Davis Cup 2014 - World Group Quarter-Final - 4-6 Apr - ITA v GB

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Davis Cup 2014 - World Group Quarter-Final - 4-6 Apr - ITA v GB

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
RBBOT wrote:
Make sure you have adequate health insurance if you plan on attempting to cross any roads!
Oh come one [...]

disbelief

Spectator · All-time great

Not 100% sure we're favourites for doubles. Fognini and Bolelli won enough points in the first two months of 2013 to end the year in the top 20 despite the fact that Bolelli didn't play a single tournament after February (wrist injury). Bolelli just won his first singles tournament back (Bergamo Challenger). An in-form Fleming/Hutchins or Fleming/Murray pairing could well win, but it feels fairly closely matched.

RJA · Hall of fame

Spectator wrote:
Not 100% sure we're favourites for doubles. Fognini and Bolelli won enough points in the first two months of 2013 to end the year in the top 20 despite the fact that Bolelli didn't play a single tournament after February (wrist injury). Bolelli just won his first singles tournament back (Bergamo Challenger). An in-form Fleming/Hutchins or Fleming/Murray pairing could well win, but it feels fairly closely matched.

My take is

Murray solid favourite against Seppi but Fognini close to a lock against whoever plays as British number 2 so probably 1-1 after Friday.

The Doubles and Murray v Fognini are both toss ups and Seppi would be favourite although not overwhelmingly if it goes to a 5th rubber.

philwrig · Hall of fame

I know who my money would be on when Andy plays Fognini, I know Andy doesn't have many wins against top 10 players on clay, but he is pretty efficient against players lower than that and no way is Fognini a top 10 player in the making.

RJA · Hall of fame

philwrig wrote:
I know who my money would be on when Andy plays Fognini, I know Andy doesn't have many wins against top 10 players on clay, but he is pretty efficient against players lower than that and no way is Fognini a top 10 player in the making.

On clay Fognini is a top 10 player having won 24 of his last 26 matches on the surface, winning 3 titles and reaching 2 finals. If you took all his non clay points off him he would still be in the top 20.

indiana · Tennis legend

Assuming Fognini and Seppi play the singles, I would call ( although far from take for granted ) 1 match for us ( Andy vs Seppi ) and 2 for Italy ( both Italians vs our no 2 ). The other two matches I certainly wouldn't like to call.

Overall, Italy favourites in my book. We certainly could win, but just now I think it would represent a great effort.

daisy · County player

Bob in Spain wrote:
daisy wrote:
NAPLES IT IS.

There's a group travelling out from the AndyMurrayFanForum - about 20 so far.
I'm guessing the BATS will be there and the Topspin group too (Tim Henman fans).

If anyone (as in lone traveller) wants to join our group we'd make you very welcome.
The LTA don't offer a total package of ticket/hotel/travel but appoint Traveleads to come up with a hotel/travel package. So, you can wait see what they come up with (likely to be more expensive) or book flights and hotels yourself.
Tickets are from the LTA only or via nominated group bookings (as listed above). Prices yet to be confirmed but I think as a group we get a slightly better deal and end up paying much less in booking fee.

The group that went to San Diego had a fantastic time and Europe is making it much easier for many more to go and cheer on the lads. Whatever the team is I reckon they've a great chance of beating the Italian mob!

-- Edited by daisy on Monday 17th of February 2014 11:25:19 PM
There may be a group of us travelling from Spain that may require just tickets. I will know more in a week or so.

That'd be awesome!!! So far there's about 20 AMFF 'ers signed up (including one or two who'll recognise Bob in Spain!) and merrily booking cheap flights/hotels. I've told the LTA to hold 20/25 seats for us at the moment and am waiting for ticket prices from them so I'll update when I've some further information. Traveleads haven't yet sorted out a 'package' for flights/hotel but a number of people are waiting for them to do so because it's just easier to do it through and organised trip and more likely to be near the tennis arena/player hotel.

-- Edited by daisy on Wednesday 19th of February 2014 10:23:19 AM

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

daisy wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
daisy wrote:
NAPLES IT IS.

There's a group travelling out from the AndyMurrayFanForum - about 20 so far.
I'm guessing the BATS will be there and the Topspin group too (Tim Henman fans).

If anyone (as in lone traveller) wants to join our group we'd make you very welcome.
The LTA don't offer a total package of ticket/hotel/travel but appoint Traveleads to come up with a hotel/travel package. So, you can wait see what they come up with (likely to be more expensive) or book flights and hotels yourself.
Tickets are from the LTA only or via nominated group bookings (as listed above). Prices yet to be confirmed but I think as a group we get a slightly better deal and end up paying much less in booking fee.

The group that went to San Diego had a fantastic time and Europe is making it much easier for many more to go and cheer on the lads. Whatever the team is I reckon they've a great chance of beating the Italian mob!

-- Edited by daisy on Monday 17th of February 2014 11:25:19 PM
There may be a group of us travelling from Spain that may require just tickets. I will know more in a week or so.
That'd be awesome!!! So far there's about 20 AMFF 'ers signed up (including one or two who'll recognise Bob in Spain!) and merrily booking cheap flights/hotels. I've told the LTA to hold 20/25 seats for us at the moment and am waiting for ticket prices from them so I'll update when I've some further information. Traveleads haven't yet sorted out a 'package' for flights/hotel but a number of people are waiting for them to do so because it's just easier to do it through and organised trip and more likely to be near the tennis arena/player hotel.

-- Edited by daisy on Wednesday 19th of February 2014 10:23:19 AM

I am hoping to go because one of my Italian clients lives in Naples so I can kill two birds with 1 stone

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

RJA wrote:
RBBOT wrote:
Make sure you have adequate health insurance if you plan on attempting to cross any roads!
Oh come one, Liverpool isn't that bad.

I will always remember my race with an Italian in a Ferrari from Brenner pass to Milano . Interestingly got the edge in the approach to Milano I guess I was used to rapidly changing lanes in the London traffic .

I was hoping for Milano so I could drive down not sure if remain unscathed all the way to Naples

-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Wednesday 19th of February 2014 10:42:15 AM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Does anyone have any hotel recommendations close to the Naples Tennis club. Our route over looks like being Alicante - Rome on Vueling followed by a train ride down to Naples.

Given the state of the Spanish economy, we are all broke so Budget hotels may be the order of the day cry

daisy · County player

Hi Bob, I don't yet have a comprehensive list but some of our group have found cheapish hotels. The chat about it all is in the thread (link below). A couple of people are renting apartments as that works out cheaper for sharing - maybe that could help you? We think the Traveleads package will not be cheap!
A lot of the cheaper hotel deals are selling out so tbh if you find somewhere with space for your group I'd book it a.s.a.p.

Our numbers are edging to 30. I'm planning to do a summary post about who is travelling and where from and where they're staying so peeps can get an idea for who'll be where and perhaps share airport transfers in the UK/Napoli.

Might you still want tickets via me for the tie? If so I'm hoping to give the LTA an update on provisional requirements on Monday.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

daisy wrote:
Hi Bob, I don't yet have a comprehensive list but some of our group have found cheapish hotels. The chat about it all is in the thread (link below). A couple of people are renting apartments as that works out cheaper for sharing - maybe that could help you? We think the Traveleads package will not be cheap!
A lot of the cheaper hotel deals are selling out so tbh if you find somewhere with space for your group I'd book it a.s.a.p.

Our numbers are edging to 30. I'm planning to do a summary post about who is travelling and where from and where they're staying so peeps can get an idea for who'll be where and perhaps share airport transfers in the UK/Napoli.

Might you still want tickets via me for the tie? If so I'm hoping to give the LTA an update on provisional requirements on Monday.

Off to our tennis club this morning and will ask who wants to go. However, they can be a very indecisive lot. There is no way they are going to give me a definitive Yes or No unfortunately, until we have the price of the tickets.

And even if they said "Yes", until I had their money in my pocket, I wouldn't believe them LOL.

I have found flights for us with Vueling from Alicante to Rome (Outbound Weds and return Mon) for £105 and the trains look very cheap - about 50 euros for a return to Naples. It is only about an hour on the train from Rome.

Hotels wise, it seems the further away from the tennis, the cheaper they get. No surprise there. Some are booked up as you have said, but if people don't mind a taxi ride, it shouldn't be a problem.

I will try and give you an idea of numbers later today, but as I said, I won't be able to confirm until we know pricing.

PS. Did you say something about a link to a thread ?

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Bob - until Sally(Daisy) sees this and answers, I think this is the link she meant to post - http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?2409-DAVIS-CUP-2014-April-4-6.-GBR-v-ITA.-AMFF-BLOCK-BOOKING-ticket-info-amp-list-of-those-going

daisy · County player

Thanks Madeline! There's another thread with hotel discussions is here:-
www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php

We are now up to 31 AMFF'ers (including a couple who live in Austria).

Bob - I take your point about the difficulty of deciding without knowing ticket prices.
I guess if your group could get into one hotel then sharing taxis to and fro would be a good option.
If all you can do is give me a ball park of 5-15 (for example) that'd help.
You could of course set up your own 'group' booking but I've no idea how the LTA would deal with that as you're based in Spain rather than the UK.

I'll post here as soon as I have a reply ref ticket prices.