Fed Cup 2017 World Group II Play-Off - Romania v Great Britain - 22-23 April

blob · All-time great

Fed Cup 2017 World Group II Play-Off - Romania v Great Britain - 22-23 April

scottie1 · Futures level

Michael D wrote:
Hmmm, I'd really question the wisdom and value of having Laura in this tie, given its on clay and her recent performances... Ditto for Joss really. If Jo and Heather are going to need any help out for either singles or doubles, I would NOT turn to either of these two myself in terms of the next best Brit player option.... Mandy (ok, so she was not going to be picked), Katie Boulter, Katie Swan, Gabi Taylor (as mentioned), would all be preferable options to me right now...

Our prospects are not high, and I really don't think this squad enhances them unfortunately.

not much options really I don't rate Joss even though she won commonwealth gold and Laura is off form difficult but maybe Katie and Gaby as back up with Jo and Heather playing doubles

newman · Improver

Do you have any idea about tennis all 4 players are grea, better than any of us who post on here.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Well yes Newman, they are all professionals so clearly better than most of us....but then I can't see anyone wanting to set a board up to discuss the merits of our tennis!!! I don't see criticisms just fair comments regarding the current form of our players v the particularly strong opposition.

the addict · Tennis legend

blob wrote:
If we get more than one set across the tie, I'll be pleasantly surprised - unless for some unfathomable reason Sori actually plays; then we might even win a rubber.

I think that is a bit too pessimistic. If the tie was on hard courts, I'd be feeling pretty confident with Jo in great form, and Heather had a good week last week as well. Different matter on clay of course, but if the girls can adjust then it could be much closer than that. I'm not convinced about Halep's form, she seems to be lacking confidence recently.

scottie1 · Futures level

the Rumanians are used to playing on clay where as most of our players get a nosebleed on clay as they try to avoid playing on it doesn't help that the LTA scrapped the Edinburgh Bournemouth and I think Newcastle tournaments to concentrate on the grass season

skibbarriz · Strong Club Player

As captain for this tie, you pick Hev and Jo. The remaining two picks aren't going to make a difference. You play those two for everything unless one gets injured. And if they do, it doesn't matter what you've done with the other two selections.

Additional consideration - If you want to maximise media coverage, you take Laura.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Clay just kills us.
When Hev & Laura were in superstar mode, and went to Argentina on a similar Fed Cup assignment, we were chastened.
Now only our top player is playing at all well, or even just effectively in terms of result (and she, at least, is historically effective

). Our doubles players aren't even playing well.
But Jo is demonstrably 20+% worse on clay than any other surface.
Against Halep, who despite 2017 general form, is a proven clay exponent, and Begu, who is an old fashioned clay specialist, pickings look slim.
Nicluescu is also good on clay, and a fine doubles player.

On a good day for Jo, and a bad one for ICB, Jo could win that one. I don't see Jo beating Halep on clay, unless Simo goes walkabout mentally.
Heather isn't in form, and even when she is, she's pretty bad on clay. Can't really see her winning a match on the dirt against this quality of player, even in her best form.
Same is true of Laura, or even Katie Boulter, who I suggested above - despite a good opening quarter to the year, Katie hasn't played a single match on clay during that progress.
Tara, Naomi if she could be persuaded - no good on clay.
Amanda would give the best option, and if this were the Estonian goup on clay, she'd be a cert for me if all players were in the same form as now. She's not realistically going to do much against the huge step up in quality to Begu & Halep though.

If it were any type of hard court, we would have a good chance of making it very close.
But, Clay is always going to be an obvious ace to play against us for any captain that does even cursory research into our players. That doesn't look to ever change in my lifetime.

Michael D · All-time great

I would just like to have seen Annie K try something imaginative in her team selection, considering the odds are against us from the start. And I am not sure about Jo and Heather being able to play every match. It probably won't matter.. but this is what the Romanians will have been predicting, and they'll be rubbing their hands. Glad Katie S will be along for the experience, but personally I would have thrown Gaby Taylor into the mix rather than Laura for a clay court tie. I really do NOT see any reason for dragging Laura along to this venue.

indiana · Tennis legend

Is there any particular issue with the LTA and Mandy. I think more than one person has put her case but then sort of said that of course she won't be picked.

Or is that more just an observation on just not expecting Anne to deviate from the norm ? - and I think we all predicted the team.

I accept as has been said that it would be a major step up for her, but you do have to take great account of the surface. I'd have had Mandy here if it was an option.

wimdledont · Challenger level

Can't see the problem with clay. It's just about Heather's best surface. In a recent interview, which I'd look up if it wasn't in the Mail, Jo says she considers it to be fine for her. Given that they would be ideally playing all of our matches in a close tie, they're the only two players that matter; Jo's fine with it, Heather's probably better on it.

Michael D · All-time great

wimdledont wrote:
Can't see the problem with clay. It's just about Heather's best surface. In a recent interview, which I'd look up if it wasn't in the Mail, Jo says she considers it to be fine for her. Given that they would be ideally playing all of our matches in a close tie, they're the only two players that matter; Jo's fine with it, Heather's probably better on it.

How fit are they both though - are they really going to play every match?

indiana · Tennis legend

I suspect Jo is putting a positive spin on her clay prowess, which is fair enough. She's probably "fine" in that it is what is and she'll deal with it as best she can. But I think there is a fair amount of evidence, indeed AliBB or someone I am sure produced some quite detailed comparative Jo clay figures - backing up surely the general impression of some great play and results on hard, not nearly so much proportionately on clay. I'd say that for now she is simply very much better on hard. For Heather clay is much less a comparative issue ( as said her main issue is her form ), but I'm not sure it's her best surface.

I see quite a lot of problems re our team's comparative ability on clay and the Romanian players' comparative ability on clay. We would surely have had much more chance on hard so a sensible surface choice by Romania, who evidently have not always gone the seemingly clear route.

Re earlier, it's a pity that the consensus is so much in doubt about our chances, but folk say it as they see it, which is good.

But come the start of the contest, c'mon GB !!!

philwrig · Hall of fame

skibbarriz wrote:
philwrig wrote:
Pressure is all on Romania, and pressure does funny things. Clearly if Romania play well, it's going to be tough, but I fancy they won't.

Just distract them with the hat until they can no longer focus on their match.

All under control ;)

philwrig · Hall of fame

What about the fact that the Romanians have lost their last 3 ties, Halep never plays her best at FedCup, and they're all out of form. Hev played very well in Estonia, I would say she could upset either Romanian if off their game, and I'd fancy our chances in a deciding doubles, after the brilliance I witnessed in Estonia, underdogs yes, but only 1 set, complete tosh.