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

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

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

Miriambee · Futures level

Bob in Spain wrote:
Smudge226 wrote:
Does anybody know the precise situation with Evo? There is nothing much in the news other than shoulder injury. Will he even be fit?
Yes. He has just won the 1st set 6-2 against Benjamin Becker in the Washington 500. I would say his shoulder is OK now

and 6-1 the 2nd set. stonking win! Due to play Dimitrov next, tonight in fact.

GBJ · Club Coach

With their rankings as close as they are and the tie unlikely to be on clay its gonna be really interesting to see how Dan and Kyle's form and results effect the dicision of who should play.

RJA · Hall of fame

GBJ wrote:
With their rankings as close as they are and the tie unlikely to be on clay its gonna be really interesting to see how Dan and Kyle's form and results effect the dicision of who should play.

As things stand I would say that Kyle is ahead in the pecking order on the basis that he comfortably beat Dan in their only meeting this year, he led the team to victory in Belgrade and Dan basically skipped the Serbia tie with a less than convincing injury excuse (not that I blame him).

I think it is going to be up to Dan to show why he should be picked ahead of Kyle. If their performances over the next two months are similar Kyle should get the nod.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, Dan was put in a position that it seems very likely he didn't want to be. Being selected to go to Serbia ahead of James said an awful lot more about the big doubts about James than any sort of clay pedigree from Dan.

He possibly though didn't handle the situation well and congrats on the great recovery from his shoulder problem

And while Leon seems very much a generally pragmatic selector this and Kyle's success I would agree have Kyle in pole position for the SF, but as long as Evo is still part of the equation not an unassailable position.

SMC1809 · All-time great

I'm sure Leon would have been fully aware of the extent of Dan's shoulder "injury". Dan has never failed to support the Davis Cup team and I'm sure he went to Washington with Leon's blessing.

RJA · Hall of fame

SMC1809 wrote:
I'm sure Leon would have been fully aware of the extent of Dan's shoulder "injury". Dan has never failed to support the Davis Cup team and I'm sure he went to Washington with Leon's blessing.

I agree, and as I said I don't blame Dan for skipping this tie. I just think that Kyle having played here, while Dan did not, is just a small factor in Kyle's favour when it comes to the next tie.

freerider · Futures level

RJA wrote:
SMC1809 wrote:
I'm sure Leon would have been fully aware of the extent of Dan's shoulder "injury". Dan has never failed to support the Davis Cup team and I'm sure he went to Washington with Leon's blessing.
I agree, and as I said I don't blame Dan for skipping this tie. I just think that Kyle having played here, while Dan did not, is just a small factor in Kyle's favour when it comes to the next tie.

I don't think so. I believe leon will pick the player who is most likely to win a singles rubber or two. As simple as that

RJA · Hall of fame

freerider wrote:
RJA wrote:
SMC1809 wrote:
I'm sure Leon would have been fully aware of the extent of Dan's shoulder "injury". Dan has never failed to support the Davis Cup team and I'm sure he went to Washington with Leon's blessing.
I agree, and as I said I don't blame Dan for skipping this tie. I just think that Kyle having played here, while Dan did not, is just a small factor in Kyle's favour when it comes to the next tie.
I don't think so. I believe leon will pick the player who is most likely to win a singles rubber or two. As simple as that

All I said was that is was a small factor, in other words that if everything else is equal it might swing the decision. Obviously if either of them clearly out performs the other over the next two months they will get the nod. If it is a marginal call such factors as this might come into it.

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Great to see Evo playing so well on quickish hard court. I noted that someone mentioned in the Washington thread that Leon should play Dan and Kyle on the first day against Argentina. The Murray's in the doubles with Andy coming in if needed in the 5th rubber. A bit rough on Dom but equally rough on Kyle to drop him for a massively impressive Dan on indoor hard, if thats to be the surface..

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Smudge226 wrote:
Great to see Evo playing so well on quickish hard court. I noted that someone mentioned in the Washington thread that Leon should play Dan and Kyle on the first day against Argentina. The Murray's in the doubles with Andy coming in if needed in the 5th rubber. A bit rough on Dom but equally rough on Kyle to drop him for a massively impressive Dan on indoor hard, if thats to be the surface..

So we would have Andy Murray in the team but we don't play him in the opening day singles confuse That is SO not happening.

If Andy is in the team, it means we are going all out to win the DC again this year. For that, you put your best player out there first to get us in the lead.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I can't really see there is much of a debate, Andy (1) Kyle (2) Jamie and a.n. other for doubles with Dom in the squad. Kyle completely wiped Dan in Dallas on an indoor hard court. Dan honestly describing him as too good.

Fabulous performance by Kyle in Serbia, Dan should only come into the equation if there is an injury and it was exactly the right think for him to go to Washington. Leon has done a magnificent job of keeping all bridges flame free, we have only limited options and it is likely over time he will need them all.

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

Oakland2002 wrote:
I can't really see there is much of a debate, Andy (1) Kyle (2) Jamie and a.n. other for doubles with Dom in the squad. Kyle completely wiped Dan in Dallas on an indoor hard court. Dan honestly describing him as too good.

Fabulous performance by Kyle in Serbia, Dan should only come into the equation if there is an injury and it was exactly the right think for him to go to Washington. Leon has done a magnificent job of keeping all bridges flame free, we have only limited options and it is likely over time he will need them all.

I would agree. Barring injury or a sudden emergence of vastly asymmetrical form, Kyle must be singles no.2, with Dan no.3 and no.4 currently up in the air.

Spectator · All-time great

All of the discussion makes me realise more than anything how fortunate we are to have a captain who evaluates situations fairly, makes sensible decisions, and has the trust and confidence of all concerned, so that he should be able to implement what he decides. Viva Leon Smith! And viva the situation in which we can have such debates about which players it would be best to play in the DC semifinal for the second consecutive year.

thejester · Satellite level

BeefyDeedz wrote:
Oakland2002 wrote:
I can't really see there is much of a debate, Andy (1) Kyle (2) Jamie and a.n. other for doubles with Dom in the squad. Kyle completely wiped Dan in Dallas on an indoor hard court. Dan honestly describing him as too good.

Fabulous performance by Kyle in Serbia, Dan should only come into the equation if there is an injury and it was exactly the right think for him to go to Washington. Leon has done a magnificent job of keeping all bridges flame free, we have only limited options and it is likely over time he will need them all.
I would agree. Barring injury or a sudden emergence of vastly asymmetrical form, Kyle must be singles no.2, with Dan no.3 and no.4 currently up in the air.

I'm going to have to disagree. Though I'm somewhat of an Evo fanboy so perhaps I'm a little biased.

Kyle certainly played very well in Serbia, and I don't wish to take anything away from that. Clay is his strongest surface, and the quality of the opposition was lower than is likely to face us from Argentina. I don't see Dan's loss to Kyle as being relevant whatsoever. It was just one match, not a series, and more to the point they wouldn't be playing each other anyway. Evo is actually above Kyle in the rankings just now, and they're separated by just 1 point in the Race (For now). There are also questions about Kyle going 5 sets, although of course if he played well enough he wouldnt have to. I'm not saying I think Dan is favourite, but it's far from settled to my mind, and I don't see why Dan needs to pull anything ridiculous out of the bag before the tie to be in consideration, but my faith in Leon's decision making is absolute and I'm sure he'll make the call he feels is right purely and simply to win the tie.