Evo

Topemp · Strong Club Player

Evo

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

If the tie had been on hard, I have no doubt Evo would be in contention for selection. But on clay - I think both Edmund (even though inexperienced) and Ward (especially if he can pick up some form) would be far more likely for selection. So I do hope Dan doesn't mess about with his schedule with DC in mind - concentrate on getting up the rankings, and next year, in a tie on hard, he might well be considered. Especially if Andy doesn't play.

Jaffa · Challenger level

Dan struggles on clay due to his height more than anything, but in general he plays very flat so it's not a good match up for him.

He's played a LOT of tennis this last 3 months so a few weeks rest will do him no harm. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he goes out to 'Merica to do the indoor ones.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I don't think it's Dan's height - a lot of the Spanish and South American players are shorter than the average (for tennis players).

But it's true that he plays too flat for clay and likes to mix things up in a way that doesn't really pay much on clay.

Dan is a notoriously reluctant traveler so the chances of him canceling Turkey were always very high. And, yes, probably could do with some rest (mentally as well as physically).

No idea where he'll end up next.....

paulisi · Tennis legend

Down to play the challenger in California - 50K in wk 41

RJA · Hall of fame

The chances of Evo playing on clay to prepare for the Davis Cup are next to non-existent. He presumably wants a bit of time off after playing a lot over the summer and after that it will hopefully be a run of hard court challengers.

Regardless of his potential on clay I think he has repeatedly shown that he has zero interest in doing what the Davis Cup captain would like in order to prepare for a tie. He does his own thing and doesn't give two hoots what anyone else thinks. The captain either picks him or doesn't but he sure as hell isn't going to jump through hoops in order to get picked.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

And that is probably the right attitude for him, Kyle has a strong clay court game indeed it is his best surface and favourite. Spending time on the dirt will not be a hardship for him whereas for Evo it is a loos loose situation, ie. It isn't his idea of a good time, it is better spent on hard courts in North America which I think is where he is happiest if he has to be away and there is the minor consideration that if Leon sticks to his philosophy thus far which is doing the right thing he probably won't get picked!

I can't help but feel Mr Murray is having a massive say as the captaincy decisions have been so clear cut and rational

indiana · Tennis legend

I have no idea how much say Andy has, though it makes sense to listen to him.

But Leon strikes me as being very capable of making clear cut and rational decisions

( though I guess the initial dithering of not having Evo in Glasgow wasn't great )

I suspect that he is well capable of being at least as clear cut and rational as Andy, who to me has not always been exactly perfect in that regard.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 24th of September 2015 04:16:00 PM

Topemp · Strong Club Player

Thanks for the replies, I don't buy the 'he's too small' argument, see why that might make more of a difference on faster courts, but can't see that smaller players have had less success on clay.

Also I would have thought that players who mix it up would do well on clay where it is less easy just to blast winners, and you have to find new ways to finish a point. Maybe there is something in the 'he plays too flat' argument, whatevs he hasn't got a track record on clay nor a lot of evidence that he wants to play on it, though I would be less inclined to write him off.

James can't buy a win, and Kyle is untried in big games, so I would have thought Evo was an option worth considering.

I also think we should aim for Andy to play 2 singles matches (knowing the strain clay puts on his body and go with Jamie and Dom for the dubs) There's no point Andy playing dubs on the Saturday and having to pull out of the singles on Sunday.

Topemp · Strong Club Player

RJA wrote:
Regardless of his potential on clay I think he has repeatedly shown that he has zero interest in doing what the Davis Cup captain would like in order to prepare for a tie. He does his own thing and doesn't give two hoots what anyone else thinks. The captain either picks him or doesn't but he sure as hell isn't going to jump through hoops in order to get picked.

Not having this.

1) This is New Evo. He's shown a fight and determination recently that has previously been lacking.

2) This is DC Final, and he thrives on big occasion, I'm sure if Leon was minded to involve him, he'd consider a schedule that would prepare him to play.

Have to say if I had to have one of Kyle or Evo to beat someone ranked 200 for my life I'd pick Kyle, but if I had to pick someone to beat someone ranked #60 in front of 13,000 people I'd go for Evo (notwithstanding the clay element, which I accept may change things).

indiana · Tennis legend

Just looking at Evo's career win / loss record on the ATP site.

Of 112 career matches at challenger level or above ( winning 48 ) he appears to have played precisely 3 on clay ( won 1, lost 2 ).

Whatever anyone's theoretical thoughts on how suited he is / could be for clay he simply has hardly ever played on the stuff above futures level. As said above, no track record on clay at a decent level, no sign of an inclination to play on clay, my difference is that it pretty well does write him off for me, even without theorising on how his game could suit clay or not.

Basically, with that in mind, if it is clay, to me Evo is even less in the equation than I had him before and I hardly had him in before ( whereas for the Glasgow indoor hard court I would have had him at least in Glasgow even before Kyle's accident, James being no sort of reliable alternative ).

To me, the remaining singles question is can James find any decent form to contest Kyle for the second singles spot.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 26th of September 2015 10:06:30 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Topemp wrote:
RJA wrote:
Regardless of his potential on clay I think he has repeatedly shown that he has zero interest in doing what the Davis Cup captain would like in order to prepare for a tie. He does his own thing and doesn't give two hoots what anyone else thinks. The captain either picks him or doesn't but he sure as hell isn't going to jump through hoops in order to get picked.

Not having this.
1) This is New Evo. He's shown a fight and determination recently that has previously been lacking.
2) This is DC Final, and he thrives on big occasion, I'm sure if Leon was minded to involve him, he'd consider a schedule that would prepare him to play.
Have to say if I had to have one of Kyle or Evo to beat someone ranked 200 for my life I'd pick Kyle, but if I had to pick someone to beat someone ranked #60 in front of 13,000 people I'd go for Evo (notwithstanding the clay element, which I accept may change things).

You mean the new New Evo as opposed to previous New Evos ?

Be great if true, but that seems to rely for me rather more on hope over experience ( if expecting him to become conformist ).

Anyway, I really do hope that it has finally finally clicked with him and he continues to progress, indeed reaches that top 100 potential that I feel he has.

But I feel he has no need to particularly concern himself with any Davis Cup final on clay, not anyway as one of the main options to play.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 26th of September 2015 02:23:18 PM

Priesty · Challenger level

indiana wrote:
Topemp wrote:
RJA wrote:
Regardless of his potential on clay I think he has repeatedly shown that he has zero interest in doing what the Davis Cup captain would like in order to prepare for a tie. He does his own thing and doesn't give two hoots what anyone else thinks. The captain either picks him or doesn't but he sure as hell isn't going to jump through hoops in order to get picked.

Not having this.
1) This is New Evo. He's shown a fight and determination recently that has previously been lacking.
2) This is DC Final, and he thrives on big occasion, I'm sure if Leon was minded to involve him, he'd consider a schedule that would prepare him to play.
Have to say if I had to have one of Kyle or Evo to beat someone ranked 200 for my life I'd pick Kyle, but if I had to pick someone to beat someone ranked #60 in front of 13,000 people I'd go for Evo (notwithstanding the clay element, which I accept may change things).

You mean the new New Evo as opposed to previous New Evos ?
Be great if true, but that seems to rely for me rather more on hope over experience ( if expecting him to become conformist ).
Anyway, I really do hope that it has finally finally clicked with him and he continues to progress, indeed reaches that top 100 potential that I feel he has.
But I feel he has no need to particularly concern himself with any Davis Cup final on clay, not anyway as one of the main options to play.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 26th of September 2015 02:23:18 PM

Perhaps if 2016 brings an even better Evo we can look forward to a New Year's Evo smile

RJA · Hall of fame

Topemp wrote:
RJA wrote:
Regardless of his potential on clay I think he has repeatedly shown that he has zero interest in doing what the Davis Cup captain would like in order to prepare for a tie. He does his own thing and doesn't give two hoots what anyone else thinks. The captain either picks him or doesn't but he sure as hell isn't going to jump through hoops in order to get picked.

Not having this.
1) This is New Evo. He's shown a fight and determination recently that has previously been lacking.

Evo has frequently shown fight and determination at times in the past. What he has rarely done has been to knuckle down for month after month of grind on the tour. Nothing that he has done this summer is any better than what he has done in the past and his capitulation against JP Smith in the Vancouver SF suggests that some old problems still remain. I want to believe that this is a "new Evo" but we have had many false dawns and he still has a lot to prove.

dorsetman · Social player

re: clay, it's not just the shots and tactics, it's the movement, the footwork recovery from the last shot - it shows up the players who haven't grown up or at least trained a good while on it. would have thought ward's the man for the clay court tie so here's hoping that he can find some form out of somewhere - goffin would beat him but surely he should be giving bemelmens of darcis a good game if he can find some sort of game in the meantime.