I naively thought Heather leading the team and clinching victory fairly straightforwardly would give her a big boost to help get her into gear on the tour. Instead she seemed almost frightened of playing today, there was zero fire or energy at all and she carried herself like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Really poor performance, the tiebreak was shambolic. Hope she can pick herself up for the weeks ahead, she doesn't seem to be enjoying her tennis at the moment at all, you really miss that trademark Heather Watson smile.

Hopefully Katie comes out after the long break and gets this done quickly.

emmsie69 wrote:

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PaulM wrote:

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I'd have played Harriet on day 1 with the pre-plan to bring in Katie for day two if needed for one of them (given Heather/Harriet is the clear best choice for doubles if we end up in a real mess).

I thought Harriet did very well on the clay against Slovakia last year, but Katie has had a couple of good wins on the Tour this year in between the rest.

Anyway, looking forward to this. Shame none of us can be there.

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 I would've played Harriet and Katie and left Heather for the doubles. Heather has won 2 matches this year and one of those was a battle against Jodie so clealy not in form.

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Thursday 15th of April 2021 03:46:30 PM

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 You should have been selecting the team...I guess they were never going to go so much against rankings as to leave Heather out, but comment above looks very good now.

Spireman wrote:

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emmsie69 wrote:

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PaulM wrote:

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I'd have played Harriet on day 1 with the pre-plan to bring in Katie for day two if needed for one of them (given Heather/Harriet is the clear best choice for doubles if we end up in a real mess).

I thought Harriet did very well on the clay against Slovakia last year, but Katie has had a couple of good wins on the Tour this year in between the rest.

Anyway, looking forward to this. Shame none of us can be there.

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 I would've played Harriet and Katie and left Heather for the doubles. Heather has won 2 matches this year and one of those was a battle against Jodie so clealy not in form.

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Thursday 15th of April 2021 03:46:30 PM

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 You should have been selecting the team...I guess they were never going to go so much against rankings as to leave Heather out, but comment above looks very good now.

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 It's the fundamenta problem with the LTA at all levels, selections are made on reputation not form.   There is absolutely no evidence from the last few months that suggested that Heather was playing anywhere close to mid 60 level. Harriet is 150, hasn't really shown much above that yet beat Heather in 2 when they met.  I actually don't think Heather looks well, her skin colour looks quite pallid right now, just washed out, she normally has great skin tone and obviously a great smile

It's only available online through the BBC website

I assume the selection is pretty much down to Anne rather than "they" (the LTA), though maybe in consultation. Buck stops with her. We'll probably get away with it vs Mexico but concerning.

I had just expressed doubts re Katie but fair dos to these that expresssed such big doubts about Heather. The most reliable selection here appeared to be Harriet.

Yep, as before, I think Anne K is terrible conservative in her choices, and her whole attitude towards the LTA.

She was on that LTA Committee, I seem to remember, and has certainly recently been nominated to be on the Board of Directors, and on the Wimbledon Committee. This is all high profile as the only BAME representative and all the flack they've been getting.

IMO, she has never spoken up about any of the problems at the LTA, just seems to toe the line.

And I think her approach to Fed Cup is the same - take no risk, go for the established party line.

She might well have been under a certain pressure from Bates to select Katie (only said 'might', no idea, just a possibility). And choosing Hev as number one is an obvious, easy choice. You feel you can't be criticised. Even if the wrong choice.