Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs - GB vs Mexico 16-17th April 2021

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

RE: Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs - GB vs Mexico 16-17th April 2021

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, given last time and her ranking situation I think maybe best let Katie B give it a miss.

I do think her potential ceiling is well above Harriet's but will she ever have a true chance to get there?

the addict · Tennis legend

As the time draws closer, here is a list of the top 8 ranked Mexican women. Rankings as at 22/03/2021

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Thanks TA. Good to get a list like that.

I was checking the other day, and Zarazua hasn't played in some of their most recent ties. You'd think from their perspective, they would absolutely need her to play, win both of her singles matches, and then see if they can get a fairly sizable upset in one of the other two singles matches, or the doubles. The fact it's not on clay, not at altitude, and only really one (singles) player who's been anywhere near WTA level (in recent years anyway), does put it well in our favour, but it is Fed Cup (or Billie Jean King), and we saw what happened when Anna Bondar came up against Jo the other year, and played well above her ranking, although still didn't actually pull that off.

I do personally really enjoy this competition.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Friday 26th of March 2021 06:35:56 PM

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Ace Ventura wrote:
Thanks TA. Good to get a list like that.

I was checking the other day, and Zarazua hasn't played in some of their most recent ties. You'd think from their perspective, they would absolutely need her to play, win both of her singles matches, and then see if they can get a fairly sizable upset in one of the other two singles matches, or the doubles. The fact it's not on clay, not at altitude, and only really one (singles) player who's been anywhere near WTA level (in recent years anyway), does put it well in our favour, but it is Fed Cup (or Billie Jean King), and we saw what happened when Anna Bondar came up against Jo the other year, and played well above her ranking, although still didn't actually pull that off.

I do personally really enjoy this competition.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Friday 26th of March 2021 06:35:56 PM

GB has been beaten a couple of times by unheralded countries in the Fed Cup. One was in 2015 in Budapest when the might of Turkey beat Heather and Jo in the singles. This was before Jo made her breakthrough. There was alot of discussion at the time on the forum about this tie. The other was when it was just a final in Australia back in 1988. In the match against Indonesia the singles were tied 1-1 and Indonesia won the doubles. Ann Jones was Captain and they had not bothered to look at their opponents in practice. Yayuk Basuki who later had a successful career played in that tie. Let's hope we don't have any repeat in 2021.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

When discussing about potential players is there any possibilty of Fran playing ?

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Ace Ventura wrote:
Thanks TA. Good to get a list like that.

I was checking the other day, and Zarazua hasn't played in some of their most recent ties. You'd think from their perspective, they would absolutely need her to play, win both of her singles matches, and then see if they can get a fairly sizable upset in one of the other two singles matches, or the doubles. The fact it's not on clay, not at altitude, and only really one (singles) player who's been anywhere near WTA level (in recent years anyway), does put it well in our favour, but it is Fed Cup (or Billie Jean King), and we saw what happened when Anna Bondar came up against Jo the other year, and played well above her ranking, although still didn't actually pull that off.

I do personally really enjoy this competition.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Friday 26th of March 2021 06:35:56 PM

Mentioning Anna Bondar reminds one that Jo was somewhat fortunate to win that match,.Anna Bondar is yet to make a breakthrough. Her highest singles ranking was 177 inJune 2019 and is currently 245. ,

dodrade · Satellite level

ROSAMUND wrote:
When discussing about potential players is there any possibilty of Fran playing ?

Must be a consideration for the next time GB play on clay.

HarryGem · Club Coach

ROSAMUND wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
That Zarazua ended up beating Hibino in R1 yesterday, but got absolutely crushed by Kerber today. Still a good tournament from her POV though, beating 3 higher ranked players.

I assume it'll be Heather and Harriet as the main two, injuries / scheduling permitting.
There will be little comment made if we beat Mexico. However if we fail to beat Mexico then there will be a deluge of comment. Zarazua is their only player who has made any impact on the world tour.

And quite right too. We've got the benefit of the tie being at home on an indoor hard court against a nation with players ranked mainly below ours. Personally I think we will win but if we were to lose then it would only be right and proper that deluges of comments were made. Heather will be by far the highest ranked player and Harriet should be able to beat the second ranked Mexican player.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

twitter.com/the_LTA/status/1379366639502774276

Watson, Dart, Boulter, Burrage, Swan

flamingowings · All-time great

Ace Ventura wrote:
twitter.com/the_LTA/status/1379366639502774276

Watson, Dart, Boulter, Burrage, Swan

I'm disappointed that Fran isn't there (unless there's something we don't know about) because I would put her in over Katie S. And I hope Harriet hasn't done herself an injury in her LL match.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

You might think those latter 4 would now be very high up the Wimbledon WC pecking order, so if there were say 5 going to British players, then probably those 4 and Jones would be the most likely candidates. Now, they were probably some of the most likely candidates anyway, but you'd think them being included, representing GB, sacrificing their schedule, if you like, would differentiate them from the likes of Bains, Murray-Sharan, and Raducanu. I'm assuming Jones is a near cert regardless.

She might not feature at all, but Katie S is a nice inclusion given her recent match retirement.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Surprised to see Swan in the squad to be honest but it's the best team we have I think. It being indoors probably would make me nod Jodie over Fran (had Fran made herself available, she might not have done if she wanted to focus on clay swing).

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

flamingowings wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
twitter.com/the_LTA/status/1379366639502774276

Watson, Dart, Boulter, Burrage, Swan
I'm disappointed that Fran isn't there (unless there's something we don't know about) because I would put her in over Katie S. And I hope Harriet hasn't done herself an injury in her LL match.

Yeah, results and rankings wise she should be right up there, and definitely ahead of Katie S in that regard at the moment. I'm not sure why, can't really explain, but I'm not too surprised that's she not there if you know what I mean.

I guess while she's on such a good run, she might have just wanted to play that Portugal W60 clay event, and keep her momentum going, if she wasn't going to be one of the two main singles players, whereas someone like Jodie, despite having a great week herself, would probably be far more happier potentially being 4th in the pecking order (and possibly not playing at all), being in a team environment, with a UJ flag painted on her face, and being a big character in the group, like we saw at the BOTBs team event. Katie S kind of similar as we have saw in recent FC squads.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Tuesday 6th of April 2021 10:03:43 AM

the addict · Tennis legend

Looks a good choice to me. All decent singles players, and options for the doubles as well (with Jodie getting some practise in Sharm today !). I didn't really expect to see Fran in the squad this time, and she is probably better off staying on clay until after the FO.