Week 1 Hopman Cup

PaulM · Tennis legend

RE: Week 1 Hopman Cup

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

PaulM wrote:
Gosh Marinko really is unlikeable isn't he? Almost no support for the Ozzies in this mixed match. I feel sorry for Casey, she's just rolling her eyes and trying to get on with things. He's playing terribly.

Team GB lead 75 41*

Really? I confess I like him - he has such a cheeky smile and seems a good sport to me.

philwrig · Hall of fame

I concur with what Paul says regarding the matchup, Hev doesn't have the firepower/ variety in her game at the moment to trouble top 20 players but when she's playing opponents on a par then her game matches very well and added to her mental toughness she tends to win the majority of those matches assuming she's playing reasonably well. Good confidence boost going ahead.

Just a shame we couldn't quite make the final, but Andy will be happy, as he is really putting a marker down for the rest of the year.

steven · Tennis legend

HOPMAN CUP SUMMARY

GBR 2 FRA 1
Andy Murray WR 6 beat Benoît Paire (FRA) WR 126 (CH 24 in 2013) by 2 & 5
Heather Watson WR 50 lost to Alizé Cornet (FRA) WR 18 (CH 11 in 2009) by 2 & 2
Murray & Watson beat Paire & Cornet (FRA) by 6-4 2-6 10:8

GBR 1 POL 2
Heather Watson WR 50 lost to Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) WR 5 (CH 2 in 2012) by 3 & 1
Andy Murray WR 6 beat Jerzy Janowicz (POL) WR 43 (CH 14 in 2013) by 2 & 4
Murray & Watson lost to Janowicz & Radwanska by 4 & 4

GBR 3 AUS 0
Heather Watson WR 50 beat Casey Dellacqua (AUS) WR 29 (CH 26 last Sep) by 3 & 4
Andy Murray WR 6 beat Marinko Matosevic (AUS) WR 77 (CH 29 in 2013) by 3 & 2
Murray & Watson beat Matosevic & Dellacqua 5 & 1

GBR finish 2nd in their group behind the Poles. Both won 2 and lost 1 and were 6-3 in matches won/lost but the Poles had a better sets won ratio, so they go through to the Final.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

If anybody else wanted to watch Andy v Janowicz, I found it on youtube: www.youtube.com/watch

Full match, only the changeovers cut out. Italian commentary but hey, if you don't speak Italian, then if they are talking rubbish you don't know. . .

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Good start for both Andy and Heather, particularly Heather the win against Casey must be a real lift and the exposure to Radwanska and Cornet some insight and opportunity for analysis and improvement.

I know others have said it before but there are lots of pluses about this tournament and perhaps space for similar in the run up to other GS events.

The top stars wouldn't play all the time but that's the beauty of it to a certain extent. Andy playing says a lot, as did his statements about restructuring of the prize money on the ITF and challenger circuits.

There is no question of positive discrimination re equal pay for equal play it's equitable in every way. That it is one of the few examples of elite male and female athletes playing together in any sport is fantastic for tennis. For many of the reasons stated it is an ideal structure for grass roots schools tennis in mixed schools.