Davis Cup 2016 World Group Semi Final - GB v Argentina - 16th to 18th September

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

RE: Davis Cup 2016 World Group Semi Final - GB v Argentina - 16th to 18th September

JonH · All-time great

Monfils is now out for France, so looks like Pouille and Gasquet as the singles players (source Daily Mail so must be true!). Fancy Croatia now for sure, partic. at home.

Big opportunity for GB, imagine a DC final here in the UK!

Yes, realise I am jumping the gun but nonetheless it does look like Croatia suddenly look strong and lets be confident!

-- Edited by JonH on Wednesday 14th of September 2016 05:42:18 PM

-- Edited by JonH on Wednesday 14th of September 2016 05:46:16 PM

Priesty · Challenger level

The Optimist wrote:
Smudge226 wrote:
Delbonis is a cleaver player and he did manage to beat Andy but this was at Indian Wells I think, which is a notoriously slow hard court. From what I have seen the Glasgow court looks quicker than the USO. We do start favourites at home with a more favoured surface so they could choose to have Delpo dodge Andy on day1 and not risk losing the tie on the first day. They certainly have a Southpaw strategy option as you suggest.

Usually just cuts his way through the draw, no trouble at all.....

I think he'll be dead meat this time though wink

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Well burger me..

skibbarriz · Strong Club Player

Priesty wrote:
The Optimist wrote:
Smudge226 wrote:
Delbonis is a cleaver player and he did manage to beat Andy but this was at Indian Wells I think, which is a notoriously slow hard court. From what I have seen the Glasgow court looks quicker than the USO. We do start favourites at home with a more favoured surface so they could choose to have Delpo dodge Andy on day1 and not risk losing the tie on the first day. They certainly have a Southpaw strategy option as you suggest.

Usually just cuts his way through the draw, no trouble at all.....
I think he'll be dead meat this time though

Seems he is splitting opinion.

JonH · All-time great

At the risk of bluntening the sharp comments above, BBC radio 5 reporting that the 4 team members are confirmed as Andy, Jamie, Kyle and Dan.

wolf · Tennis legend

Yikes, Spain have a strong team for their play off tie. I think they may be a factor next year.

Switzerland however, do not and I doubt they will be in the World Group.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Spain have under achieved for some time given their depth in top players.

If all the big guns persuaded their top players to play regularly, this would be a top class competition. Unfortunately, scheduling let's down the competition so the likes of Novak, Andy, Stan etc cannot always commit.

JonH · All-time great

wolf wrote:
Yikes, Spain have a strong team for their play off tie. I think they may be a factor next year.
Switzerland however, do not and I doubt they will be in the World Group.

Agree re the Swiss - away to Uzbekhistan looks quite tough and they have a weak team. Suspect if they lose and go out of World Group we will have seen the last of Fed in the DC...

JonH · All-time great

indiana wrote:
Rustie wrote:
Don't forget Delbonis beat Murray on hard court this year.
Ah, Andy loses his place in the Earth team to Delbonis then
Though yes, I certainly do think Delbonis is their best singles player for this tie other than Del Potro. He does have more hard court pedigree in general than Pella and clearly much more form than Mayer.
I expect him to be named #1 Argentinian for Friday with Del Potro #2 playing Andy - ie no 'games' from either side since I think it very questionable that any of these are clearly beneficial. Would mean two big matches on the first day.

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 14th of September 2016 12:23:34 PM

Hi Indy - tend to agree with you. If I was Argentina I would aim at being 2-0 up after Day 1 and best way of doing that is for Delbonis to face Evo/Kyle and DelPo to play Andy. Would be a longshot but do-able and if they can do that they then need DelPo to win the 5th and final rubber...all other routes appear to lead to 1-1 after day 1, with GB most likely going into final day ahead and one would expect Andy to wrap it up in that position.

So I think it will be all quite straight up - either way, all will be known in a few hours time

JonH · All-time great

Croatia v France draw is out:

Coric v Gasquet
Cilic v Pouille

doubles

Cilic v Gasquet
Coric v Pouille

Croatia obviously need Cilic to win on first day, with French likely doubles winners, so Coric v Gasquet is a massive opening match

Big weekends for Coric and Pouille though, both could make a bigger name for themselves - it could well come down to the two of them in a final rubber

-- Edited by JonH on Thursday 15th of September 2016 11:56:29 AM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

GB are going to win 3-0. There. I said it.

Let's go GB, let's go.

JonH · All-time great

FRIDAY
Andy Murray vs Juan Martin del Potro
Kyle Edmund vs Guido Pella

SATURDAY
Andy Murray/Jamie Murray vs Federico Delbonis/Leonardo Mayer

SUNDAY
Andy Murray vs Guido Pella
Kyle Edmund vs Juan Martin del Potro

So big start and they have gone with DelPo as #2 player...Big day 1 ahead and interesting Pella got the nod over Delbonis

And Kyle got the nod, although one would not be surprised to see Evo appear on Sunday

-- Edited by JonH on Thursday 15th of September 2016 12:22:49 PM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Definitely fancy Kedders to take out Pella.

wolf · Tennis legend

Wow, really can't believe they went with Pella.

I really don't see how we're going to lose this now.