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Link Back -> Andrew Murray message board -> British women discussion section -> Fed Cup 2017 World Group II Play-Off - Romania v Great Britain - 22-23 April
Post Info TOPIC: Fed Cup 2017 World Group II Play-Off - Romania v Great Britain - 22-23 April
philwrig


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Fed Cup 2017 World Group II Play-Off - Romania v Great Britain - 22-23 April
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Day started off brightish with light winds, and I thought this is reasonably pleasant, but it quickly became cloudy, windy and b****y freezing.
Security is high this week, with Halep being the main reason. I was given special dispensation to view centre court but the other practice courts and areas were out of bounds due to this increased security.
Everyone seemed in good spirits, which was great to see. Hev practised with Jo in the morning and Joss practised with Hev in the afternoon, as I didn't have access to the other courts not sure how much practice Laura/ Katie got in. Hev looked very good I thought for a player that could be low on confidence. And I'd say a more natural clay courter than Jo. The surface was playing very slowly but I suspect may quicken up if we don't have anymore deluges during the rest of the week.

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Julia Carrot


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Great to have you there Phil, our roving reporter. Much appreciated. Hope you've got some good kit to keep you warm.


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tony_orient


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Worth noting it's quite an early start, 9am BST on both days.

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philwrig


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I thought yesterday was bad weather wise, but today is much worse, biting wind, with rain in the air, feels like 0, match court covered, but luckily there are indoor clay courts for the team to practice on. Just a shame I can't get access to them, armed security, so pretty tough to blag my way in there !

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indiana


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Ah, not good. The BBC predicted low is 2 degrees for both today and tomorrow ( I had been assuming that to be a night estimate ), but hey that's probably not allowing for wind chill. Hang around, it's meant to be 16-18 in a week, you'ed maybe get onto the beach.

Saturday is at least meant to be sunny and a bit warmer, Sunday may be slightly in the lap of the gods.



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the addict


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You'll have to get Hev to escort you in Phil !

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philwrig


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the addict wrote:

You'll have to get Hev to escort you in Phil !

 Now I'd agree to that option haha.



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philwrig


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Tennis wise for me today was a complete washout, weather improved a smidge in the afternoon, but all it did was allow a few ground crew to get the court ready to play tomorrow, having said that the forecast is for another shocker. I'm told this weather is coming from Siberia and yes it feels exactly like that.

The team got good practice indoors and endured an interesting press conference. It's not perfect preparation but the indoor courts don't play too dissimilar to the outside one. Russell Fullers the only UK media represented this week, I assume Monte Carlo was the better offer this time. I'm told that there is around 100 Brit supporters coming, so we returned a fair few back to the Romanians where the demand was huge due to local girl Halep. We appear to have 3 rows allocated and I'm parked in the corner. A couple of BATS members turned up today so it was nice to spend a few hours with them with no tennis to watch.

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the addict


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Eleanor Crooks from the Press Association arrived this afternoon

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philwrig


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Thanks for that, good to hear that.

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paulisi


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BT covering it?
I know BBC have it on website.

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Miriambee


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the bbc seems to have woken up to the tie taking place.

coverage as follows.

Fed Cup BBC coverage
Radio coverage: Saturday, 22 April, 10:00-12:30, Simona Halep v Heather Watson, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Red Button coverage: Saturday, 22 April, 10:00-15:00, Romania v Great Britain, Connected TV and online (09:00-18:00 on Sunday)
Website: Live streaming and text commentary service will be available on both Saturday and Sunday on the BBC Sport website


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wolf


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Ilie Nastase been kicking up a storm, see - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39674903

"As Romanian player Simona Halep was answering a question in English about Williams' pregnancy at Friday's Fed Cup draw in Constanta, the 70-year-old turned to one of his other team members and added in Romanian: "Let's see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?"

"During the draw ceremony on Friday, Nastase also put his arm tightly around British team captain Anne Keothavong and asked for her room number, in earshot of the watching media."



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skibbarriz


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Defaulting the Romanian team would send the right zero tolerance message. Even retrosepctively, after their investigation is complete, will do. Ok not 100% serious with that, but am partly.


Having a group named in honor of Nastase at the ATP tour finals has always looked a questionable decision.

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Spectator


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The casual racism is, as it always is, dire - and rightly under investigation. But I'm fascinated that the ITF doesn't seemed to have commented on the actions/comments in re: Anne Keothavong, which are more directly relevant to the tie. A host captain behaving towards the opposing captain as Nastase did to Anne Keothavong is highly inappropriate - and would, to my mind, deserve censure. Is the message of the ITF that you can't be a racist, but that it's OK to behave inappropriately towards women? The former is a good message to send; the latter is a decidedly odd message to be sending in the middle of the Fed Cup.

Can Ms Keothavong - and others in her position - handle boorish comments and actions? Yes, of course. Should she or they have to do so? No.



-- Edited by Spectator on Saturday 22nd of April 2017 05:38:19 AM

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