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

huntley93 · Strong Club Player

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

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Not just thinking about the final yet Jon with Delpo and Argentina next up but I agree if it was a home tie for us and there is no where big enough in Glasgow then it should not go to London by default. Should stay oop nowrth...

I expect France will be too strong for Croatia I think but its tight I agree with France playing away.

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

huntley93 wrote:
you know it wouldn't be unthinkable to drop andy and play kyle and dan for the singles, with dom and jamie playing doubles......... just putting it out there as an option!

It would be unthinkable... Andy will be instrumental as ever in the tie. Delpo will play 2singles at least and maybe the dubs as well if they need. It could be that both Andy and Delpo play all 3days yet...

I like the idea of Dan and Kyle having day1 but there is a reasonable chance we could be 2nil down with this strategy. Dan or Kyle might be slight favourites against Delbonis but Delpo is looking awesome right now. It would be 1-1 at best. If Leon can play Andy against Delpo on day1 then GB have a good chance to be 2nil up. This is still probably our best strategy because if Andy does lose to Delpo, which is very possible, we still have 2days to put this right...

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

If Andy is fit and declares himself available, he will play singles and doubles.

The only scenario I see different to this is that if we are 2-0 up at the end of day 1, he may skip the doubles. But if, as I suspect, Leon goes with Andy/Kyle/Evo/Jamie then even that might not be enough to change Plan A.

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

A querk of the rules, singles for day1 can't be changed after the draw unless for injury, illness etc. Injury would then rule the player out for the rest of the tie.

However players can be changed up to an hour before rubbers 3, 4 and 5. So we couldn't see how Kyle got on against Delbonis for example and switch Dan for Andy against Delpo in rubber2 if needed, without the match ref seeing through this.. We have to nail our colours to the mast for day1. So we have to plan for the chance that Delbonis could beat our #2. So the question is, who from Kyle or Dan is more likely to prevail against Delbonis?

RJA · Hall of fame

The Optimist wrote:
Karlovic never plays DC......think Croatia would use young Coric instead

Coric has a knee problem that forced him to retire during his first round US Open match and is now a doubt for the Davis Cup tie.

JonH · All-time great

I have to say with 3 in the last 8 at New York and with those responses above on Karlovic and Coric possibly not playing foe differing reasons, Cilic has a lot resting on him in the other tie. I guess France go in as quite strong favourites (is Monfils v Pouille a straight play off?! ) So maybe a date in France in November is more likely if Gb come through. Either way, 2 excellent looking ties and still a week of the US Open still to come!

RJA · Hall of fame

While I don't doubt that Leon Smith will make the call based on who he thinks has the best chance I really don't envy him having to tell either Kyle or Dan that the other guy has got the nod. I am sure that publicly both guys will say the right things but privately they will probably both feel that they deserve to be picked. It's going to be tough on the one that misses out.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
While I don't doubt that Leon Smith will make the call based on who he thinks has the best chance I really don't envy him having to tell either Kyle or Dan that the other guy has got the nod. I am sure that publicly both guys will say the right things but privately they will probably both feel that they deserve to be picked. It's going to be tough on the one that misses out.

Still wouldn't be surprised to see Andy/Kyle play on Friday, with Andy/Evo scheduled for the reverse singles on the Sunday.

indiana · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
RJA wrote:
While I don't doubt that Leon Smith will make the call based on who he thinks has the best chance I really don't envy him having to tell either Kyle or Dan that the other guy has got the nod. I am sure that publicly both guys will say the right things but privately they will probably both feel that they deserve to be picked. It's going to be tough on the one that misses out.
Still wouldn't be surprised to see Andy/Kyle play on Friday, with Andy/Evo scheduled for the reverse singles on the Sunday.

Not sure at all about Kyle and Evo both playing. I know in the final last year we had Kyle play on day one and James would have played if necessary on day 3. But I very much doubt that was the plan on day one, it was more yes having that contingency, but I would have thought Plan A was Kyle play both days. But the fall out from day one probably changed that[/speculation].

I reckon Leon will decide on his #2 singles player and the plan again will be that player plays both days. I am not sure about the particular match ups suggesting a different strategy or whether Evo is necessarily the best rubber 5 closer ( possibly vs JMDP )

The other complication is the doubles and coming out of the US Open whether, also dependant on the scoreline, a good doubles pair not involving Andy should be an option. Andy has at times been running on fumes on day 3 but usually got through it and while his day 3 singles may potentially be the 'easier' one on this occasion. having the doubles option has plusses to it as does having the singles option.

To not only not be initially selected on day one ( and if he is fit and able Andy WILL play on day one ) but to be left out of the team of four all together for one of them in maybe the form of their life would be so tough. The decision won't be made on sentiment but pragmatism. That's fine with me and trust in Leon may slightly soften the blow.

In the end if Andy comes out feeling really able for it I suspect we will ultimately go down the three singles players in the team route, but with changing the players from day one to day 3 again a contingency rather than the plan.

That initial second singles player I think will be ... I don't know !

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 5th of September 2016 01:59:17 PM

RJA · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
RJA wrote:
While I don't doubt that Leon Smith will make the call based on who he thinks has the best chance I really don't envy him having to tell either Kyle or Dan that the other guy has got the nod. I am sure that publicly both guys will say the right things but privately they will probably both feel that they deserve to be picked. It's going to be tough on the one that misses out.
Still wouldn't be surprised to see Andy/Kyle play on Friday, with Andy/Evo scheduled for the reverse singles on the Sunday.

It is always possible and you would have to think that it would be huge boost for both Evo and Kyle to have Andy tell them that he was going to sit out Day 1 because he had so much faith in them. However the tie being in Glasgow makes such a scenario less likely IMO.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

I think Dan would be happy to sit this one out. He has the ongoing foot injury, is going on holiday to Spain and wants a few weeks rest.

indiana · Tennis legend

I don't think we conclusively established the ranking date that counts for Davis Cup. But if it is next Monday then JMDP, having reached the USO QF, is one win away from being back to Argentina #1.

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

goldfish wrote:
I think Dan would be happy to sit this one out. He has the ongoing foot injury, is going on holiday to Spain and wants a few weeks rest.

I'm thinking that Leon will ask Dan and Dom both to join the boys to train together before he makes the call for the Draw anyway, even if he has designs on his pick now for day1. 3 most likely scenario for selection (in rank order, singles first);

Andy, Kyle, Dan, Jamie
Andy, Dan, Kyle, Jamie
Andy, Kyle, Dom, Jamie

Question anyone: If Delpo wins the US does he make Argentina No.1 ahead of Delbonis or is he definitely No.2 ???

Question anyone: Will Glasgow Indoor Hard be similar to the US courts our boys did so well on or slower/quicker ???

JonH · All-time great

From live rankings, Del Potro is 63 in running, Delbonis is 41. One more win ie semis and Jdp will get past him.

Can't help re court speed, sorry