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

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

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

the addict · Tennis legend

Schedule also available here

www.daviscupfinals.com/schedule/

Eurosport is covering the GB matches, plus matches on Centre Court (source:- tennisontelly.uk/)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Thanks The Addict - they kept that hidden, I was going on www.daviscup.com and they didnt appear to have any link to a finals website, but hey presto.

That is much better, thanks

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I noticed some of the initial teams arent full strength:

Russia v Croatia - Medvedev and Cilic are rested or injured and not playing in first set of matches

Canada - FAA wasnt selected today and Pospisil took his place, and won.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Medvedev withdrew the other day. Not sure about FAA, but Canada do play tomorrow as well, so perhaps not rushing him after his layoff?

Cracking atmosphere here between Berrattini and Shapovalov on Eurosport. 5-5 first set, but Denis has just saved 3 BPs and held.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

I feel this is this Canada-Italy tie is exactly what this new format needed. I was planning to watch Ireland vs Denmark Euro 2020 qualification decider and have the tennis on Bet365 in the background, but this has definitely taken priority on my TV. Berratini 6-7 7-6 6-5* - I hope Matteo can take this match to force a deciding doubles rubber. It's actually a cracking atmosphere as well, with good support for both players. Shapo has just held, so another tie break coming up.

It's probably the type of match / tie that most didn't want to happen though.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

So did anyone catch any of this today, or did anyone who was wanting to boycott it, end up watching more than they anticipated? It's obviously a controversial subject and some, especially those who sometimes / often attended GB home ties, will have every right to feel aggrieved about it, but in terms of the actual tournament, it probably went as well as it could have hoped for today, and Eurosport were on air from 3pm right up until 11.30pm with dedicated coverage, focussing on the matches they thought would be more appealing and not just constantly restricted to centre court. There were some really good matches and moments, and while I generally prefer the WTA side, I will be watching as much of this as I can to wrap up the (televised) tennis season. I've genuinely been impressed.

Tomorrow:

10am
Argentina vs Chile
France vs Japan
Kazakhstan vs Netherlands

NB 6pm
Spain vs Russia
USA vs Canada
Australia vs Colombia

Maybe not the best schedule in the morning, but it'll be good to see Spain in the evening, plus the all North American tie. A potential problem with Russia and Canada winning their ties today, if they win their ties tomorrow then the final group matches become dead rubbers - they really should have had the loser playing before the winner to keep it alive, but I guess if they are selling specific tickets to overseas fans wanting to see their nation play, then there's not too much they can do.

I'd personally love this and the ATP Cup to merge, maybe even get rid of the Laver (which won't happen), and then find a 2 week slot for it earlier in the season, and have one clear and obvious team event.

Edit - while the loser going first would still be better, I forgot that 2 best runners up qualify as well, so that at least will keep the final ties of the group alive if it is between 2 nations who lost their first tie.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 12:36:32 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, if Russia and Canada win their 2nd matches, the losers still have the chance to compete in rhe group final matches to get into the 2 best runners up out of 6 ( all on 1 win ) bingo competition.

Though Croatia have a slight problem after losing 0-3.

Free abacuses for all spectators?

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 12:58:11 AM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Yes, if Russia and Canada win their 2nd matches, the losers still have the chance to compete in rhe group final matches to get into the 2 best runners up out of 6 ( all on 1 win ) bingo competition.

Though Croatia have a slight problem after losing 0-3.

Yeah, the commentators were bigging up the importance of the doubles rubbers even though all 3 matches were heading into it 2-0 and the actual tie over, and I was kind of thinking 'yeah whatever', but it actually really was important and Italy and Colombia (well maybe not so much them given their singles players) do have more of a chance now if they win their 2nd and final tie, especially if they could do it 3-0.

Not necessarily a doubles fan, but managed to catch the end of the Colombian rubber and pretty much all the Italy-Canada doubles, and it was a good watch.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Certainly canada v Italy was a tough old battle and lots of passion shown. Canada got to get up and after usa today in a quick turnaround from a near midnight finish.

Question- how does it work with Andy's protected ranking in davis cup? Would he play number one or two singles? Not entirely clear...

Bruce · Lower Club Player

the addict wrote:
Ken apparently played 2 rubbers in 2010 - I dont think Neal has played before.

One was Turkey in Leon's first match as captain. The other one is a mystery to me.

The other was the first round against Lithuania which GBR lost 2-3. Dan Evans also played in the tie and lost both his rubbers in 5 sets.

https://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/tie.aspx?id=M-DC-2010-G2-EPA-M-GBR-LTU-01

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

George Bellshaw in Metro confirmed Andy will play number 2 in singles this week, PR doesn't count in Davis Cup I guess.

"With Murray playing as the second seed this week in Madrid due to being ranked lower than team-mates Dan Evans and Kyle Edmund, Britain will fancy their chances to go deep in the competition..."

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Argentina crushed Chile, 3 - 0 and no sets lost.

France and Japan are 4 all, final set of deciding doubles. To the wire.

And Dutch and Kazakhs are in deciding doubles. 2-1 either way is best result for GB I think, again could go either way.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Argentina crushed Chile, 3 - 0 and no sets lost.

France and Japan are 4 all, final set of deciding doubles. To the wire.

And Dutch and Kazakhs are in deciding doubles. 2-1 either way is best result for GB I think, again could go either way.

France and Kazakhstan both won through. So Kazakhstan lead our group after 1 match.

Evening session will have the second match for some teams now.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Brilliant quality match here between RBA and Rublev. Rublev knocking on the door, but he can't break Roberto - 8 BPs in total. RBA 6-3 *2-3.