2014 Davis Cup

[Kieran]

That Roddick match epitomised everything that was lacking in Nalbandian at slam level. He took a peek into the final, and couldn't get the job done. He led by 2 sets, and had match point in the third. It can be brutal at that level, and you often don't get second chances if you're too frail to take the first chance. For Nalbandian, this kind of defeat was not uncommon in his career when there was something huge on the line...

 

[tennisville]

That Roddick match epitomised everything that was lacking in Nalbandian at slam level. He took a peek into the final, and couldn't get the job done. He led by 2 sets, and had match point in the third. It can be brutal at that level, and you often don't get second chances if you're too frail to take the first chance. For Nalbandian, this kind of defeat was not uncommon in his career when there was something huge on the line...

Scheduling did play a part there. The schedule was hugely biased towards Roddick in that event

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Here is the complete list of french players ranked in top 100 from which DC captain can pick the team.

12 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA) 3,065
16 Monfils, Gael (FRA) 1,915
21 Gasquet, Richard (FRA) 1,745
28 Benneteau, Julien (FRA) 1,205
34 Simon, Gilles (FRA) 1,130
35 Chardy, Jeremy (FRA) 1,105
53 Roger-Vasselin, Edouard (FRA) 850
74 Mannarino, Adrian (FRA) 700
84 Mathieu, Paul-Henri (FRA) 645
89 Paire, Benoit (FRA) 625

Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin are doing great as a doubles team and I would not
disturb them. Given that Gael is injured, they will probably go with Tsonga and
Gasquet for Singles. But, Gasquet is a mental midget in beating top players. So,
they may decide to drop him and go for Simon. I don't think they will let Benneteau
play singles on clay.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Its amazing how Gasquet and Wawrinka have only met twice, and one of them was 2006.
The other of course was 2013 Roland Garros 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 8-6.

 

[isabelle]

According to jowiltsonga.fr; Jo has a virus and is in doubt for Shanghai, he needs some rest before DC's final....not a good news at all. La Monf is already out for 6 weeks, and now Tsonga....hope both of them'll recover soon

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It looks like French folks are accusing Fed of of Gamesmanship for making it public that he is practicing on clay in the middle of indoor season.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

^Much ado about nothing...who cares what Simon says anyways?

 

[masterclass]

I still think the French team made a questionable choice choosing clay, since I believe their best players play their best on faster hard court. But it is what it is.

The potential French player team have no doubt been practicing on clay non-stop. We will see their results indoors post Shanghai. Let's see how many DC French players make it past a second round.

The trouble is, they thought Stan and Roger would be totally playing/practicing on hard and would not be prepared for clay. Roger sent that picture message...and look what happened. French start to panic with calls of gamesmanship.. Very funny. :lolz:

As I said somewhere else, but it's more appropriate here, it wouldn't surprise me if Stan were practicing on clay 80% or more of the time after Shanghai. The Swiss winning the Davis Cup is extremely important for him. As he said after the Australian Open, winning Davis Cup was the goal for the rest of the year.

Federer said that if he had not done well in Shanghai, that he and Stan would probably have only played doubles in Basel. But since he did do well, and he has a legitimate chance for Year End #1, his focus has shifted to doing that, Davis Cup comes later. Stan can continue to focus on Davis Cup, play a few matches until then to stay match ready, and be fresh for Davis Cup.

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[DarthFed]

Have to disagree Masterclass, I think choosing clay was the right thing to do and seeing what Roger has done the past couple weeks on the fast indoor courts (Shanghai is basically played indoors) seems to confirm that. Playing on an indoor hard court probably gives the Swiss a 2-0 edge but making it clay gives them a chance to get a win against Roger.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Not to mention, they have an established doubles pair in Benneteau- Roger Vasselin
who won the French Open this year and who have qualified for WTF several weeks ago.

 

[mrzz]

I agree with masterclass. The french are not good enough clay courters to make it stick, IMO. Federer is miles away from anyone in their team on clay. And Wawrinka is a good clay courter too. I would have gone to high bouncing hards. There are two one handed back hands on the Swiss team after all (even if I think Federer's bh is much improved this season).

They are just betting on the Swiss being unable to adapt. Anyway, they surely now better than me, but, by choosing one surface which clearly is not the favourite one of their own players, it sends the message that they betting on their adversaries shortcomings, rather than in their own strenghts. It has choke written all over it.

 

[10isfan]

Sorry if these questions were addressed before. I am wondering whether the ball brand was announced, and how line judges are chosen. Thanks for any insights.

 

[isabelle]

I agree with masterclass. The french are not good enough clay courters to make it stick, IMO. Federer is miles away from anyone in their team on clay. And Wawrinka is a good clay courter too. I would have gone to high bouncing hards. There are two one handed back hands on the Swiss team after all (even if I think Federer's bh is much improved this season).

They are just betting on the Swiss being unable to adapt. Anyway, they surely now better than me, but, by choosing one surface which clearly is not the favourite one of their own players, it sends the message that they betting on their adversaries shortcomings, rather than in their own strenghts. It has choke written all over it.

Federer miles away from French players ??? He was beaten by Chardy this year on clay, and last year by Tsonga in 3 sets. Moreover Gasquet beat him twice on clay...so I guess any Froggy can beat him on clay especially in 5 sets

 

[Federberg]

^I have to agree with Isabelle. Of all the surfaces they could pick, clay has to be the best choice for the French. The fact that it's indoor has to be a concern for them as that means Roger's serve will probably be dangerous, but at the same time it should be more retrievable. It's his worst surface and most of the French guys are decent on clay. It would be insane to go for an indoor hard-court. I mean.. Roger has the best stats of all time on that surface! He's still the favourite against everyone he plays, but it's by no means a done deal on that surface. If they can just keep him on court for a long time it increases the chances of an upset in his second match. He will have played a lot by then

 

[DarthFed]

Well put Federberg. If Roger shows up decent at all on an indoor hard it'd be 2-0 to start the Davis Cup. Clay gives them a chance against him.

 

[Denis]

The French should have gone for indoor grass (if that is possible). By far worst surface for Stan and with Tsonga, Gasquet, Llodra, etc they have some pretty good players to win two singles and one doubles rubber.

 

[brokenshoelace]

The French should have gone for indoor grass (if that is possible). By far worst surface for Stan and with Tsonga, Gasquet, Llodra, etc they have some pretty good players to win two singles and one doubles rubber.

Not sure that's possible since I don't know if they even have such courts ready, but indoor grass is pretty much guaranteeing Switzerland two wins. Stan is not a bad grass court player at all and could very well beat Gasquet on that surface.

I still think the French made the right choice. Federer is the guy you worry about and it makes sense to put him on his worst surface.

 

[Denis]

The French should have gone for indoor grass (if that is possible). By far worst surface for Stan and with Tsonga, Gasquet, Llodra, etc they have some pretty good players to win two singles and one doubles rubber.

Not sure that's possible since I don't know if they even have such courts ready, but indoor grass is pretty much guaranteeing Switzerland two wins. Stan is not a bad grass court player at all and could very well beat Gasquet on that surface.

I still think the French made the right choice. Federer is the guy you worry about and it makes sense to put him on his worst surface.

I think clay is a fine choice for sure, but I really doubt Stan would beat Gasquet on grass. It is his worst surface. By far. Yes, he might have won Den Bosch once, but that is more like a challenger event on something that looks like grass.

its about winning 3 rubbers, not about having a decent shot at 5 of them and then losing them all.

 

[isabelle]

Stan plays double with Paes in Bercy by the way...does it mean that he won't play double with Youngderer in DC's final ??? If not, they would have entered together uh ??? I suppose Youngderer'll only play singles and let another players play double match ??? Wait and see

 

[Haelfix]

Grass is a bad choice for the French. Federer wins one match in a blowout and the other against Jo is still heavy favorite and you risk losing the doubles before you even talk about Stan (yes he probably loses to Gasquet but then the next match is 50-50).

Slow hards is bad. Federer has victimized Tsonga at the AO for years now, and neither Monfils/Gasquet is going to challenge him. Maybe Simon might play him hard, but again I doubt it. And then Stan probably takes 1/2 and the match is over.

Fast hards is a little better. Both Simon and Tsonga have some ~40% chance of winning against Federer, but then Wawrinka's odds massively increase and you gotta like Stan/Federer in doubles as well. Lets say its even.

Clay is the one surface where you really have a significant chance of blanking Stan, and while Federer is still favorite to go 2-0 you have Tsonga/Monfils who can potentially cause an upset for one of the matches (use Monfils to grind Federer down and get him tired for the next match) and the doubles is probably the least appropriate surface for Fed/Stan.

Its a great tactical move, and imo makes the French very slight favorites.