Fed Cup 2019 - Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 - Bath, GB

JonH · All-time great

Fed Cup 2019 - Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 - Bath, GB

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Hopefully they get another go tomorrow evening in another dead rubber.

I think Jo should win quite comfortably, but I am a bit concerned about Boulter-Galfi. As wolf said earlier on in this thread a few pages back, Galfi gave Heather problems last year and that match went to a decider, she's a year older now, a former excellent junior, winning slams and she beat Gramm'polou 6-0 6-3 and Juvan 6-1 6-4, so has only dropped 8 games in her two matches, Katie was obviously taken the distance by the former today. I think that'll be a close one, despite the ranking difference, possibly even 50/50. Hungary have done so well considering they lost Babos and Stollar.

Best of luck to the girls and I'm really looking forward to that tie tomorrow.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

JonH wrote:
Harriet and Katie proving a good paring.

I've always liked Harriet in doubles. Even at age 18 or so, she was naturally at ease on a doubles court (unlike Katie B, for instance). Don't think I've seen Katie S play dubs.

But glad they've got some practice, participated and played some good tennis.

As AV says, it could be close today.

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

Ace Ventura wrote:

Yeah, BT Sport's coverage has been brilliant - team, production etc. and it's great that they have allowed their feed for the LTA's Facebook page for those who aren't a BT Sport subscriber. Thought it would have just been one camera and no commentating like those ITF women 25k events.

Its a shame that Facebook is only watchable for the first 2 hrs of a stream, after which it starts to constantly buffer and is unwatchable

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

RedSquirrel wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:

Yeah, BT Sport's coverage has been brilliant - team, production etc. and it's great that they have allowed their feed for the LTA's Facebook page for those who aren't a BT Sport subscriber. Thought it would have just been one camera and no commentating like those ITF women 25k events.

Its a shame that Facebook is only watchable for the first 2 hrs of a stream, after which it starts to constantly buffer and is unwatchable

Ah, didn't realise that. That's not so good. I saw a few posts in Twitter last night about it suddenly cutting off towards the latter stages of the doubles, but wasn't aware of the buffering.

SuperT · Futures level

JonH wrote:
SuperT wrote:
JonH wrote:
Interesting comment from Stuart Fraser in the Times today 're Heather Watson "...she was a notable absentee from the courtside support bench yesterday. Anne keothavong said that this was due to illness".

Is it wrong of me to think a fit of pique isn't really an illness?
What a horrible comment. Heather has clearly been ill - her Instagram confirms that.
Hi superT. Apologies, yes it does sound horrible and on reflection I retract it. Sorry. I guess I was reading the implication I thought sat under the Times comment, but I have no substantiation. I hope I never am horrible, anyone who knows me knows that although I have many faults that usually is not one. Sorry for any offence caused

Morning JonH. Think it's my turn to apologise now. I went to a wine tasting event last night and had a quick look on here when I got home after consuming far too much alcohol, and I realise now my comment was very abrupt and critical. If I'd been sober I would probably have been a bit more tactful. The thing is that I know Heather's form is dreadful at the moment, but I also know she loves the Fed cup and always seems to thrive in a team environment so I'm sure she'll be utterly gutted to be missing out because of illness. That's why I was a bit upset to see her getting criticised on here. At the end of the day, though we're all on the same side and just want to team to do well. Looking forward to tonights matches.

Jan · Hall of fame

RedSquirrel wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:

Yeah, BT Sport's coverage has been brilliant - team, production etc. and it's great that they have allowed their feed for the LTA's Facebook page for those who aren't a BT Sport subscriber. Thought it would have just been one camera and no commentating like those ITF women 25k events.

Its a shame that Facebook is only watchable for the first 2 hrs of a stream, after which it starts to constantly buffer and is unwatchable

You can also watch on the LTA website. I've chopped and changed and mostly it's been fine. So good to have the coverage!

the addict · Tennis legend

The facebook link dropped out for me (and many others at midnight). But I have BTSport, so switched to that on my tablet.

alex03maccy · Grand Slam Champion

Are they allowing food and drink to be taken into the stands or are you only allowed to purchase there?

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

alex03maccy wrote:
Are they allowing food and drink to be taken into the stands or are you only allowed to purchase there?

Can't help with your question, but it couldn't have really turned out much better for you in terms of excitement and drama - a straight shootout between the 2 sides.

JonH · All-time great

SuperT wrote:
JonH wrote:
SuperT wrote:
JonH wrote:
Interesting comment from Stuart Fraser in the Times today 're Heather Watson "...she was a notable absentee from the courtside support bench yesterday. Anne keothavong said that this was due to illness".

Is it wrong of me to think a fit of pique isn't really an illness?
What a horrible comment. Heather has clearly been ill - her Instagram confirms that.
Hi superT. Apologies, yes it does sound horrible and on reflection I retract it. Sorry. I guess I was reading the implication I thought sat under the Times comment, but I have no substantiation. I hope I never am horrible, anyone who knows me knows that although I have many faults that usually is not one. Sorry for any offence caused
Morning JonH. Think it's my turn to apologise now. I went to a wine tasting event last night and had a quick look on here when I got home after consuming far too much alcohol, and I realise now my comment was very abrupt and critical. If I'd been sober I would probably have been a bit more tactful. The thing is that I know Heather's form is dreadful at the moment, but I also know she loves the Fed cup and always seems to thrive in a team environment so I'm sure she'll be utterly gutted to be missing out because of illness. That's why I was a bit upset to see her getting criticised on here. At the end of the day, though we're all on the same side and just want to team to do well. Looking forward to tonights matches.

Hi SuperT, no worries and no harm done! I hope the wine tasting was a good evening! It sounds like it was fun!

I am sure you are right about Heather - reading the article by Stuart Fraser though, it is possible to read an implication (unwritten) that he was raising the question, so I did wonder whether there was something more to it from his perspective. But I certainly took a leap and probably should have not jumped so quickly to the question I raised.

As you say, team seem to be fighting and playing well. I think they will be able to beat Hungary tonight and will also keep tabs on the Croatia v Serbia derby match taking place shortly to see who gets through to the play off match tomorrow

alex03maccy · Grand Slam Champion

Ace Ventura wrote:
alex03maccy wrote:
Are they allowing food and drink to be taken into the stands or are you only allowed to purchase there?
Can't help with your question, but it couldn't have really turned out much better for you in terms of excitement and drama - a straight shootout between the 2 sides.

Yes its turned out perfectly! Hopefully it ends better than the only DC tie ive ever seen - Arvind Parmars famous loss...

Tennpar · Strong Club Player

alex03maccy wrote:
Are they allowing food and drink to be taken into the stands or are you only allowed to purchase there?

You can take your own. There's a little pop up by the entrance to the sports complex with soft drinks/sandwiches (nice sandwiches & not too expensive) but wouldn't recommend the coffee..

Lovely relaxed event with lots of helpful volunteers and great tennis close-up.

Long queue due to the bag search prior to the afternoon session. Maybe try go a bit earlier when quieter & get wrist band for you and one on your bag too (so you can bypass the search queue and get in and out easily if you want to source food/drink etc).

Spaces do free up in the East car park.

Enjoy, those lucky enough to go

-- Edited by Tennpar on Friday 8th of February 2019 11:47:49 AM

mdewey · Junior player

alex03maccy wrote:
Are they allowing food and drink to be taken into the stands or are you only allowed to purchase there?

The woman sat next to me had home-made sandwiches and a very aromatic orange in her plastic Tupperware style box so I surmise she brought them from home.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Ace Ventura wrote:
BT Sport's WTA contract expires after the Finals in Shenzhen this year and I really hope that it is extended.

Not really relevant to Bath and the Fed Cup, but according to Stuart Fraser this morning, Amazon are the front-runner for the new rights. :/

That would be a big shame. I get the argument that it'll be good to have all the rights in the same place and Amazon, in this case, becomes sort of the official tennis channel here outside of the 3 other slams, but I just don't see how they can improve BT's current service. It would be a real shame if the rights were just sold as the PM, P5 and P events like what they do with the ATP and it's just so much easier to record the shows on BT, than probably having to wait until a programme is finished and then uploaded before you can watch, if you are out when it's on and you want to watch from the start and not halfway through the broadcast.

I think it'll be more of a case of Amazon blowing them out of the water than BT not seeing it as a core product like it did with a few other sports they have lost recently and it'll only really be the Champions League rights that stop me from giving it up. I could invest in WTA TV instead I suppose.