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

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

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

indiana · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Is this an omen for the final result ?

www.youtube.com/watch

Yay, take 3-2 again. Very good from Kyle, Dan putting on a good face but clearly fazed by a clay week. Jamie not looking to be leading well, but hopefully the impressive easy calm under ultimate pressure shown by Dom will come to the fore. Leon just continues to get it right.

Typical French, relaxing after thinking this is too easy early on.

steven · Tennis legend

This is quite interesting - www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2017/04/05/tim-henman-steps-mentor-dan-evans-great-britain-plan-france/ (Dan probably shouldn't have given away Tim's advice if he intends to use it but of course, it makes a lot of sense)

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Tim's tactics on the clay would suit Dan's game: wide serve then either wrong-footing forehand or forehand into space then attack the net. Short angled sliced backhands, bring opponent to the net then pass. Only shot I don't think Dan does well is the kick serve, or for that matter, the ball toss for a kick serve then serve down the middle to surprise opponent.

JonH · All-time great

So the draw is out:

Kyle v Pouille first up
Evo v Chardy to follow

I think this is helpful. We need Kyle to win that one clearly but then best that Dan goes on second up is my view, particularly if Kyle wins - it would certainly impact Chardy's confidence I feel and positively impact Dan.

JonH · All-time great

To underline that Evo can be a threat, ATP has a stats article today which shows that Evo leads the world on break points YTD

No. 1 Break Points Converted = Daniel Evans 53.7% (51/95)
Evans reached a career high of No. 41 just four weeks ago and currently sits at No. 44. He has a 10-6 record in 2017 after going 9-10 up to this point in 2016. Evans is taking advantage of the big moments so far this season.
He's the only player on the ATP World Tour who has converted more than half of his break points. Evans reached the final of the Apia International Sydney in January, converting an impressive 64.5 per cent (20/31) of his break points.

indiana · Tennis legend

It's all extremely good, but that's not Evo on clay, which in his case has to be a big negative and significantly reduces that threat and him getting to many BP situations.

Of course, all the best to him though, and he will probably at least need to be taking just about any BP he gets in the coming days.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Going to put my positive head on today : and stick my neck on the line at the same time.

Kyle v Pouille Kyle wins
Evo v Chardy Evo wins

Jamie/Dom v Mahut/Benneteau Jamie/Dom lose

Evo v Pouille Evo loses
Kyle v Chardy Kyle wins

GB to take the tie 3-2 and play Spain away in the SF at a suitable club as close to my home as possible (please)

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Australia go 2 up over the US... One foot in the semi's with this score line.

Thompson beats Sock
Kyrios Beats Isner

Not sure what Thompson's ranking is but sounds like a big scalp for him.

Etienne · Club Coach

They are off. 1-1.

Sim · County player

Seems a bit unfair if we are playing doubles and the French only have 1 player, From the BBC:

Posted at

Ooft, Lucas Pouille. A gorgeous drop shot, plenty of top spin, to a powerful Edmund forehand, and Edmund can't get near it. Evans faults on his serve to bring up two break points, but saves one with a nice rally that he's in control of all the way.

indiana · Tennis legend

Bah, a very lose shot as Kyle belts a fearhand wide from mid court and it's 5-6*

Not quite so sure that it was as decisive a moment as the BBC trying to suggest, more as they also said "there is an awful lot of tennis still to be played this weekend". Maybe not such a vital point, but this is a very important match.

indiana · Tennis legend

5-7

Dig in mate, I'll have to leave you for a while ...

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Most of the quality is coming from Pouille. Kyle needs to go up a level to have a chance.

So of course having written that, Lucas throws in a shocking game to get broken for 4-4. Lots of missed first serves, three soft errors and a volley that gave Kyle the chance to hit a decent running forehand pass winner.

Tiebreak starts ugly, Kyle up 3-1, then the quality improves, from 5-2 Pouille puts together a great run, Kyle saves one set point but not a 2nd.

-- Edited by kundalini on Friday 7th of April 2017 01:48:09 PM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Swear word. I really thought that was going 1 set all in the TB.