Week 37 - 2024 Davis Cup Finals, Finals Group Stage - Manchester (Indoor Hard)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Week 37 - 2024 Davis Cup Finals, Finals Group Stage - Manchester (Indoor Hard)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RR3/1: Denis Shapovalov (CAN) WR 100 defeated Daniel Evans WR 178 by 0 & 5

RR3/2: Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) WR 21 defeated Jack Draper WR 20 by 7-6(8) 7-5

At least Jack appears to have put up some sort of a fight. hmm

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
RR3/1: Denis Shapovalov (CAN) WR 100 defeated Daniel Evans WR 178 by 0 & 5
RR3/2: Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) WR 21 defeated Jack Draper WR 20 by 7-6(8) 7-5
At least Jack appears to have put up some sort of a fight.

Henry gets his first taste of DC action in the dead rubber:

RR3/3: Gabriel Diallo & Alexis Galarneau (CAN) CR 1996 (629+1367) vs Henry Patten & Neal Skupski CR 36 (17+19)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

This doubles is quite entertaining tbh!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
RR3/1: Denis Shapovalov (CAN) WR 100 defeated Daniel Evans WR 178 by 0 & 5
RR3/2: Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) WR 21 defeated Jack Draper WR 20 by 7-6(8) 7-5
At least Jack appears to have put up some sort of a fight.
Henry gets his first taste of DC action in the dead rubber:
RR3/3: Gabriel Diallo & Alexis Galarneau (CAN) CR 1996 (629+1367) vs Henry Patten & Neal Skupski CR 36 (17+19)

And Henry takes a leaf out of Billy's book & wins his maiden DC match:

RR3/3: Henry Patten & Neal Skupski CR 36 (17+19) defeated Gabriel Diallo & Alexis Galarneau (CAN) CR 1996 (629+1367) by 5 & 4 biggrin

Sadly, not a pivotal one. cry

SuperT · Futures level

I haven't really followed this today as I guessed it was a forgone conclusion we would lose, but I did watch a bit of the doubles whilst having dinner tonight and I thought Henry played really well Given that it was always going to be a tough tie, I really believe Leon should have played both Billy and Henry as preparation for the future if nothing else.

Tennis Saltire · Junior player

I think it was very mature of Evo to come out and say that he is seriously considering his Davis Cup future because he doesn't think it's fair on others more worthy than him (or words to that affect), especially when only the other day he said he relished playing in the competition after becoming the 2nd player to play the tournament of all time just behind Mike Sangster and one tie ahead of Andy Murray.

I suppose he is thinking that Cam Norrie, Billy Harris and perhaps Jake Fearnley/Paul Jubb by group stage next year would be better options for singles than himself and also Patten/Skupski could be the doubles pairing going forward imho after a very impressive debut today :). Plus, again Evo probably think there's others such as Joe Salisbury, Julian Cash, Lloyd Glasspool and Luke Johnson who would be better options than himself for the doubles spots.

So I'm going to end by saying a massive kudos Evo for that thinking and that it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Leon Smith, though I think he may continue onto a 15yr in the role, I very much doubt that the LTA will act either unless they feel he's been in the role too long.

-- Edited by Tennis Saltire on Sunday 15th of September 2024 07:07:07 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

SuperT wrote:
I haven't really followed this today as I guessed it was a forgone conclusion we would lose, but I did watch a bit of the doubles whilst having dinner tonight and I thought Henry played really well Given that it was always going to be a tough tie, I really believe Leon should have played both Billy and Henry as preparation for the future if nothing else.

I much prefer you pick what you think is your best in the here and now as long as you still have some chance.

One can argue about who were the best picks to get an unlikely win but I wouldn't override that by future prep when so much can and does change anyway.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I think with a fully fit and not exhausted Jack, we beat Argentina and today is irrelevant.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Yeah, as Bob says, it was just one singles win that cost us against Argentina, and Jack was probably the main one that got away - and not his fault, it was an event too far and the stupid timing of these post US Open. Noting none of Sinner, Fritz or Tiafoe played for their countries this week.

9vicman · Satellite level

JonH comes home wrote:
Yeah, as Bob says, it was just one singles win that cost us against Argentina, and Jack was probably the main one that got away - and not his fault, it was an event too far and the stupid timing of these post US Open. Noting none of Sinner, Fritz or Tiafoe played for their countries this week.

But Italy and USA managed to qualify anyway. They have the advantage of greater strength in depth which can be a key to success in this competition.

Tennis Saltire · Junior player

I see from BBC report on today's disappointment, Russell Fuller during his small analysis paragraph at the end states that it's going back to a strange knockout next season so instead of 4 groups of 4 it's going to be 8 ties, though he says it's not been confirmed yet. If that's the case then I'd presume it would be Friday/Saturday as the days for the ties : thinking: I think that would benefit the competition as it means it's highly likely that top players would be willing to play even if they are successful in New York?

9vicman · Satellite level

Wouldn't that basically be two rounds of qualifiers leading into a Final 8?

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Tennis Saltire wrote:
I see from BBC report on today's disappointment, Russell Fuller during his small analysis paragraph at the end states that it's going back to a strange knockout next season so instead of 4 groups of 4 it's going to be 8 ties, though he says it's not been confirmed yet. If that's the case then I'd presume it would be Friday/Saturday as the days for the ties : thinking: I think that would benefit the competition as it means it's highly likely that top players would be willing to play even if they are successful in New York?

This is essentially an acceptance that not fielding a home team in this format didn't work, empty stadiums.

My guess is that if it wasn't Spain's resorts for the finals, stuffed full of euro ex pats, then that format would also fail. Still it's a step in the right direction.

-- Edited by Smudge226 on Monday 16th of September 2024 10:04:28 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Yep - good move back towards something like before

Analysis
Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent
The GB Davis Cup team may have a new look to it next year if Evans does decide to bow out.
And the competition will also look a little different, with September's 16 team group stage reverting to eight knockout ties.
So there will not be six days of tennis in Manchester next September, but GB could still return if awarded a home draw.
The details are yet to be released but teams not offered a wildcard will need to win ties in early February and mid-September to reach the eight-team Finals, which are not sure to stay in Malaga after this year.
The changes will be popular with many players - and will largely avoid two countries battling it out in a neutral venue with little in the way of atmosphere.