Dan Evans called up for Davis Cup semi-final

Strange move this. I'm a big fan of Evans, think he has lots of talent.

To be fair, I am guessing he probably has more chance of winning a match than Ward at the moment. Edmund is obviously injured too.

GB likely to still be relying to two Murray singles wins and the Murray's winning the doubles.

Makes Edmund Kokkinakis a key match, even moreso than before

temporary21 wrote:Makes Edmund Kokkinakis a key match, even moreso than before

Edmund is out injured though.

Murray v Kokkinakis & Evans v Tomic on day 1.

If Aus win the doubles then Evans is going to have to beat Kokkinakis. If GB win doubles then one of them is going to have to beat Murray in singles.

I didn't think Tomic was playing?

Tomic is playing. Kyrgios is not.

Aussie team is Tomic, Kokkinakis, Hewitt & Groth.

The BBC ran two stories: Kyle Edmund injury scare and then later Kyle Edmund comes through injury scare and is available to play.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/34272073

The odds are against any of the British players outside of Murray winning against Kokkinakis or Tomic.  Leon Smith says Ward has lost too many games on the trot to be selected, while Evans has been winning on the lower level tour so will have a better mind set.  Sort of getting back to "mental strength" issues.  I suppose Aljaz Bedene will be considered next year - not being part of this years Davis Cup campaign.  I suppose it is only Dan Evans and Murray that have been winning regularly over the past four months, with others either being injured and not having any recent long matches (Liam Broady, Kyle Edmunds), or just being on long losing streaks (Ward).  So I go along with Leon Smith's decision.  Britain are pulling far above their weight at the moment and their only chance is that Murray remains fit.

Murray a set and a break up vs Kokki.

This court is glacially slow, just how Murray is liking it.

Is it a miffed off John Lloyd and Andrew Castle on commentary duty or that go between prat Jonathan Overend?

The former but they are salivating. Tugging each other off over Murray.

What I like about Lloyd is that I can sense in his tone he wants to stick the boot in on Murray when he is losing, just as a bit of FU for spurning him when he was DC Captain

Man versus Boy Murray beats Kokkinakis 6-3 6-0 6-3.  This should mean Andy Murray might play in the doubles.  Australia are playing Lleyton Hewitt  in the doubles.

Evans played some great tennis in the 2nd but lost it. 2-0 down vs Tomic.

Wow this one ain't over yet.

Fun match this. Lots of sliced backhands.

Evans should really achieve more.

Hats off to Leon Smith. Dan Evan's is almost certainly going to lose this in four sets but he may have a chance against Kokkinakis. Tomic is two steps up in class since the last time Evan's played and beat him. That said Evans has pushed him and the match has panned out exactly like the last time Evan's played him ... except that Tomic is now more experienced and better.

Yeah would give Evans a chance against Kokkinakis on both their form today. Hopefully won't be needed. Certainly better than Ward or Edmund would have produced.

In other news Nadal beat Torpeegard. If you've not heard of him he's a 29 year old tennis player from Mallorca!!

Although I would give Evans a chance against Kokkinakis I realise Australia would likely match him with Hewitt (assuming he is fit enough to do the doubles & singles). Against Hewitt I wouldn't give Evans much chance - Hewitt has too much nous.

Good to hear that Nadal is playing tennis again.

Id rather him play Hewitt, a gutsy man but his tennis level isnt, well , that good anymore.

LuvSports! wrote:Murray a set and a break up vs Kokki.

This court is glacially slow, just how Murray is liking it.

Seemed fairly quick when those well known ace machines Evans and Tomic were combining to fire down 44 aces. Its a medium to fast court, just how Murray likes it.

All the commentators said it was very slow. 
The players too.
It is a slow court. Much slower than the US Open, which is medium fast at best.

Real topsy turvy match here. GB repeatedly coming from behind and unlike Evans yesterday, sneaking it! 2-1 up and on serve 3-3.

Phew boy. Into a fifth. Really tense

It's a sad inditement of the court if it soaks up smashes!

What has Mauresmo done to Andy's serve, he just hit's it so softly now, it's like he's trying to hit it so easy he doesn't fully extend on it and seems to almost mishit it a lot. He needs that 130+ delivery back perhaps not here but in matches against the better returners. Just seem's bizarre to go back to the passive forehand pre lendl and now the serve.

Well the Argies look like going 2 sets up in their doubles match with Belgium and if they take the match and Goffin wins against Mayer tomorrow, what a 5th rubber they have with Darcis and Delbonis who are separated by 1 place in the rankings! Tantalising stuff.

Jamie it would be good if you could clear the net. Just saying.

Wow. What a slug of a doubles match that was.

Got to fancy GB from here.

Phew that's a really close doubles.

Impressive result from the Murrays but worries that Andy Murray is overly stressing that back. He will need plenty of rest after tomorrow.

Nore Staat wrote:Impressive result from the Murrays but worries that Andy Murray is overly stressing that back.  He will need plenty of rest after tomorrow.

Apparently, he'll only play in the two Masters before O2 and a potential Davis Cup final

It'd been a good idea, if he'd thought about his busy schedule a couple of months ago, i.e. not gone to Washington and not played Cinci

Aside Well done to Naomi Broady for getting to a WTA semi-final for the first time.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/34305874

I have been checking on Laura Robson, she hasn't played it seems since the US Open and her record from Wimbledon to US Open, three ITF tournaments losing 3 out of 4 matches and losing in the second round of a WTA qualifier suggests she may no longer have the desire or ability to get back to the top 200. http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/15680/title/laura-robson

Schwartzman has come in for Mayer in Belgium.

Wow. This could turn the tie in favour of Belgium.

Stick a fork in Castle, he's done.

"Everyone remembers Darcis. He put Nadal in the first round of slam at Wimbledon in 2011"

oh Andrew...
Andy 2 sets and a break now.

IF he does do this, I think he should miss the 02. A DC final would be his major this year.

I disagree temp.

I think he should play the O2. If his plan is on course for the remainder of the year and the 3 ranking is in the bag, he doesn't want to show up  at the DC with lack of match practice.

Goffin downs Schwartzman in 3.

Darcis/Delbonis it is to decide who goes through. Hope Eurosport shows that one.

Id be afraid hed get overcooked if he did that. He needs to win 3 on the bounce again most likely

Dunno about that temp. 

I think the danger team are out the way. I think Ward/Edmund would have a chance against a Delbonis/Schwartzman or a Darcis.

As far as I can tell
If Argentina win Britain get a home tie.
If Belgium win the final will be held in Belgium.

If Britain win the Davis Cup then I would be happy for Andy to win Sports Personality of the Year despite Mo Farah's & Chris Froome's record breaking years.

Murray reveals he was struggling badly with his back throughout the weekend and was trying to disguise it.  Let's hope he recovers and looks after himself.

If Belgium win the expectation is that the final will be played on clay ...  I don't think Andy could do three potentially five set matches on clay on successive days in autumn following a long season.

Belgium chose hard courts for their match against Argentina, presumably because Argentina have a tradition of clay court tennis.

legendkillarV2 wrote:I disagree temp.

I think he should play the O2. If his plan is on course for the remainder of the year and the 3 ranking is in the bag, he doesn't want to show up  at the DC with lack of match practice.

The aim for this year should be the number 2 ranking. Bar injury, the likelihood is that he needs to play the O2 to make that happen.

If I was Murray I would have Davis Cup as my no 1 priority for the rest of the year by far. He may not get another chance.

Following on from Henman Bill I would say Murray's Joint Priority for the rest of the year: His Back & the Davis Cup.  Everything else is subsidiary.  I would even drop out of the two masters & the end of year World Tour Final.  Two grand slams including Wimbledon in the era of Federer, Nadal & Djokovic + Olympic Gold + Davis Cup (almost single handedly) would give him a lasting legacy in British tennis (which couldn't be much bettered. A period ranked at World No. 1 would be a bonus) plus an honorary mention in the history of the sport of tennis.

Forget the number 2. He won't ever get number 1. It's about key titles a dc win would be unreal. His seed protection doesn't matter that much

I pretty much concur the above comments. It's clear at this point that the DC for Murray is priority given that next year's WG will have some heavyweights and likelihood is GB won't have a better chance than they do right now.

Sorry, I meant the other priority (other than the DC) should be YE2. That sets him up perfectly for an assault in Australia and is within sight with a near 1000 point lead over Fed.

Darcis is serving for the tie. Looking like GB headed to Belgium.

Delbonis saves MP and breaks!