Davis Cup 2017 World Group R1 - Canada v Great Britain - 3-5 February

indiana · Tennis legend

Davis Cup 2017 World Group R1 - Canada v Great Britain - 3-5 February

Vandenburg · Futures level

I think Andy should retire from DC. Maybe make a comeback if we make it to a final as a one off.

The DC simply does not mean what it used to, and also, winning it many times is hardly rated either. When do you ever here people say ...so and so, multiple Davis cup champion...?

Andy has won the DC and did very well, but he needs to put this fast becoming joke of a comp to bed. He needs to focus on GS and nothing else, as that is what people judge. Like many people, I pray fat stan does not win the AO, if he ends with more GS titles than Murray, it will be shame.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Smudge226 wrote:
Adrian Durham trying to have a go at Andy on Talksport Drive from 4pm this afternoon. Suggesting Andy is out of order not being available for provisional GB squad after being Knighted.. What an idiot, plenty of people ringing in and defending Andy, as if he needed it. Goughy giving him plenty of stick for his lame attack on Amur. Mildly amusing really but at least they talked tennis for a hour on the talkfootball channel. He really winds me up but I guess thats the idea. There hasn't been any mileage in attacking Amur so he's moved on to Coutiniho and Payet, in the news for possible moves. Complete tosser this bloke, he's going off..

I wouldn't let it get to you. I noticed that on R5LSX they were only reading out nasty tweets about Andy. I felt my blood pressure rising and then decided that they were only doing it to get a rise out of audience and to get us talking about it. They're not worth it. Andy is a star and we all know it

Vandenburg · Futures level

Helen40 wrote:
Smudge226 wrote:
Adrian Durham trying to have a go at Andy on Talksport Drive from 4pm this afternoon. Suggesting Andy is out of order not being available for provisional GB squad after being Knighted.. What an idiot, plenty of people ringing in and defending Andy, as if he needed it. Goughy giving him plenty of stick for his lame attack on Amur. Mildly amusing really but at least they talked tennis for a hour on the talkfootball channel. He really winds me up but I guess thats the idea. There hasn't been any mileage in attacking Amur so he's moved on to Coutiniho and Payet, in the news for possible moves. Complete tosser this bloke, he's going off..
I wouldn't let it get to you. I noticed that on R5LSX they were only reading out nasty tweets about Andy. I felt my blood pressure rising and then decided that they were only doing it to get a rise out of audience and to get us talking about it. They're not worth it. Andy is a star and we all know it

I cannot listen to talksport. And it is not really talk sport, it is talk football. It is pure white van man radio, sun reading etc. The vast majority of the presenters are thick as two planks. Saggers does the evening show and is a cambridge graduate, but apart from him... BBC 5 live sport chat is far more educated, even when it is football.

If you were to sample, 1k talksport listeners, and asked did you vote brexit, I bet it would be around 80%

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

So its Raonic, Nestor, Pospisil, Shapovalov, this is my guess based on provisional teams;

Day1
Raonic v Kedders
Pospisil v Evo

Day2
Nestor & Shapovalov (if 2nil up) / Raonic (otherwise) v Jamie & Dom

Day3
Raonic v Evo
Pospisil (@2-2) / Shapovalov (dead rubber) v Kedders

Essential Kedders takes Raonic to 4 or 5 sets if he can't beat him.
Actually not sure what they'll do for doubles and I suspect it'll only be decided after day1 rubbers done.

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

Would've preferred Evo to be resting up.... Busy few weeks for him

paulisi · Tennis legend

Does Andy really need a rest? He has played Dubai, had a week off and then a shorter than normal Aussie Open. Prior to that a long break.

I think Leon is playing games. I think he is hoping Raonic goes deep and then drops out of DC and then we should cruise through with Kyle and Dan

If Raonic does play, then add Andy to the squad and take out Dom. Play Kyle and Dan on the Friday and bring in Andy to play doubles and a tired Raonic on the Sunday.

If the teams stay the same, Raonic will win two rubbers and it will be down to the doubles and Nestor is no mug.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Cam Norrie named as hitting partner

JonH · All-time great

has all the hallmarks of being down to the doubles tie. Whatever Raonic does, have to fancy him on indoor hardcourt against Kyle and Dan. But similarly, although Pospisil is no mug and experienced, and at home, we should hope to win both the singles against him.

So down to doubles - Nestor will play, who with though? got to presume Jamie and Dom will play this time around, I cant imagine Kyle or Dan taking Dom's place, they arent Andy (as a brother or world #1).

I wouldn't like to call that doubles, with Canada at home it is v much on the edge.

As an aside I noticed Novak is playing for Serbia and Rafa for Spain. Good for them. Serbia should beat Russia and Spain ditto Croatia, who have a Cilic less team. Guess playing in Europe for those ties helped Novak and Rafa decide to play; Berdych is also playing for Czech Rep (who are in Melbourne v Australia and Nasty Nick, that should be a good tie with an interesting looking Australian team playing).

Looking at the draw as a whole, GB if they get through probably travel to France and a match on clay. Andy may well play that as it would be a good intro onto clay but overall France with a good draw when they could play at home in each tie look like my favourites for the Davis Cup this time around. With their depth, they should always be challengers.

First up Canada - come on Team GB!

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Raonic not so impressive when he's forced to move around the court as Raffa is making him do. Mighty serve though, hitting 190ish on his second occasionally. Raonic took a medical break just earlier, no indication what for, no strapping but commentators suggesting it could be his back. Hopefully he needs a rest after the AO.. wink

Don't think there are any major concerns with Raonic but I'm not that impressed with his movement or agility on court. Saying that, he seems to be improving in this second set now maybe some physio has helped him here.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

For the sake of DC, I would love to see Raonic win the Aussie Open, 17-15 in the 5th and then having to do 3 days of media in Australia. In order to do that though, he is going to have to come from 2 sets down against Nadal.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
For the sake of DC, I would love to see Raonic win the Aussie Open, 17-15 in the 5th and then having to do 3 days of media in Australia. In order to do that though, he is going to have to come from 2 sets down against Nadal.

Not to be: Rafa won in three & they were on court for only two hours & 44 minutes. hmm

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Courtesy of the Beeb:

Raonic casts doubt on GB Davis Cup tie

Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent on Radio 5 live sports extra

Posted at 12:02

Milos Raonic says his participation in next week's Davis Cup tie against Great Britain in Ottawa is "very much up in the air".

The Canadian injured his abductor [sic] during a straight sets defeat to Rafael Nadal in their Australian Open quarter-final, although he hopes it is not too serious.

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Stircrazy wrote:
Courtesy of the Beeb:
Raonic casts doubt on GB Davis Cup tie

Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent on Radio 5 live sports extra
Posted at 12:02
Milos Raonic says his participation in next week's Davis Cup tie against Great Britain in Ottawa is "very much up in the air".
The Canadian injured his abductor [sic] during a straight sets defeat to Rafael Nadal in their Australian Open quarter-final, although he hopes it is not too serious.

This could be a serious blow for Canada, if Raonic pulls out. biggrin I think Polanski is injured, so not available and Dancvik has not played since Nov16, that I'm aware of. Diez and Pospisil are not pulling up tree's. Pospisil just been beaten by Mick Mmoh today. Shapovalov is a highly rated youngster in Canada but I see Klien beat him the other week. They are going to be relying on their home advantage and a daunting Ice Hockey type venue to give their men a lift and put us off.. furious

Canada are limited inside the top 100 for decent players but have a cluster in the 100-200 region, unlike GB who have no one at all, discounting Bedene of course.

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Raonic injury is a flair up of last years adductor injury in the right thigh, which first surfaced in Melbourne 2016 against Andy, ironically..
It flaired up a few times last year and now again. I'm guessing he'll have to miss the DC tie with this problem, struggling to push off fully on that leg, no wonder he seemed sluggish against Nadal. Perfect excuse for Andy to rest as well if Raonic out.