Davis Cup 2015 - World Group Round 1 - 6-8 Mar

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Davis Cup 2015 - World Group Round 1 - 6-8 Mar

Spectator · All-time great

While I can understand why a player's behaviour might lead fans to respond in turn, one would hope that the fans would recognise that singling out the lone player of colour on the court could lead to misinterpretations of motivation which would not be helpful.

Incidentally, I looked at Mr Young's Twitter account and found an exchange between Dustin Brown and him (with an aside from Rajeev Ram) about people's confusing them. Have to say, confusing Donald Young with Dustin Brown takes talent.

Jaffa · Challenger level

Donald Young retired yesterday in the 3rd with an elbow injury. Paves the way for Steve Johnson, no?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:
While I can understand why a player's behaviour might lead fans to respond in turn, one would hope that the fans would recognise that singling out the lone player of colour on the court could lead to misinterpretations of motivation which would not be helpful.

Incidentally, I looked at Mr Young's Twitter account and found an exchange between Dustin Brown and him (with an aside from Rajeev Ram) about people's confusing them. Have to say, confusing Donald Young with Dustin Brown takes talent.

smile Dustin and Donald ???? yes, that's inspired. smile smile smile

philwrig · Hall of fame

Dom trying to prove me wrong in style.
Dom/Andy may actually work, but it would be a gamble.

Miriambee · Futures level

Yes, but why then pick 2 doubles specialists if you intend to play Andy in doubles?

One would hope that now Dom has reached the highest tournament grades that he's got used to the crowds, obviously he and Florin beat the Bryans today - that bodes well.

indiana · Tennis legend

Because, as a few folk have suggested, like last year against the USA, if it goes to 2-0 after the first day, there's a lot to be said for again playing two doubles specialists against the Bryans. They would clearly likely be competitive ( even if many of us would have Andy in our no one pair ), indeed just might actually settle the tie there and then, and it would keep Andy fresher for his Day 3 no 1 v no 1 match, presumably against Isner.

1-1 ( let's try not to think about 0-2 ! ) and I have always been thinking Andy would play the doubles. Andy's variable form and Dom and Jamie's generally good form maybe asks questions of that. We'll see if and when it comes to it.

But certainly, picking two doubles specialists leaves more options open for Day 2.

EddietheEagle · County player

RJA wrote:
Advocating who should play in the doubles is an utter waste of time. Unless we are 2-0 Andy will play doubles and he will chose who he plays with.

The point is clearly made in the James Ward thread that speculation provides the life blood of this forum, its very raison d'etre.

On D.C. doubles, I'd go with A1's view, except it's a couple of years too late. Marray J. in particular stamped his credentials as a D.C. doubles pick the day he lifted the Wimbledon men's doubles trophy but for some reason has been strangely ignored. I find it slightly odd that someone demonstrates his capability of winning a grand slam doubles title yet barely makes an impact on D.C.

I'm no great lover of the one man band approach. It's too high risk for one thing and a team approach is much to be preferred in my opinion, particularly as we have the doubles specialists to build that team. I don't see Leon Smith's logic frankly.

indiana · Tennis legend

The logic I see in Leon Smith is he looks to win Davis Cup ties - I like it !

I liked it from the moment he followed his gut feeling by chucking in Evo seemingly from nowhere into that Davis Cup tie, while some were going on about poor Jamie Baker being brought across the Atlantic from playing in the USA and then discarded, having initially been named in the four man team. Leon watched them, considered and went for Evo. If he thought it was the right move, then he was right to do it. The fact that it worked more just saved him from flack for not taking the 'safe' option.

Noone, who is not an absolutely clear pick ( Andy is for singles anyway :) ) particularly deserves to be picked. Jonny's Wimbledon title was clearly a huge achievement, but still a huge achievement to be taken in the round and overall comparing him with other candidates and considering how the doubles players would gel with others.

Personally, I really like Jonny ( difficult not to ) and particularly close on after his Wimbledon triumph I would hope he was considered, but have I ever been really shocked or thought it plain wrong that Jonny hasn't been picked for Davis Cup? - no.

As for "one man bands", again what matters to me is setting the team out to win and if that is judged to be most likely achueved by Andy playing 3 matches ( and there is certainly discussions to be had / judgements to be made ), so be it.

LouieG · County player

What do we rate our chances anyway?

Personally I think it will be 3-2. Could go either way...

indiana · Tennis legend

I can't make up my mind just now what I think, though 3-2 either way may be a good shout.

I was tending to optimism that we would nick it, but rather less so with Andy again showing such variable form.

EddietheEagle · County player

indiana wrote:
I was tending to optimism that we would nick it, but rather less so with Andy again showing such variable form.

Hence my comment about the risk in a one man band approach. It didn't work in Naples either; Murray was spent against Fognini.

Ward v Young as the crucial rubber?

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, Andy did appear a bit spent against Fognini. Not that surprising on this occasion since he had been unwell for a day or two before the tie started. So, not sure this is the greatest of reference points.

To me, trouble was that Ross, for whatever ( to me flawed ) reasoning was in the team ( as opposed to Dom or Jonny ) and I think ultimately they took a chance on Andy in the doubles rather than Colin and ( a picked too soon in his then comeback ) Ross. I seriously doubt Colin and Ross would have won the doubles.

Keeping Andy fresh for his second singles is of course a consideration ( as is his current form! ), but I can understand that all things considered in certain circumstances the option being taken to go with our likely best doubles pair, which I think is Andy plus.

RJA · Hall of fame

EddietheEagle wrote:
indiana wrote:
I was tending to optimism that we would nick it, but rather less so with Andy again showing such variable form.
Hence my comment about the risk in a one man band approach. It didn't work in Naples either; Murray was spent against Fognini.
Ward v Young as the crucial rubber?

I completely disagree that the strategy in Naples was wrong. I never thought that Murray would beat Fognini, who at the time was playing outstanding clay court tennis, but the doubles always looked winnable.

daisy · County player

Is anyone still looking for tickets? Especially for the doubles which could prove pivotal to the outcome of this tie ...
Illness has caused us to have 2 x Saturday only tickets and 1 x 3day ticket available within our group.
If you're interested, or know someone else who might be, please let me know by PM..
Tickets sold very quickly, and it's sold out, so it'd be good to make sure any fan left wanting has a chance to go.
Block booking prices apply; optional tot of malt whisky might secure your seat ...

(did I mention you'd be sitting with 60 Andy Murray fans?)

-- Edited by daisy on Saturday 28th of February 2015 08:29:13 AM