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

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

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

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Meanwhile, in other tennis news, 42000 turn up in Mexico to watch federer and zverev

twitter.com/abrahamtorrijos/status/1198385661209800706

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I don't think the home advantage made any real difference.

Unless the fact that it was being played in Spain meant Nadal played in the first place (and he wouldn't have if it'd been somewhere else)

Because, as AV said and probably others, it was a few super absolute clutch points from Nadal that made the difference. And they weren't because he was at home but because he's the number one in the world. (And, like all the top singles players, would easily be top doubles too if he/they bothered, not because his game is particularly suited for doubles but because they're SO much stronger in the singles aspect of the doubles game, the overlap, and even the dubs but would get miles better very fast).

My only real complaint about Spain, and it was a problem in the old format too, is I don't think any country should be allowed to play just two players.

It's not a team.

I am tempted by making it compulsory to have four different players.

But, actually, everyone likes to see Nadal, and Djoko, and whoever playing doubles - it gets the TV audience even more involved (big name) and is interesting for the diehard fans too because we don't see it often.

But I wouldn't allow Nadal, Lopez, Nadal-Lopez.

It was the same when Fed and Stan won. Two people is not a team.

Minimum of three different players would be my rule change.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
I don't think the home advantage made any real difference.

Unless the fact that it was being played in Spain meant Nadal played in the first place (and he wouldn't have if it'd been somewhere else)

Because, as AV said and probably others, it was a few super absolute clutch points from Nadal that made the difference. And they weren't because he was at home but because he's the number one in the world. (And, like all the top singles players, would easily be top doubles too if he/they bothered, not because his game is particularly suited for doubles but because they're SO much stronger in the singles aspect of the doubles game, the overlap, and even the dubs but would get miles better very fast).

My only real complaint about Spain, and it was a problem in the old format too, is I don't think any country should be allowed to play just two players.

It's not a team.

I am tempted by making it compulsory to have four different players.

But, actually, everyone likes to see Nadal, and Djoko, and whoever playing doubles - it gets the TV audience even more involved (big name) and is interesting for the diehard fans too because we don't see it often.

But I wouldn't allow Nadal, Lopez, Nadal-Lopez.

It was the same when Fed and Stan won. Two people is not a team.

Minimum of three different players would be my rule change.

But through the event, spain played 5 different players, RBA, granollers, PCB and lopez.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, fair point.

But I think minimum three players for each match.

Mark1968 · Intermediate Club Player

Congratulations to Jamie and Neal on their performances this week. If is wasn't for the sometimes maligned doubles players, disrespected by a few ignorant people on here we would have been knocked out on day 1.

The second set last night was some of the best and most exciting tennis you will ever see, Nadal was super human at times and Neal and Jamie played to a standard of any top singles player.

I hope this will finally put an end to the ignorant mean minded comments about doubles that we get from a few on here.

Tennpar · Club Coach

Coup Droit wrote:
Yes, fair point.

But I think minimum three players for each match.

Nadal on one side of the net and two on the other? biggrin

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Tennpar wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Yes, fair point.

But I think minimum three players for each match.
Nadal on one side of the net and two on the other?

There's an idea smile

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

JonH comes home wrote:
indiana wrote:
Re Jon's points about Andy, while there may be questions to ask and we had a further strong singles player in Cam unselected, I am not really too bothered about the precise circumstances. He has so much positive credit in the bank.

And it ( maybe luckily ) hasn't cost us. He won his one singles match when needed. And our ultimate SF losses were to Rafa in the singles and in the doubles.
More than anything I would just like to know what happened. Now maybe it is over, we will get more clarity. As you say, Andy has loads of credit in the bank and clearly I am a big fan. I wonder if he didnt take it that seriously, enjoyed his time off and got out of shape and then realised belatedly that this is a serious event...who knows

I agree that it would be good to tell the fans why he wasn't played if he was fit, and if he wasn't, when he wasn't.

He does have credit, but that argument could be used for other players in the past, obviously to a lesser degree.

I'd like to think that he wouldn't be selfish enough to take a place if he didn't think that he could have played as much as was needed, but would like the medical reports/news to confirm that. I agree it's all speculation right now which isn't great.

emmsie69 · Top national player

I'm a little surprised about the comments on here re Murray, not sure why anyone thinks its their business as to why he didn't play. He obviously thought when he was selected that he would be able to play but his wife has just had a baby and lets be honest Kyle really stepped up to the plate and showed form that hasn't been there all year. If Kyles form hadn't of reappeared then I suspect Andy would've played more matches.

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Sunday 24th of November 2019 12:27:40 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
I'm a little surprised about the comments on here re Murray, not sure why anyone thinks its their business as to why he didn't play. He obviously thought when he was selected that he would be able to play but his wife has just had a baby and lets be honest Kyle really stepped up to the plate and showed form that hasn't been there all year. If Kyles form hadn't of reappeared then I suspect Andy would've played more matches.

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Sunday 24th of November 2019 11:22:27 AM

Maybe, and perhaps I'm being harsh on him. I'm a big Andy fan, dont get me wrong, just was surprised he let himself put on 4 or 5 kg ( that is a lot of weight in 5 weeks, it really is) and then expected to shift it. But I'm just speculating.

Anyway, as Leon says, the 2020 future looks brighter than a few weeks back for all the team, including andy, cam, joe Salisbury and then a bunch of promising younger guys like draper, jubb, fearnley maybe and others.

emmsie69 · Top national player

I don't think 5kg is that much to put on, think about the weight we gain on holiday, I've managed 4kg in just a week and no doubt with newborn and 2 other crotch goblins its easy to eat junk for a week or 2 but speaking from personal experience it isn't so easy to lose. (apologies to those that find the word crotch goblin offensive:)

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

twitter.com/josemorgado/status/1198570404375343105

The qualifying draw for next years eagerly anticipated event is already out. Guaranteed a new name in the finals because Argentina have drawn Colombia, so either Austria or Uruguay will make their bow.

flamingowings · All-time great

Doesn't Andy have a thigh strain and that's why he wasn't played after Wednesday? Sure I read that somewhere...

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
I don't think 5kg is that much to put on, think about the weight we gain on holiday, I've managed 4kg in just a week and no doubt with newborn and 2 other crotch goblins its easy to eat junk for a week or 2 but speaking from personal experience it isn't so easy to lose. (apologies to those that find the word crotch goblin offensive:)

I do. It's a ghastly expression & one, thankfully, that I've never seen before. I had to look it up. disbelief evileye I see it also as an insult to Andy's two daughters. He may have saddled the younger one with a cringeworthy first name, but that doesn't mean she & her sister warrrant being described as something so objectionable.