Of course, it should be remembered that Leon Smith is in Mons this week, coaching James, or - at least - helping him and watching him and trying to get him on the right road again.
Which may well have a big deal to do with the result yesterday.
Interesting!
What has led to him doing that? Is that just something he has decided to do as DC captain? Something has made a pretty dramatic difference anyway!
Well, i think it's also to see the Belgian players and the form they're in, and to go and see the stadium/hotel/training facilities etc. that they'll be playing/staying in etc. etc.
But probably to try and chivvy James along a bit was quite high on his list too.
Agree that he's on the up, less sure that he's the favourite - think it could go either way. They're both well capable of beating good players ... and also of losing to less good ones.
With him, Rublev and Safiullin, however, the Russians have quite a talented generation coming up.
L16: James Ward WR 150 vs (Q) Karen Khachanov (RUS) WR 166 (CH = 164 last month)
Let's hope Dino doesn't revert to recent type & lose to the 19-year-old, lower-ranked Russian, who saw off Dodig by 7-6(4) 3-6 7-6(4) in two hours 32 minutes!