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

Vandenburg · Futures level

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

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
What really annoyed me was that they kept saying Dan had "gone missing" for a time resulting in his fall to 700+ in the rankings. Well, in case they haven't noticed, most people "go missing" when they are injured.

Terrific stuff from Dan. He had chances and proved again what a talent he can be.

Yes. Exactly, No mention at all of Dan's injury. Pathetic journalism.

Nor of James' recent lack of wins (though Jamie and Sue mentioned it). He also claimed that Kyle was 'perfectly fine'. Which is not quite the same as a scan saying 'definitely nothing serious but there's a little fluid around the joint'.

But (a) Castle never does his homework, and (b) he was SO on his agenda push of how Wardy and Kyle had been shafted (because James was 'owed' the play and would be upset) that he had no interest in much about Dan apart to say he's only been playing challengers (when actually he's practically only been playing futures).

indiana · Tennis legend

I thought that the crowd support did seem terrific, if anything more all together up for it than the US tie. Must have really helped Dan hang in there.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

I only watched scores and listed to some commentary later. But I did get the stream on my phone for about 2 minutes, in Waitrose carpark, and saw Dan win the third and Tomic flat on the ground !!!!! I was happy with that

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Well damn. I was called to the hospital so set the recorder. Don't know what the heck I did but it didn't work. Will it be on BBC iplayer, do you suppose? Not that I know when I would have time to watch!

Jan · Hall of fame

Madeline wrote:
Well damn. I was called to the hospital so set the recorder. Don't know what the heck I did but it didn't work. Will it be on BBC iplayer, do you suppose? Not that I know when I would have time to watch!

It is already up on iplayer - says it's there for 29 days.

Do watch if you get the chance - Andy was just superb and once Dan got into the match he played some great shots.

Jan · Hall of fame

And still on the AC theme - he said near the beginning of the prog that Jamie had partnered Lindstedt

(He did correct himself - but I have my suspicions that someone had to tell him!!)

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I use the Beeb for referenece, nothing more as they've made so many mistakes over the years.

indiana · Tennis legend

Maybe I'm just getting old and looking back with rose tinted specs, but didn't BBC sports commentators in general used to be very knowledgeable about their sports, certainly compared to some today.

Sorry, need more than I was a top 100 player and they say I'm a smooth talker !

Though today was so bad in some ways it was a sort of weird classic ...'

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I also Enjoyed the commentary, messers Castle et al. exist in a parallel tennis universe, it was good to journey the other side of Pluto for a couple of hours particularly as a game of tennis broke out, Evo as always fascinating to watch. I can now see why Evo got slightly miffed when penalised for not showing enough effort at Wimbly qualies when dabbing an outrageous drop shot into the net. Some red hot serving, the odd lob, loads of slice and of course the outrageous drop shots

... Evo put in a good enough performance to justify Leon's judgement and selection

Wrong result but thoroughly enjoyable. Bring on the doubles.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Friday 18th of September 2015 10:04:24 PM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Friday 18th of September 2015 10:05:12 PM

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

I thought Tomic served monster well, and he needed to. Dan Did well to stay with him on such a slow surface. To my mind, Dan's inclusion in the team has been vindicated. He kept Tomic out there long enough to look uncomfortable. A point that I don't think has been made yet is that the Aussies must be fearing the outcome of Evo v.T4K should it come to that. I don't know what order they are playing in on Sunday, but I'd like to see Dan win some points for winning a live rubber.

Bring on the doubles! Everyone knows its imprtance, should be properly exciting! Need to crack on with my chores so I'm back in time for the start!

Re the sub par commentary, I think they can get away with it at Wimbledon. We are a nation of Wimbledon lovers, not tennis lovers and the difference is important. If all you watch is Wimbledon, you won't know much about the sport and won't notice mistakes and absurd comments. The Beeb have to cater for the majority. I often watch tennis with the volume on zero and play some music. I have no interest in the Beeb's facile commentary whatsoever. I like Mike Cation on USTA.com who commentates on many of the streamed American challengers. I don't think he ever played at a high level, but he is knowledgeable about the game, knows the players and gets some banter in as well.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I am conflicted re tennis TV coverage in the UK. I was overjoyed that Wimbledon coverage is staying with the BBC ie free, live to air with broad coverage on the red button. To go with a satellite or cable broadcaster would have been a travesty. We need as many people to see tennis's show piece as possible and equate it with being British maintaining Wimbledon as a fundamental part of the British summer for tots to grannies in the hope as many will pick up a racquet as possible. The coverage has to be low brow, generalist and suit the audience which isn't us. So given that remitted I forgive them.

Both Rugby and Cricket seriously missed a trick here particularly cricket. They went niche, high tech super specialist and unlike football there just aren't enough true fanatics or saleable games to maintain a high enough profile to grow the game. American football if it had any sense would make sure it's live games in London this year were available on a terrestrial channel, free to air.

Now this is where I think we miss a trick.

Managing that window between RG and Wimbledon. Nottingham, Queens, Eastbourne all get coverage which is great, but this is were there is a place for a nerdy UK biased TV coverage, bring it all together with Surbiton, Build an audience for Wimbledon qualifying, put it in context ie being 300 in the world is pretty good, 150 you are not far off the real deal. (Imagine being 300th best footballer in London, ironically that's some player earning 15-20 K a week probably on loan from Chelsea at Middlesborough)

Sky have knocked out some really classy cricket magazine programmes with Warne giving an amazing bowling clinic that will stay with me forever, we could focusing on the rising stars of the game, analyse futures, challengers and the junior game, even a college and team tennis round up, pick the rising stars chart their progress, get OG in to talk about why he gave up tennis, how to avoid injury, physics corner, live demos (get Dan Evans serving against Naomi and a speed gun or who ever Kevin Anderson etc...)..This is where there is no place for Andrew Castle and lack of detail makes you look stupid.

Sorry started meaning to say coverage irritating but fit for purpose and turned into thought for the day. Whoops.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

stevemcqueen wrote:
I thought Tomic served monster well, and he needed to. Dan Did well to stay with him on such a slow surface. To my mind, Dan's inclusion in the team has been vindicated. He kept Tomic out there long enough to look uncomfortable. A point that I don't think has been made yet is that the Aussies must be fearing the outcome of Evo v.T4K should it come to that. I don't know what order they are playing in on Sunday, but I'd like to see Dan win some points for winning a live rubber.

I doubt very much that Evo would play Kokkinakis anyway. The Aussies are sure to go with Hewitt in the reverse singles if it is still a live rubber. That match would be the 5th rubber on Sunday. With regard to points, it has been mentioned above that because of Dan's late withdrawal from the Turkey challenger, he is not eligible for points here even if he wins. Hopefully, it won't come to that anyway. A win in the dubs and Andy winning his singles is the order of the day (and the morrow.)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes. They dropped Kokkinakis last time for the final singles. And, given his level of play yesterday, they're practically certain to drop him again tomorrow.

But, as Bob says, hopefully we won't care....

dorsetman · Social player

Good call again from Smith. Only Evans out of the "other three" would have pushed Tomic like that - he was playing good, measured tennis - my feeling would be that Ward and Edmund couldn't have coped with the consistency and sprayed more unforced UEs on the way to straight set defeats. I must admit I'm biased as I find Evans absolutely intriguing to watch. Evans/Kokkinakis would be hard to call, given that I think Evans' game would wind up the Aussie, who just wants to cut loose on the FH.