Murray misses out on first day singles

Sheddie · administrator

Murray misses out on first day singles

mkkreuk · Admin:Moderator + ATP qualifying

i think its best not to rush andy...but this will be tough now.

GB to sneak it 3-2 methinks

Sheddie · administrator

Andy will play alongside Greg in the doubles, that's really tough on Greg - 3 days in a row but Bates has evidently identified the doubles as the crucial must-win rubber.

Drew · Apr 6, 2006

UltimateSlabbaFan wrote:

Andy will play alongside Greg in the doubles, that's really tough on Greg - 3 days in a row but Bates has evidently identified the doubles as the crucial must-win rubber.

Why Greg over Auckland.....is Greg a better doubles player than Auckland ?

Surely Murray / Auckland would be a stronger pairing than Murray / Greg ?

JudithF · Improver

It is the sensible option to play just doubles and also it will be something for the fans who really want to see him play. It is unfortunate but kids pick up these health problems, especially at Andy's age and the only long term cure is rest, nobody wants it turning into anything more serious like the dreaded glandular fever. I think it will be an uphill struggle now, Serbia and Montenegro have some good players. Oh well Kate and I wil be there waving our flags and cheering on the boys!

Drew · Apr 6, 2006

UltimateSlabbaFan wrote:

The Beeb have reported that Andy will miss the first day's singles rubbers but is expected to be involved in Saturday's doubles. The first day's singles will go like this: Rusedski v Tipsarevic Parmar v Djokovic The tie's likely to be at 1-1 after day 1 so the doubles is going to be crucial.

Surely Andy must play on sunday then.......

Sunday :

Murray v Tipsarevic followed by

Rusedski v Djokovic

or the other way around ?

Drew · Apr 6, 2006

According to the LTA Andy will not play ANY singles.....

So we are relying on Greg to win both singles and Andy / Greg the doubles....

http://www.lta.org.uk/News/BritishNews/06406TennisDavisCup.htm

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas
Euro/Africa Zone I

Draws for Davis Cup

Friday 7th April:
Greg Rusedski vs Janko Tipsarevic

Arvind Parmar vs Novak Djokovic

Saturday 8th April:
Andy Murray & Greg Rusedski
vs
Nenad Zimonjic & Ilija Bozoljac

Sunday 9th April:
Greg Rusedski vs Novak Djokovic

Arvind Parmar vs Janko Tipsarevic

Sheddie · administrator

Drew wrote:

Why Greg over Auckland.....is Greg a better doubles player than Auckland ?
Surely Murray / Auckland would be a stronger pairing than Murray / Greg ?

Auckland's only ranked higher than Greg at doubles because he's played a lot more of it !!!

Greg is a top class doubles player, his record with Tim Henman in Davis Cup was incredible, only 1 loss which is an amazing achievement considering the pairs they played eg: Bjorkman and Johansson.

Murray and Greg are our best chance of success, Auckland may freeze in such a crucial rubber which GB can't afford while Greg is a proven performer on the Davis cup with the exception of 5th rubbers.

Regarding Sunday's matches: I really hope that Greg's match is first. His record in Davis Cup 5th rubbers is dreadful, I don't think he's won one live 5th rubber. I don't know how they work out who goes first, does anyone know ?

Drew · Apr 6, 2006

UltimateSlabbaFan wrote:

Drew wrote: Why Greg over Auckland.....is Greg a better doubles player than Auckland ? Surely Murray / Auckland would be a stronger pairing than Murray / Greg ? Auckland's only ranked higher than Greg at doubles because he's played a lot more of it !!! Greg is a top class doubles player, his record with Tim Henman in Davis Cup was incredible, only 1 loss which is an amazing achievement considering the pairs they played eg: Bjorkman and Johansson. Murray and Greg are our best chance of success, Auckland may freeze in such a crucial rubber which GB can't afford while Greg is a proven performer on the Davis cup with the exception of 5th rubbers. Regarding Sunday's matches: I really hope that Greg's match is first. His record in Davis Cup 5th rubbers is dreadful, I don't think he's won one live 5th rubber. I don't know how they work out who goes first, does anyone know ?

See my LTA post above..........Greg on First on Sunday....if we go into sunday 2-1 down can is it allowed to drop Parmar and add in Andy if he was fit ?

Sheddie · administrator

Drew wrote:

According to the LTA Andy will not play ANY singles.....
So we are relying on Greg to win both singles and Andy / Greg the doubles....
http://www.lta.org.uk/News/BritishNews/06406TennisDavisCup.htm
Davis Cup by BNP ParibasEuro/Africa Zone I
Draws for Davis Cup
Friday 7th April:Greg Rusedski vs Janko Tipsarevic
Arvind Parmar vs Novak Djokovic
Saturday 8th April:Andy Murray & Greg Rusedski vsNenad Zimonjic & Ilija Bozoljac
Sunday 9th April:Greg Rusedski vs Novak Djokovic
Arvind Parmar vs Janko Tipsarevic

That's not the fixed schedule, the LTA have only posted that because they always put two players who will play singles on Friday into Sunday's matches for their initial report. Bates can and almost certainly will change that - his deadline for Sunday's matches is something like 11am on Sunday.

I'd bet my PC that if it's 2-2 and all down to the last rubber, it'll be Andy Murray walking out to face Janko Tipsarevic not Arvind Parmar !!!!

Drew · Apr 6, 2006

David wrote

That's not the fixed schedule, the LTA have only posted that because they always put two players who will play singles on Friday into Sunday's matches for their initial report. Bates can and almost certainly will change that - his deadline for Sunday's matches is something like 11am on Sunday.

I'd bet my PC that if it's 2-2 and all down to the last rubber, it'll be Andy Murray walking out to face Janko Tipsarevic not Arvind Parmar !!!!

--------------------

Certainly hope so....the DC web site is just copying the LTA draw showing Parmar playing last !

http://www.daviscup.com/ties/tie.asp?tie=100007746

I also presume that if Greg wins the tie for us on Sunday morning and we go up 3-1 Bates would give Auckland the dead singles rubber ?

Sheddie · administrator

I'm sure that Parmar wouldn't be playing the final singles rubber, they just do that in order to show the order of the matches on the final day.

Re dead singles rubber: Probably Auckland as Parmar will have already played a live rubber and Bates will want to give Auckland the experience of playing Davis Cup. It's a shame that it won't be Colin Fleming but hitting partners aren't allowed to play rubbers, dead or live. There is of course the possibility of Andy Murray playing the final rubber even if it is dead, so that his home fans get to watch him in singles action.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i really cant see andy playing a dead rubber. with his current injury worries it would be foolish. they can see him in the aberdean cup if they have too.

Drew · Apr 6, 2006

Beeb report now updated.......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4836938.stm

Main points.......

Murray said: "I feel 10 times better than on Sunday and Monday but I felt I couldn't justify playing on Friday."

Murray said the ankle ligaments he injured in Miami last month were no longer a concern.

"I hit balls for the first time yesterday and felt okay afterwards, and I played for an hour today, but I didn't think it was right for me to play if I was not 100%."

No mention of the Sunday match-ups....reckon David is right....if we need Andy to play the last rubber then he will come out instead of Parmar.