Fed Cup 2016 - Europe/Africa Group 1

wimdledont · Challenger level

RE: Fed Cup 2016 - Europe/Africa Group 1

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh drat, certainly didn't see that getting away all so quickly.

Real pity. Tough, but two winnable singles matches. For though folk were saying Katie was heavily outranked her 500 plus ranking clearly bears no relation to where she is at. She's undoubtably in that regard a top 300 player, which is why she was picked before others. But yes, Bonaventure at WR 160 remained a very tough ask and overall she has done well - just to me it was far from say a hit to nothing in her match as she showed by making it close.

Pity again we got such a dream draw and in normal circumstances a good play-off chance when unable to play our best team.

But Katie for one should be much further along her road next year, Laura may be back contending, so hopefully we will be very much stronger. Though happy to accept a nice draw again.

DF · Tennis legend

Not good enough this time.......again!

indiana · Tennis legend

DF wrote:
Not good enough this time.......again!

Indeed we weren't, without Jo, Naomi and a fit Laura

As I said, I actually did think it was still winnable but GB most certainly were handicapped

The future for the women looks pretty good to me.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 6th of February 2016 12:46:57 PM

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

A shame as with Jo in the team we could have walked this.

Good to give Katie experience as in the long run that will prove to our benefit. Who knows, this time next year Katie may have worked herself into the team ahead of Heather, Jo, Laura, Naomi without any injury/loss of form or whatever.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Frustrating as had JoKo been able to play we would have had an excellent choice of qualifying, but we do not have enough depth at the moment to succeed without our No. 1 player (in 2012 and 2013 Judy had her best players available and we qualified both times).

A year or two ago Heather was amazing at winning these sort of close matches - if it got to 4-4 in the third you would always back her. She seems to have lost that ability recently, and today it slipped away very quickly.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, we do lack strength in depth in the women, certainly to try and cope with who was missing here.

But my optimism is in how I see that changing over the next few years, in sharp contrast to my depth concerns about our men, who of course are on a big up this very week in Dallas.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 6th of February 2016 01:28:58 PM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Short term pain, long term gain! Naomi needs to sort out her issues with the LTA, life goes on and it's a shame to miss out. This team will just go from strength to strength.

scottie1 · Futures level

Oakland2002 wrote:
Short term pain, long term gain! Naomi needs to sort out her issues with the LTA, life goes on and it's a shame to miss out. This team will just go from strength to strength.

I cant see Naomi reconciling with LTA been out of the fold for years

wimdledont · Challenger level

British Tennis has just tweeted an interview with Judy...

twitter.com/BritishTennis

...with the very welcome news that, rather than an injury, Katie struggled a bit with a ball change in Set 3. So no biggie; and, the main thing, no longterm damage done.

Hope to see Joss recovered soon, too.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

scottie1 wrote:
Oakland2002 wrote:
Short term pain, long term gain! Naomi needs to sort out her issues with the LTA, life goes on and it's a shame to miss out. This team will just go from strength to strength.
I cant see Naomi reconciling with LTA been out of the fold for years

Me neither.

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

So close in both matches whilst heavily outranked; very brave effort and very encouraging for the future; albeit frustrating that Jo wasn't available. Hey ho, roll on next year :)

philwrig · Hall of fame

Well that was an absolute killer to sit through. It was live on Israeli tv this morning.

1st up Katie who did have a realistic chance of winning, she is already a top 200/250 calibre player, her lowly ranking based upon only a handful of tournaments. 1st set Katie was always on the back foot, Bona was standing on the baseline whilst Katie was retrieving shots from a couple of yards behind the baseline, so inevitably there was only 1 winner. In the 2nd set Katie became more aggressive, and the crowd who was all on her side helped her take complete control, Bona lost her cool, got rattled and started to make errors. 3rd set was very well contested, and now both players were at their best. Lots of very long rallies, a couple nearing 30, but Bona was ultimately just a tiny bit better than Katie, nothing to be ashamed about, and altogether what a debut. Katie fought right to the end though. Katie shed a couple of tears after, but very quickly composed herself, and took a few selfies as she left the court.

Now onto Hev which was a complete heartbreaker. It was nip and tuck all the way through the match. AVU's big advantage was her serve, which time after time saw her out of holes. Hev was gradually wearing her opponent with relentless long baseline rallies. The 1st set could have gone either way, the 2nd set could have gone either way. So we started the decider, with neither player on top. Then Hev after losing the 1st game comfortably, played some brilliant tennis for about the next 5 games. It was classic Hev, AVU was now a beaten player, if it had been a boxing match it would have been stopped. Then it all went so badly wrong, I wasn't seeing the Hev I used to see in these tough 3 set matches. Admittedly, a few very close calls went against her, and she muttered how many balls do I have to play that are out ! But all she needed to do was regroup because she was in complete control, but instead she semi capitulated. So gutting for everyone and especially herself. I found out afterwards that she was going to play the doubles with Anna, so whether she started to think about the doubles at 4-2 who knows. Really hoping that she can break this cycle, as she has so much more to give, and is just a delight as a person.

So there you go, without Jo we were always 2nd favourites, but still with a realistic chance of achieving our goal.

As for Eliat I'd recommend the experience, great weather, well organised event and great value for money.

-- Edited by philwrig on Saturday 6th of February 2016 04:13:53 PM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Well, at least a final excellent dispatch from our millinery fan on the spot, eases the pain of the loss ust a little.
Sterling and much appreciated service.

Safe journey home,

DF · Tennis legend

It might have been our year-but was not this year.

Glad that you had a good time Phil.

Like insomniacfolder said '' safe journey home.''