolutely. Myskina is down to a real rookie field coz as she says:

"Everybody moved to Sochi, nobody want to travel to Australia"

(NB she's 32, got three sons now, and looking good).

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 7th of February 2014 10:12:58 AM

steven · Tennis legend

GBR v ROU singles nominations are as expected:

M1: Heather Watson WR 162 v Sorana Cîrstea (ROU) WR 26 (CH 21 in Aug)
M2: Johanna Konta WR 118 v Simona Halep (ROU) WR 10 (= CH)

JoKo and Halep will be playing each other for the first time but Hev leads the H2H v Cirstea 2-0 - that stunning comeback from 0-5 down in the 3rd in Miami in 2012 and a 6-3 ret. win in Auckland last year.

steven · Tennis legend

Hev was broken in the 1st game and just had a break back point but Cirstea holds - *1-3

Hev holds to love - that's more like it 2-3*

-- Edited by steven on Friday 7th of February 2014 03:34:59 PM

briteny · Intermediate Club Player

The live stream is not working or only my computer??

PaulM · Tennis legend

It's not working.

Cirstea saved her first break point with an ace. Heather got another one at 2-3* but missed it. She's getting chances but she needs to take one of them quickly.

Very surprised to see Jani bagelling Ostapenko.

I imagine team selection would have been a bit tricky today actually, as Heather is probably the player with the best shot of beating Halep, whilst also being the player with the best shot of beating Cirstea. Given Halep has been a bit funky the past few weeks (although Cirstea was dreadful in her loss to Pliskova in Pattaya), I did wonder if they'd try to take advantage of that and let Tara have a complete swing at Cirstea.

-- Edited by PaulM on Friday 7th of February 2014 03:38:34 PM

steven · Tennis legend

Hev holds from 0-30 for *3-4

PaulM · Tennis legend

Another break point missed, this time on a second serve.

She could have had this set :( I'm worried that if she drops this Cirstea will pull away, Keep fighting Hev.

PaulM · Tennis legend

And now the scoreboard has crashed....

Hev held for 4-5*

PaulM · Tennis legend

Finally Hev breaks!

*5-5

COME ON!

steven · Tennis legend

Someone has got the stream to work (it's a complete lottery!) but the scoreboard is stuck there too! (still, unlike Wednesday during the doubles, at least the scoreboard on the stream is for the right match!)