Day 2 at the Emirates : security has been turned up a notch, but an alternative strategy of actually looking like I should be there worked. Well at least I did get to see the guys practice for a bit before being escorted out of that area. Just comeback to have a bite to eat and another guy has asked me to leave here would you believe ! Missed the draw, but have seen Annabel Croft and the like. It's a great venue and tomorrow should be an unbelievable atmosphere.

So the BBC article quotes Murray as saying it's 'unlikely' he'll play doubles on Saturday. I wonder if this is true or if it's just to keep the Americans guessing? You get the sense the doubles could be crucial! Either way can't wait for this tie, really hope we come through and have a good run this year!

Coup Droit wrote:

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Lord above, Phil . . . beggars belief . . . I went to some charity presentation, with government ministers present, at one of the Whitehall buildings the other day (as a hanger-on of hanger-on of a hanger-on). Told to bring passports, actual tickets etc. etc. . . . and walked straight in ! Well, got checked for guns (didn't have one) but no ID check, no ticket check - I could have been absolutely any gun-less person (and the food was very good - I recommend it as a strategy if anyone's passing, knows there's an event on and feeling hungry).

BUT at a bit of tennis practice, you've got the heavies trying to kick you out . . .

Guess you might be a spy for the Americans, about to report back that James Ward is right-handed and Andy moves really well and other prize secret information . . .

Keep going, I say. Try the hat and false moustache. Or the fake press badge/tennis coach badge. And enjoy tomorrow - shout loudly for us.

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 Couldn't quite believe the 2nd guy, as I was nowhere near where the tennis was, having a sandwich and a drink, I was out of the way and it wasn't busy. Very odd I thought ! Luckily tomorrow it'll be straightforward. I've even been given an offer of a spot in the reserved car park by the security guy working there if he can find me a space when I get there, so it's not all been a bad experience in that respect.

really feeling excited about the DC. can't wait for tomorrow !!!

indiana wrote:

I'd still be very surprised if Andy played doubles if we went 2-0 up. But if it is other than that pleasurable, but fairly unlikely scenario, I reckon it could be a fairly late choice ( or at least announcement ) based on a judgement call as to what the best strategy is for winning the overall tie taking everything into consideration.

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That's the difficult and uncertain decision the captain/Andy faces. Best not to have to make that decision at all, perhaps? Hence a doubles pairing, chosen well beforehand, suitably primed, trained and focussed on what they have to do on the day. That, or someone being told half an hour beforehand whether he's on or off and who he's playing with. In my view, it's a no-brainer.

 

I wasn't for a moment suggesting the doubles pair being decided with anything like just half an hour or so to go ( something would be not right if it got to that stage ), and I would expect them to have Plan A in place, but Plan B too.

I do though think it entirely reasonable that they may to an extent be waiting to see how Day One shakes out, and possibly most particularly what the scoreline is.

Yes, there is a lot to be said for knowing precisely where you stand, but with this GB team, their particular opposition, and the possible different scenarios re scorelines and form, there is no clear right way to go. To not have it nailed down, to at least have a Plan B seems sensible to me.

For me it's all about the winning, not necessarily making life easier for folk in advance unless that in itself is judged to be overall most beneficial. And while knowing precisely where you stand and being able to prepare on that basis is a factor to be considered, it is just a factor.

To me there is no " no brainer" here other than leaving ourselves some flexibility.

For what it matters ( probably not a lot ) the GB doubles pair named in advance of the draw was Dom and Jamie. But that can be changed on Saturday and the general thoughts on a 5 Live tennis discussion this evening was they though the most likely GB pairing would be Andy and Jamie.

We have a player who is not just by far our best singles player, but is considered by many to be our best doubles player. Over the 3 days of the Davis Cup against a team that will field a hugely strong doubles pair that needs managed. I think we have good people in Glasgow, who will make the choices that they think gives GB the best chance.

Order of play suits us. We can get off to a good start and hopefully not look back.