Davis Cup- Croatia vs GB

First rubbers are:

Andy Murray vs Borna Coric
Daniel Evans vs Ivan Dodig

I think that the first day will finish at 1-1. I cannot see Murray losing to a 16 year old but I think Dodig will have the quality to beat evans eventhough it is on clay

I'm expecting Murray to win both singles and Evans to beat Coric and the doubles to be a toss up.

Murray might get a hiding on clay

Does Ivo not play DC?

Not a bad 57 shot rally on the 6th point of the match. Murray saves BP at the end of it with a massive forehand. Coric looks a tidy player.

Triple bagel avoided

I think Murray has been reading 606. Throwing in a ridiculous amount of variety in this match. Coric holding his own though.

I wouldn't say too much variety - he's just overplaying the dropshot to death and trying to tire this boy out as quickly as possible. The backhand is working superbly but the serve and forehand? The less said the better.

Yeah, forehand started ok and has steadily got worse - similar to the serve.

Hold on - good backhand, poor forehand, poor first serve percentage, overuse of the dropshot.... I'm sure I've heard that one before.

On another note Coric looks highly impressive. He's a whippet and is returning everything at the moment but he'll be spent shortly because even though he's holding serve so far and playing well, Murray's not giving him many freebies.

I like Andy using the dropshot frequently. I don't think he uses it enough nowadays. It's a rhythm destroyer for an opponent.

Coric playing well but going to be tough for him to sustain this level. Can't really hit through Murray so is having to rely on Andy's misfiring forehand to provide free points - 22 unforced errors in 7 games according to the stats!

The more I think about it the more you're right, I don't see the dropshot that often. The only time he really uses it is when he's struggling for ideas. I remember Murray playing an injured player (Simon?) on clay a couple of years ago and repeatedly drop shotting him. The crowd then started booing after every dropshot!!

I'd like to see even more variety in the last two sets. I know it's clay but why not throw in the odd chip charge. He certainly should have followed a few shots into the net - not sure he hit one volley in that set.

Is that the back hurting? If ever there's a sign to keep clay participation to a minimum....

Jamie Murray should feel a little hard done by not to have been picked for this tie. He has at least one and maybe two titles on clay this year.

If an hour or so on clay is enough to be causing a problem with the back then there must be a serious issue with it.

the back's been a problem for a while now, it didn't look 100% through the American hardcourt swing either. I suspect it's something he's going to have to manage for the rest of his career now really. Certainly he shouldn't play tomorrow, get Fleming and Marray out there, let Murray win his two singles rubbers, that should be enough.

Boric has fought hard but without the firepower to hit through Murray this one was only ever going one way...

Comfortable win for Murray, Coric will be good in the future though. Evans vs Dodig next which should be a very good match.

Croatia are in a great position at the moment with top juniors in both the boys and previously girls. I think Vekic is now a pro and has had some super results this year.

How is Evo on clay?

almost non-existent. Only ever played Futures on clay, with an overall record of 22/12, but this year he's 7/1.

Hmm, Dodig playing well. Evans not looking particularly comfortable on the clay.

started OK, but a few too many silly errors creeping in, and he loses the set 6-3. Needs a good start to the second now...

Cheers MfC Dodig's very competent on the clay and this will be a tough ask for both GB players.

Evans does well to force BP, but then shanks a return, and two more big serves get Dodig out of trouble. Certainly seems to be getting much more out of his serves than Evans at the moment.

Evans very rarely holds serve comfortably. For me, that's his biggest weakness.

Well at least Dan isn't going away. If he can hold serve until the business end of the set then Dodig may get tense. Remember there is a heck of a lot of pressure on the Croat.

Evans won just 2 games more than a 16 year old v the world number 3...

The Special Juan wrote:Evans won just 2 games more than a 16 year old v the world number 3...

Disappointing display if truth be told. He just couldn't break down the Dodig serve. Evans match against Coric now has added importance for a number of reasons. Obviously, for the point for GB but also for himself. He must keep the momentum rolling from his US Open run and to lose to a 16-year-old may knock the stuffing out of him and be a setback.

I thought there were some decent signs for Dan. It's important to remember he's a complete novice on clay and that showed up in some of his play. Dodig also played extremely well - he will be a threat to Andy if the back is still sore.

Decision on whether Andy plays doubles to be made given the back issue. Smart money has to be on holding him back for the singles.

Good news for Lydian. The 2009 cautious, variety laden rope a dope merchant is back  

Dan did play well. Good to see, that he's striving for continued improvement

Is no one interested in the other ties  

Djokovic won his singles and Raonic won his so Serbia and Canada are tied 1/1. The Czech republic are 2/0 up on Argentina.

Nadal and Verdasco won both their singles so Spain lead Ukraine 2/0. Nadal is going to play the doubles with Lopez today.

You are free to start a thread about whatever tie you want hawkeye.

Shouldn't we put our specialist doubles players in the doubles? We have had 3 doubles Wimbledon champs in recent years!

ChequeredJersey wrote:Shouldn't we put our specialist doubles players in the doubles? We have had 3 doubles Wimbledon champs in recent years!

I have a feeling Jonathan Marray will partner Colin Fleming in the doubles in any case in this tie.

Team Flurray win

Good start for Murray in his match against dodig, 5-3 up in first set

Andy has taken the first set 6-4 against Dodig and GB take a tiny step closer to the World Group.

Odd watching Murray here. He looks so much more comfortable than he did at any stage in the clay season. Brutal hitting on both his forehand and backhand. Sublime stop volley for the break.

6-4 6-2

Murray's forehand up-the-line has been devastating today. Dodig's played pretty well but Murray's just a whole level up.

"Quiet please"

And Murray wins 6-4 6-2 6-4 and GB take a winning 3-1 lead and GB are back in the World Group after a long time away. Very good performance from Andy and Dodig played very well as well.

Andy Murray sends GB back into the World Group beating the game Ivan Dodig 6-4 6-2 6-4. Andy played a great game considering it is clay and he was just too good for the Croat. GB back in the big time.

Now I know this is a team game but this tie and result came at exactly the right time for Andy. After a somewhat lacklustre US Open exit hew must have been down so this should act as a great pick-me-up.

Caught the latter stages of the Dodig/Murray rubber and it was high quality tennis from both players.

Andy was in extremely good form and looking every inch the elite player that he is. Some excellent hitting, clever play and an all-round solid performance under no little pressure against a guy who was trying his very best to give the home crowd something to cheer about.

Regardless of the gap in respective rankings, there have been many many cases of 'upsets' in the history of DC tennis, where the better player has fallen victim to the hothouse atmosphere in away venues.

So, well done Andy + team GB for regaining a hard-earned place in the World Group  

Born Slippy wrote:Odd watching Murray here. He looks so much more comfortable than he did at any stage in the clay season. Brutal hitting on both his forehand and backhand. Sublime stop volley for the break.

Damn!! Where's Lydian when you need him?  

The appointment of Leon Smith has been the reason for the improvement in British Tennis for Men. He has been an inspired choice by the LTA

Evo wins the dead rubber 6-4 7-6.

Good for him.

Insignificant in terms of the tie per se, but nonetheless adding to his confidence factor going forward.

lags72 wrote:Good for him.

Insignificant in terms of the tie per se, but nonetheless adding to his confidence factor going forward.

Well I do believe it will earn him some ranking points.

CaledonianCraig wrote:And Murray wins 6-4 6-2 6-4 and GB take a winning 3-1 lead and GB are back in the World Group after a long time away. Very good performance from Andy and Dodig played very well as well.

Please lets keep this in persepective, Murray has been to the FO semi finals and I don't think Dodig has even got past the 1st round there.