Davis Cup 2017 World Group QF - France v Great Britain - Rouen - 7-9 April

indiana · Tennis legend

Davis Cup 2017 World Group QF - France v Great Britain - Rouen - 7-9 April

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Davis Cup 2017 World Group QF - France v Great Britain - 7-9 April

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

As per the other thread, I'd be very surprised if Monfils got the nod (or accepted to play even having got the nod). The hoo-hah has been/still is quite bitter.

But Yannick is under a LOT of pressure to win. And Gael is a law unto himself....

Although one thinks of Gasquet as good on clay, he's actually rarely produced anything at Roland Garros or the other clay tournies and, personally, I don't think his game is that good on clay - and he's known for being particularly poor in five sets, especially on clay (he's the fragile petal of French tennis, as though they need one, with the range of prima donnas they have....)

skibbarriz · Strong Club Player

No French captain with an ounce of sense would include Monfils in their match plans because of the guy's personality. He is anything but a dependable soldier. And this is without knowing the specifics of whaver the latest beef is. Because it doesn't matter. As a captain with comparable options, you just woudln't put him in.

Anyway, here's to another British ambush against the French.

smile

Oakland2002 · All-time great

It is nice to see the French faced with a conundrum, Andy on any surface will be a test, in three rubbers and Kyle on clay compounds the threat should any attempt be made to mitigate Andy's game a little by choosing the only surface he hasn't won a slam on, dirt.

It will be fun!

steven · Tennis legend

France have now picked the venue - the Kindarena in Rouen (indoor clay) - which is good news and bad news.

At first sight, it's great for fans travelling from the UK, but based on reports from the last time they played a World Group tie here (www.rtl.fr/sport/coupe-davis-2013-france-israel-aura-lieu-a-rouen-7754205105), the capacity for tennis is only about 5300, which based on Appendix G of the DC rules (www.daviscup.com/media/247913/247913.pdf) is likely to mean only about 460 tickets per day for away fans after the complimentary tickets the LTA will get are taken off the 10% allocation.

Vandenburg · Futures level

Murray really should not be doing this, the Davis Cup is becoming like the FA cup, totally irrelevant. Nobody in 10-20 years is going to remember if Andy won the DC twice or 5 times. We won it once, it was great ended the 70 year wait etc, and looks good on Andy's CV, but once is enough. Do we ever think in our head, oh Berdych and Stepanek, 2 times DC winner?? No, because it is not important.

Slams are all that counts, and what Andy should focus on for reminder of his career. This is obvious to most.

chavkev · Intermediate Club Player

He could play this and schedule one less clay event. I haven't got the calendar in front of me, but Madrid, Rome, Rolland Garros is not excessive in two months. Particularly with Wimbledon's new spot on the calendar.

-- Edited by chavkev on Monday 20th of February 2017 06:05:50 PM

-- Edited by chavkev on Monday 20th of February 2017 06:06:50 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Vandenburg wrote:
Murray really should not be doing this, the Davis Cup is becoming like the FA cup, totally irrelevant. Nobody in 10-20 years is going to remember if Andy won the DC twice or 5 times. We won it once, it was great ended the 70 year wait etc, and looks good on Andy's CV, but once is enough. Do we ever think in our head, oh Berdych and Stepanek, 2 times DC winner?? No, because it is not important.

Slams are all that counts, and what Andy should focus on for reminder of his career. This is obvious to most.

Amazingly ( smile ), I agree.

I can only assume that Andy truly enjoys the Davis Cup (and everything seems to indicate he does) so he's not doing it for completely logical reasons. And that's fine. It's his life. He no doubt will look back on his life differently in 10-20 years than we do (in fact, I hope he does). So, if that makes his happy, nobody's forcing him to do it, fine.

But as a career choice, from a neutral outside view, I would say focus on the Slams and the number one spot too.

indiana · Tennis legend

I agree with your agreement

Make more of DC, say every two years with the best players playing rather than "interesting" matches between second strings and I might feel a little different though still not a main priority for Andy.

With Andy, I'd certainly think Slams first and #1 second ( now achieved, extending the #1 period less of an issue unless he really goes for years ) should be priorities. I think they are to him, but not to the extent to generally forego the Davis Cup. And it is indeed his choice to be respected, and I am hardly going to condemn him for playing for his country.

I would like to thank Del Potro for beating Andy in the Davis Cup and what that did for the focus of Andy's end to last season. I appreciate others may not feel the same about losing a Davis Cup SF and thus not being in another final, and it would have been good for other players. But much as I follow all, in these remaining years of his career I'd like Andy to build his legacy. Davis Cup triumph has been ticked off, more Slams and getting to #1 build it more.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

With such a small allocation of tickets likely for GB, I was hoping it might be possible to buy tickets through the FFT, assuming that is how they will be sold. However, I can't immediately see how to join the FFT or if it is even possible for non tennis players to do so. I have an address in France 30 mins from Rouen so could register from there. Anyone know if it is possible?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

And from the French.....old grudges never die....

Eric Salliot @ericsalliot 6h6 hours ago

Le quart de @DavisCup FRA-GB à Rouen, là où Jeanne d'Arc a été brûlée vive. Par qui au fait?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
And from the French.....old grudges never die....

Eric Salliot @ericsalliot 6h6 hours ago

Le quart de @DavisCup FRA-GB à Rouen, là où Jeanne d'Arc a été brûlée vive. Par qui au fait?

Les Bourguignons! wink

indiana · Tennis legend

Re indoor clay, get ready Kyle !

I don't think it was at all an obvious choice for France based on the players each country has available. But I did rather think they would retain a mindset of take on GB on clay.

We've been put on clay for 4 of our 5 World Group away ties from 2014 and are 3-1 up in these and France while clearly a very good squad are not exactly clay masters.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 02:15:03 AM

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
Vandenburg wrote:
Murray really should not be doing this, the Davis Cup is becoming like the FA cup, totally irrelevant. Nobody in 10-20 years is going to remember if Andy won the DC twice or 5 times. We won it once, it was great ended the 70 year wait etc, and looks good on Andy's CV, but once is enough. Do we ever think in our head, oh Berdych and Stepanek, 2 times DC winner?? No, because it is not important.

Slams are all that counts, and what Andy should focus on for reminder of his career. This is obvious to most.

Amazingly (), I agree.
I can only assume that Andy truly enjoys the Davis Cup (and everything seems to indicate he does) so he's not doing it for completely logical reasons. And that's fine. It's his life. He no doubt will look back on his life differently in 10-20 years than we do (in fact, I hope he does). So, if that makes his happy, nobody's forcing him to do it, fine.
But as a career choice, from a neutral outside view, I would say focus on the Slams and the number one spot too.

I don't agree. DC is the main reason I started watching tennis year round again. Whilst I know Andy has given more than most I would like to think he'd still make himself available even if its only playing the big ones or when we are out matched without. Rested away to Canada but available for France is the perfect balance and I don't subscribe to a polarised view of in or out. Clearly the challenge for the LTA is to keep that production line going so we don't need to over play Andy and the like. This also then adds something to selection. There is something of the Olympic spirit about tennis in GB presently and Andy has been a corner stone for this. He appreciates what it means for the GB fans. I guess whilst Leon is at the helm this might continue for some time yet. biggrin