Very few observers will give Dan  chance against Simon or any other top clay courter.  Dan's disdain for the dirt is apparent by how often he plays on it. I am fairly sure I am correct in saying that he has never won a match on clay at challenger level or above (though he does have futures titles to his name). If Leon had any other choice he would have taken it. 

An unrelated point: There is only one player shorter than Dan in the top 50 - Diego Schwartzman who is tiny at just 5'7" (Same height as Dan's coach!)

Is Cam Norrie there as well as Jay? I am sure I heard his name mentioned in dispatches.

I expect Dan to play, but if it simply isn't working in practice and someone else catches the eye Leon has history of throwing in someone who we were barely aware was around - Dan himself instead of the initially picked ( and generally assumed to be going to play ) Jamie Baker in the past.

Lot of pressure* on a so far this year sporatically firing Kyle, but if he can find his best form on his probably best surface he can win his two matches and we can win the doubles, so we can win the tie. These are very good French players, but they are not clay giants and are certainly not unbeatable here. Would be a heck of a win though.

* it is the fact that I do see these as realistically winnable matches for Kyle ( a top 50 player on his generally thought of best surface, against very good but not great players, this is certainly no hit to nothing, at this stage sure he wouldn't be favourite but also not a huge outsider in either of his matches - they wouldn't be seen as exactly the worst draws ever in a big singles tournament ) that for good or bad I do see pressure on Kyle so therefore disagree a bit with Smudge. I do agree though that the French are certainly under big pressure a) to simply succeed in Davis Cup and b) in particular to beat an Andy Murray - less GB team. Gilles Simon previously called GB a one man team so to lose to no men would need a bit of explaining!

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 4th of April 2017 11:39:52 AM

the addict wrote:

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Dom Inglot posted a pic on Instagram of the team dinner - can't find it agan right now, but worth a look

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 I think this is the one:

http://endoyin.com/photo/BSZVlILlV7R

 

Mind you, am I going blind? I can't even see Evo !

indiana wrote:

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Is Cam Norrie there as well as Jay? I am sure I heard his name mentioned in dispatches.

I expect Dan to play, but if it simply isn't working in practice and someone else catches the eye Leon has history of throwing in someone who we were barely aware was around - Dan himself instead of the initially picked ( and generally assumed to be going to play ) Jamie Baker in the past.

Lot of pressure* on a so far this year sporatically firing Kyle, but if he can find his best form on his probably best surface he can win his two matches and we can win the doubles, so we can win the tie. These are very good French players, but they are not clay giants and are certainly not unbeatable here. Would be a heck of a win though.

* it is the fact that I do see these as realistically winnable matches for Kyle ( a top 50 player on his generally thought of best surface, against very good but not great players, this is certainly no hit to nothing, at this stage sure he wouldn't be favourite but also not a huge outsider in either of his matches - they wouldn't be seen as exactly the worst draws ever in a big singles tournament ) that for good or bad I do see pressure on Kyle so therefore disagree a bit with Smudge. I do agree though that the French are certainly under big pressure a) to simply succeed in Davis Cup and b) in particular to beat an Andy Murray - less GB team. Gilles Simon previously called GB a one man team so to lose to no men would need a bit of explaining!

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 4th of April 2017 11:39:52 AM

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 I guess my concern for Kyle is that although his game is stronger on clay, how natural is it for him ie will the transition be immediate and easy? His form ytd hasnt been good (he is behind Aljaz on ytd points from GB players) so can we expect an immediate improvement? The French are bought up on clay and the transition should be more natural.

I am probably a doom monger and generally big up the GB chances but on this occasion I find it hard / impossible to see us getting 3 points. But it should be an interesting weekend nonetheless! 

 

Indiana, yes Cam is with the squad now in France.

Really good to see Leon bringing in the youngsters and Jay so young. A great experience for him.

Hi CD, fair point and good insight. I made a big assumption re clay! You are right, of course, that the French have often done better on faster surfaces (Leconte, Forget, even Noah was strong on indoor courts, and nowadays Mahut, Benneteau, Gasquet maybe, (even Tsonga and Monfils?) etc are better on faster courts) but I guess my general point was that the French should transition more easily and I would still anticipate that to be the case.

Looking at Pouille and Simon though:

Pouille indeed seems to have had his best GS results at Wimbledon and New York; his best Masters 1000 events have typically been hardcourt although he reached Rome semis last season courtesy of a series of walkovers etc. And his 3 tournament finals have included 2 on hard, one on clay (Romania last year).

Simon seems to have a record that is largely equal on all surfaces, with Shanghai his happiest Masters 1000 venue. His last clay tournie win was 2012 (also Romania) and last clay win over a top ten player also in 2012.

Kyle has also beaten Pouille (albeit via retirement in Brisbane this year) and Simon (on grass) last time out, so maybe I wrote him off prematurely!

Let's hope I did!

indiana wrote:

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Yes, as I was trying to say, but clearly CD is more convincing ( ) we have a far from insignificant chance in 3 rubbers. And if Kyle can find his best clay form these chances significantly increase.

Andy isn't playing, it's on clay, the French have hugely greater depth in both singles and doubles and we could still win this tie. One good singles player and two good doubles players ( which is about what we are absolutely down to competively here ) is enough. I don't think we will win, but keep watching folk ...

Would be great to at least get to a potential Simon vs Edmund final rubber decider. And greater still to win it !

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 5th of April 2017 12:41:28 AM

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 Took me a while to get it! Sometimes two voices is better than one

As an aside, if GB were to pull it off (and not tempting fate) we would play Serbia at home or Spain away in the semis. Given Spain would no doubt choose clay, Serbia in actual fact would seem like a preferred option, Djoker or no Djoker, so I think I will be rooting for them this weekend - plus a home semi in a big venue with Andy and Djoker playing would be something to look forward to. We can but hope.