Both Ward and Evans would be uncomfortable choices and I hope that it doesn't come to that!

Dan's backhand slice, in my opinion, is only really effective if the topspin backhand is also working well - it's the variation that causes the problem. I don't think the slice itself causes much grief - certainly didn't really seem to at the Wimbledon qualifiers, in fact, the practically 100% backhand slice was the root of most of the problems, specially on the return of serve.

Helen40 wrote:

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I've heard it's Kyle, and that Evo's posted ;thinking long and hard' on his twitter account.

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Which if correct suggests that he wasn't planning on being there originally and so probably pulled out of Istanbul because he fancied break. Doesn't make it ideal circumstances for him to be considered for selection.

All the very best to Kyle.

If James is the only alternative singles player on site, if the worst comes to the worst re Kyle then they really do need James somehow getting that Davis Cup mojo and / or be thankful that this has occurred so early in the week and someone else can be called in to at least get into the week and be an alternative.

But when one of the two main contenders is so out of form, I still think someone else should have been there from the start.

And if that someone is not Evo, I'm scratching my head, given Brydan is in the US.

I agree with RJA that it would be far from ideal if Evo was / is considering a break. The better would have been him given a heads up even before last week about being available. If he has been given no such suggestion at all, absolutely fair enough that he's been doing his own thing.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 15th of September 2015 12:46:44 PM

Coup Droit wrote:

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But given the James was never in contention for the doubles, why would James be there at all if he wasn't going to be called into service for the singles (either as number 1 or number 2 after Kyle)?

i.e. If James is there for singles, but the minute Kyle is hurt, someone else has to be dragged in for singles, why would James be there in the first place?

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I just have always thought they should have more singles cover, in particular because James was out of form so if anything happened to Kyle we would be reliant on James having found that Davis Cup mojo.

Clearly the real consideration, with no accidents, was Kyle vs James with as folk have previously said presumably both being assessed and talked to. And James may be inspired again from the moment he arrives in Glasgow - but that is a hope.

But now something has happened to Kyle, hopefully not serious and we may indeed be reliant on James to be Davis Cup inspired even if he is still not showing up well in practice.

I think if has unfortunately been made only too clear what a sensible precaution that would have been.

I am not saying I would have played Evo in place of Kyle ( I've been saying for some time that I think Kyle is probably the best option ) and James had every right to be there, but with better form players than James ( Evo and Brydan ) so should someone else have been.

Well, it's logical to me. 

Leon would no doubt be happy to go with a James approaching his past Davis Cup form and it is on those past experiences and performances he has been picked as a possible alternative to Kyle. And such a James could be a real alternative, especially if Kyle was showing signs of stage fright.

It is quite clear that there is a big difference between that and his recent challenger form, which noone would want to see at a Davis Cup.

I absolutely understand James being given a chance to show in these coming days that being in Glasgow with the Davis Cup has reinvigorated him. But it has been in case it doesn't that I have wanted another possible option there in case anything happened to Kyle.

If James looked likely to continue as he has recently that would be a clear problem if he "had" to play. But he may be transformed. I'd prefer to have taken out insurance though.

I accept that it is far from ideal for Evo or Kyle to be effectively a "spare" ( quite apart from other "issues" with both ) just in case Kyle got injured and James' form remained ropey. I guess how you approached and dealt with such an invitation would be very important. So that is an issue. But looked purely at arriving at the best Davis Cup cover I have seen nothing to suggest that an extra singles player in Glasgow didn't make sense. OK, I accept that one could get silly and have cover for cover for cover, but the case to me was already clearly open for argument for one additional singles player in Glasgow.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 15th of September 2015 04:53:54 PM

For those who like quirky facts:

www.lta.org.uk/major-events/international-events/davis-cup/davis-cup-news/2015/great-britain-v-australia-preview-nations-set-to-renew-their-rivalry/


NB For what it's worth, I don't think it makes sense to have taken three players, all vying for second singles place, to Glasgow. Neither James nor Kyle had any ongoing injury problems. So you've got two. That's your choice, that's your choice. Hence, if it's not one of them to play, then it's the other. And if you really think one is not 'pickable', then don't take him in the first place. I can see the other side, and the potential problems, given James' form recently, but Leon has to decide that in advance. Mind you, I expect Kyle will be fine though by the weekend - certainly they're making it out to be not a big deal.