Davis Cup 2015 - World Group Semi-Final - 18th-20th September

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Davis Cup 2015 - World Group Semi-Final - 18th-20th September

Sim · County player

bigboyjumbo wrote:
great stuff! other sports should take note picking a player on form not on whats achieved previously! Chuffed for Evo. Safer bet than Ward who is in abysmal form. Feel slightly sorry for Kyle but i'm sure he will get his go

I think there is a bit of both (current form plus history) in the selection. Would Evo be selected if he hadn't proved in the past that he can deliver in big matched in the Davis Cup?.

I can imagine the Australian team desperately trying to get hold of Matt Reid and Luke Saville (Evo beat both in Vancouver) to get some info on his recent play........

indiana · Tennis legend

bigboyjumbo wrote:
great stuff! other sports should take note picking a player on form not on whats achieved previously! Chuffed for Evo. Safer bet than Ward who is in abysmal form. Feel slightly sorry for Kyle but i'm sure he will get his go

Err, except thar Kyle and James were selected for the squad of 5 and Evo only appeared belatedly !!? - apparently because of Kyle's incident, but whatever undoubtably belatedly.

The final decision may be the right one ( let's hope and trust that it is, although of course Evo's matches may not end up relevant to the outcome ). If he is now reckoned to be the best man ( but what has hugely changed in a few days, certainly as regards Evo and James ?! ) then absolutely fair enough. That that should prove the case doesn't greatly shock me, but it had to already have been a possibility.

I'm thinking that the lead in is hardly praiseworthy !

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 17th of September 2015 12:28:01 PM

RJA · Hall of fame

I am not overly happy about this decision and it seems to me something of a farce that a player not in the original squad has been picked ahead of two players who were. That being said I will give credit to Leon for being willing to make such a controversial call.

Sim · County player

As above Dan last played an Australian in a 100k qualifier. Wonder what the "crowd" was then?

bigboyjumbo · Lower Club Player

Yes coup completely agree. If Andy didnt feel as if Evo was up to it etc etc then i dont think he would be playing. Nothing to lose, his months of hard work and good results have been rewarded

bigboyjumbo · Lower Club Player

Leon has made big calls before im sure Evo can make it happen, might not get the Wins but will give a grat account of himself

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes. The issue here seems to be the inclusion of Ward in the first place.

i.e. you can accept that Kyle deserved to be there, would have been picked, but after the injury (even if OK on the scan) Leon doesn't want to take the risk.

But, as said before, why have James if he's not going to be picked for the number two spot, no matter what? And would he have been chosen even if he played incredibly well in just one or two training sessions (having been on such a bad run recently). Doesn't really make sense..... And, as Indy, says, Evans could have been in Turkey now and unavailable....

I do think Leon's got chutzpah, and if he thought he had to/should give James the nod, and then saw in training that, basically, he'd made a mistake, then all credit to him for 'fessing up and finding an alternative solution. But....

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

bigboyjumbo wrote:
Yes coup completely agree. If Andy didnt feel as if Evo was up to it etc etc then i dont think he would be playing. Nothing to lose, his months of hard work and good results have been rewarded

Whilst Kyle's more impressive (in the past 12 months) and consistent efforts have been ignored?

wolf · Tennis legend

Good news from the draw as Andy is up first against Kokkinakis followed by Evans v Tomic. This should hopefully allow Andy to get us the first point on the board as well as giving him a bit more rest for the doubles.

Spaced · Lower Club Player

RJA wrote:
I am not overly happy about this decision and it seems to me something of a farce that a player not in the original squad has been picked ahead of two players who were. That being said I will give credit to Leon for being willing to make such a controversial call.

I think to call it controversial is a bit much. I'd imagine the reason he wasn't in the original squad is he wasn't initially in Leon's plans, he's been called up as cover and by all accounts practiced very well and worked his way into contention. Leon's made the decision he thinks gives us the best chance of winning a point out of the second singles player but the whole tie doesn't rest on this decision, even if Dan loses twice I don't see the controversy.

bigboyjumbo · Lower Club Player

Yes granted but we dont know the full scale of the injury scare there must be some doubt. i personally wouldn't have had James in the team full stop but you can leave someone completely out who has played a big factor in getting them to where they are now. I do feel as if James was never going to play. We will find out if this is the right decision and then we can critic or praise. I do think its a bold move playing Evo, but to bring Kyle in with no experience in playing a live rubber in the semi final of the Davis cup would also have been a brave decision so there are arguments for or against

nicofrance · Strong Club Player

A surprising decision, perhaps Kyle Edmunds injury was worse than what's been reported. If not then this is a risk, at some point Kyle has to make his debut so why not now. In terms of James Ward I think it would have been difficult to justify his inclusion regardless of his previous good efforts. Am I right in thinking that Leon Smith could still change his players for the second singles matches?

-- Edited by nicofrance on Thursday 17th of September 2015 12:32:41 PM

bigboyjumbo · Lower Club Player

plus Evo beat tomic last time out ;)

wolf · Tennis legend

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