Week 47 - Davis Cup Finals - Madrid, Spain - (Indoor, Hard).

Smudge226 · Club Coach

RE: Week 47 - Davis Cup Finals - Madrid, Spain - (Indoor, Hard).

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
I never really liked Davis Cup. I was pretty vocal about it on here when the changes were put forward, while steven and others were great fans.

I had a long list of complaints about the old format !!!!!! (With (a) never knowing when it was being played, especially if GB weren't playing, and (b) five sets, being two of the problems, as well as it being every year because with it taking place over the whole year you felt like it hardly stopped and then it was going again)

With the new format, there may be improvements to make, things to tweak, and I can see that home fans have an issue, in terms of not booking tickets ahead for semis and stuff.

But, overall, this seems FAR better.

I think you have got it right. The players clearly care, which is a massive start. The 3 sets format doesnt detract at all, plenty of still long and finger biting matches and exciting tennis. 18 teams needs changing, 16 as Ace says makes a lot of sense in so many ways. A longer event, say 10 or 11 days would be needed.

As for the crowds one, mmm. How do events like the FIFA World Cup or Rugby World Cup get round it when it gets to the knockout stages? Maybe in this case there is a need to not see the fans on the door as cash cows but leave that to TV. The fans attending in person perhaps should get knock down or even free tickets past the group stages to encourage anyone to come and watch. That might help. Or perhaps allow fans to buy tickets for the later stages with a guaranteed full price buy back should their team not make it and then sell on free of charge to anyone wish to attend

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Spain and Argentina are past midnight now and, with spain a set up, Argentina are 4-3 up with a break in the 2nd. Could be a final set on its way and a late finish which we wont complain about this time around!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Smudge226 wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
indiana wrote:
Thanks Bob, I couldn't recall all the Kyle vs Busta history though knew it was there.

Probably then we'd most want Dan vs Busta but we can't have that. This time, Kyle!
Just checked. They have only played twice - once being that match in Cartagena (it was a SF in fact which went 6-4 6-3) and then in the AO in 2017 which PCB won 6-2 6-4 6-2. So Kyle has yet to win a set in the head to head.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Friday 22nd of November 2019 10:21:52 PM
I remember well that AO match with Kyle v PCB. He just couldn't get going, put everything on Kedders BH and was just too clever on the day. I agree that It's a risk to match Kedders against PCB but I'm not sure at all that Andy is fit enough to beat PCB tomorrow. Kedders is hitting so well even off his BH it might have to be the risk Leon takes. I do wonder whose call it'll be for tomorrow. Would Leon stand Andy down if he Didn't think it right to play him?

My guess is that Leon will have final say but Andy is the senior player and will make it clear what he thinks he should do. He apparently was clear he wasnt ready to go again today.

I see that the Daily Mail changed their headline from "Andy Murray snubbed" to something more neutral, glad they did that as it wasnt correct

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Spain and Argentina going the distance in the deciding dubs. 6-4 4-6.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Ace Ventura wrote:
Spain and Argentina going the distance in the deciding dubs. 6-4 4-6.

We like that. It they manage to win, the two runners up will be through to the semis.

Smudge226 · Club Coach

Bob in Spain wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
JonH is a fan of the new format (as am I), but I'd be very interested to hear what others think. It obviously helps that GB are doing well, and that might influence opinions, as it may have been different had we, hypothetically, lost a group match and went out to a Belgium or USA who got doubles walkovers, but has it been better or worse than you were expecting or even fearing. Has it grown on you, or put you off further?
I am certainly enjoying the tournament. It certainly has its pluses. I think it is great for TV audiences to follow the week long tournament and I am sure the sponsors will be glad for all the coverage - albeit only on Eurosport.
But I still worry about the fans at the venue. By all accounts, less than 1000 people were watching the GB/Germany match today. If Spain lose to Argentina tonight, I honestly believe we will see a final played in front of a half empty stadium.
I have been to the Caja Magica many times for the ATP Masters and unless there is a Spaniard on court, the Spanish are not very interested.

It has been good and the passion for the DC is clearly there with players, teams and fans. I can't see it'll be the same for the ATP version, which hopefully will bring ATP to the table. Crowds would be the worry and schedule very tight but in the round It's been a success I have to concede.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Here you go Bob, get yourself to Madrid

mobile.twitter.com/stu_fraser/status/1197995862741401601/photo/1

indiana · Tennis legend

The tennis has been very good - well done to the players.

The current 18 team pre QF format is IMO fit only for the bin even without the walkover issues. I had and retained that fundamental dislike of it as a competition set-up prior to the QF.

8 groups of 3 with just winners progressing would be better ( although unlike this time you could still have 1/1/1 scenarios so still potential mathematical nonsense ).

But the groups set up and the awful scheduling this week can at least be tweaked.

Lack of spectators ( including potlentially the final as Bob says ) is a biggee to me, just as with the recent Doha World Athletic Championships, particularly after London 2017 and not even close to a happy medum. More about chasing the cash rather than spreading sports and again top class sport like these should have big live audiences. Has to be very much more than a TV attraction. The competitors need crowds, need support, need to be fueled by crowds, these that do attend no doubt wantt to be part of such an experience too. To me, if far from the most important thing, TV viewing well supported events makes better viewing too. Memorable sport includes memorable atmosphere!

To date, overall a bit better than I was expecting which I assure you isn't any great recommendation. However clearly the traditional old way had different but real problems, largely with fitting it in to the tournament and players' schedules. It also had some great history and memories. But yes, the best needs the best competitors as well as the crowds

I:d like to see this week run its course, hear how it was thought of more widely, including by the players, and think more about other options.

Interim report ( longer than I meant ) endeth.

Smudge226 · Club Coach

Why no highlights by the beeb? This is really stupid. Probably a product of extracting maximum revenue for sole rights to Eurosport as broadcaster.

Smudge226 · Club Coach

JonH comes home wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
Spain and Argentina going the distance in the deciding dubs. 6-4 4-6.
We like that. It they manage to win, the two runners up will be through to the semis.

Excellent news. Wondering how many sets Raga has played in past few days. I do hope he's exhausted.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Here you go Bob, get yourself to Madrid

mobile.twitter.com/stu_fraser/status/1197995862741401601/photo/1

I have had a few people tweet me that message. I would love to go but circumstances will probably not allow me to do so. It is "only" a 4 hour drive, which longer standing members of the board here will know that for me, that means it is just around the corner.

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

Had a few PMs from posters on this thread, Jon H, Gary A1, Mateusz, etc. Answer is the same to all of you, unfortunately no world ranking points on offer here

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

With regard to the lack of spectators, it may be just me but have Eurosport deliberately tried to cut out wide angled shots of the crowd. There have been plenty of close ups, but it is almost as though they are trying not to show how many empty seats there are. Perhaps I am looking for something that isn't there.

If Spain make it all the way through, the crowds will flock to the final. But as I said before, the true nature of the tournament will be what the atmosphere is like without Spain/Nadal playing. We may have to wait until next year to find that out.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

As many will know I'm not a doubles fan and don't/won't follow it at tour level because the end result just doesn't mean that much to me, but I must say, so many of these ties going to the deciding doubles has certainly enhanced the tennis experience here. Jamie and Neal obviously doing their stuff, Nadal and Novak getting involved, and particularly the Serbia-Russia tie from earlier, it's all been good stuff.

Spain one game away.