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

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

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

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Raining

indiana · Tennis legend

I too was surprised that Ross was picked so soon. As I said earlier, I personally expected Dom to be picked again. I appreciate Jonny's talents, but the best ? - highly arguable. And his partnership with Colin last year was far from a runaway success and never looked as good as the Colin / Ross partnership. As I say my doubts about Ross were that it just seemed remarkably soon with in the circumstances just very decent but not outstanding results so far.

As to Leon perhaps picking Ross as an emotional decision, him being a close friend of Andy, do you seriously think that at all likely, Gary ??!

Everything Leon has done since he became captain ( from suddenly sticking Evo in in place of Jamie Baker, amid to my mind some irrelevant wailing on this forum about poor faithful Jamie having missed tournaments across in the USA then to be cast aside ) has indicated one overall priority in his mind - WINNING !

Now sticking with someone may be compatable with that, but ultimately he seems to me to put this winning thing above all - and I really like it.

So, I would conclude that Leon really thinks Ross is ready. Although if Andy is fit and well enough, I would expect Andy to play the doubles with Colin. I'm fairly convinced that that was certainly the original intention.

For if Ross was picked more "just" to be in the squad again since Andy was meant to play doubles that to my mind would be poor decision making. As we have seen with Andy being ill, anything could crop up so the two doubles players on site to me had to be the best possible pair available ( and one can argue who that is ) excluding Andy.

LouieG · County player

Sodding rain

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

I do not doubt Ross's talent as a doubles player but as a professional in healthcare unless Ross is a superhuman or taking my new brand of health supplements ( launching soon on pharmacy4Life 1 months supply multivitamins 89p ) he has not proven hes fully fit yet areasonable singles ATP ranking would do that !

Jonny & ken have good form and it's the opinion of the majority of GB top 25 ( 6 in my squad ) that I talk to that johnny should have been selected there is also ken skupski .

Dom pairs well with Huey but did not blend well with colin fleming whose the more complete article , johnny would have in my opinion and you are not the first Englishman to win Wimbledon doubles since 1930s for nothing ! A Quiet humble Yorkshireman that was not born with a golden spoon in his mouth makes johnny Marray's Wimbledon achievement all the more remarkable .

Lets say as a specialist manager of tennis doubles pairs I seriously focus on watching the best GB doubles talent in GB and the world the top doubles pairs for GB in my opinion are are colin Fleming & Andy Murray ( 1st choice if andy fully fot after singles ) or colin Fleming & johnny Marray , 3rd choice doubles pair colin & ken skupski ( if still happy to work together ) , 4th johnny Marray & ken skupski , 5th and this won't be popular colin Fleming and Marcus Willis !

Personal fear of mine is that if any my players gets to GB no1 will they get the chance because I have always said Marcus is a future Davis player .

Bold prediction but when I help Marcus rise to no1 doubles in GB will he get his chance or do you only ever get 1 at the LTA as Dom's just found out .

Dom got his chance because GB no1 ranking but by most accounts did not play well but it's tough when your a scratch pair .

At A1 we alreadys play pairs not individuals

LouieG · County player

Covers off, water laying on the courts

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

indy , Glad we agree on something of course his father is a senior excutive at the LTA which makes it more important to be seen to make an unbiased selection

Spectator · All-time great

While we are all entitled to our opinions, I would tend to think that the record compiled by Mr Fleming and Mr Hutchins compared with the record compiled by Mr Fleming and Mr Marray might be relevant, as would be the fact that Mr Hutchins and Mr Fleming have been practicing together all year, whereas neither has practiced with Mr Marray. As has been noted, the "team" aspect of a pairing is very important.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Hutchins ranking is utterly irrelevant given it only covers 3 months of the year.

To suggest he was chosen for purely 'emotional' reasons is absurd. And it's got absolutely nothing to do with 'courage and honesty'. 'Delusion' would be the term I would use, personally.

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh we agree on a few things, Gary, just I think you more focus on disagreements and from them occasionally invent some other disagreements / negatives :)

Anyway, re Leon, I rather think that he's just naturally an unbiased selector.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

TMH wrote:
Hutchins ranking is utterly irrelevant given it only covers 3 months of the year.

To suggest he was chosen for purely 'emotional' reasons is absurd. And it's got absolutely nothing to do with 'courage and honesty'. 'Delusion' would be the term I would use, personally.

No doubt Ross was historically a justified selection choice and maybe again one for the future its also surely fair to say its also certainly a harsh decision for the huge crop of current top 100 GB doubles talent .

My knew that my opinion would invite severe criticism but I hopefully frankness

And open honest views are appreciated on a forum like this after all if it was a popularity contest I would not be on the forum .

If like myself you appreciated the frankness and honest directness of Margaret thatcher , brian clough , Alex ferguson and cAlan sugar which I personally find hugely refreshing then your understand that the one thinthere's share was an overwhelming desire to win .

If we win Leon is right but if he plays Ross it's a gamble but one that in his not inconsiderable wisdom Leon thinks is worth taking ! . If Leon plays ross and we win as indeed I hope we do then I will have learnt something !

And I guess it will be fortune goes to the bold

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh dear, I'd missed your latest longer post Gary.

So much I could comment on, but I think I'll pass on most of it

Some things though,

1) With the number of very good doubles players GB have not that far apart in ranking terms, I am absolutely sure that Dom did NOT get his chance, just "because GB no 1 ranking". But rather because he was judged best man for the job. I rather suspect Leon thinks a bit deeper than rankings !

2) You seem very confused from day to day, nae post to post, as to whether Leon does and will play fair, especially with regard to your particular favourites. I make no bones that I am an admirer of the man, and as I have said think he does play fair, largely because his focus is winning ( and maybe he also happens to be a good man ! )

3) Yes, I was surprised Ross was picked so quickly. The fact that it surprised me very clearly doesn't make it wrong.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

That's an interesting view rankings are not relevant !

"A Classic " can I quote you in the book when I write .

Wish they weren't and all GB doubles pairs got into main draw of grand slams nice dream

!

indiana · Tennis legend

Where did I or anyone else here say that "rankings are not relevant" ???!!!

But you do not base solely on rankings, even more especially so with so many good GB doubles players relatively closely ranked and clearly playing with different partners, and Ross for one very clearly underranked.

It is obvious ( to just about anyone ! ) that you cannot judge and / or pick purely on ranking order.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Raining

Thank you - desperately looking for the score !