2014 Davis Cup

[GameSetAndMath]

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

Roger is playing heavy schedule and so he decided not to play doubles in Bercy. That does not
mean he will not play doubles in Bercy.

The strategy of the Swiss for doubles will be as follows:

If they have 2 wins going into the doubles , Chiudinelli and Yammer will play doubles. Both Rog and Stan will sit out.

If they have 1 win only, Stan & Chiudinelli will play doubles. Rog will sit out.

If they have 0 wins, both Rog and Stan will play doubles.

 

[Denis]

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.

Blanking Stan on clay? It's his best surface and Gasquet and Tsonga's worst. I don't think so.

I get the choice for clay, don't get me wrong, but it is also a risky one because you are putting Stan into play.

It is unlikely that you will get a rubber against Federer regardless of the surface (Federer is still the thrid-best claycourt player out there), and therefore you need to think how to hurt the other players.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

France announces their team . They have named the following four players: Tsonga, Monfils, Simon and Gasquet. They also say, they may bring in Benneteau at the last moment.

The team can only consist of four players in live rubbers. But, they are allowed to change
the team until 24 hours before the opening match. But, the captain Clement says, it is unlikely
that he will change the team he announced today.

The team members are on to a boot camp for training now. They are taking it very seriously.

 

[Billie]

^^ Do I detect a little bit of fear or concern, GSM?

 

[Denis]

France announces their team . They have named the following four players: Tsonga, Monfils, Simon and Gasquet. They also say, they may bring in Benneteau at the last moment.

The team can only consist of four players in live rubbers. But, they are allowed to change
the team until 24 hours before the opening match. But, the captain Clement says, it is unlikely
that he will change the team he announced today.

The team members are on to a boot camp for training now. They are taking it very seriously.

Cool. I like that they are both taking it so seriously and that it will come down to a team effort. I'll be watching this.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

^^ Do I detect a little bit of fear or concern, GSM?

Yes, I do have concerns, especially with Stan doing terrible since USo (or is it even before that) and Fed being possibly overextended as he has played lot of matches.

 

[Billie]

^^ Do I detect a little bit of fear or concern, GSM?

Yes, I do have concerns, especially with Stan doing terrible since USo (or is it even before that) and Fed being possibly overextended as he has played lot of matches.

But my point is that you worry yourself about things you don't have any impact on. Who knows maybe Stan gets inspired and wins both of his matches, but Federer loses? Or they both win both of them and it is an easy victory for them.

BTW, I tell this to my Nole fans friends when they are too concerned about him as well. Just try to enjoy and what happens, happens, hope for the best.

 

[Kieran]

The French have left out their FO winning doubles team, Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin? I think they'd have been a better choice than Gasquet and Monfils, who most likely will drop a calf in any of their matches...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The French have left out their FO winning doubles team, Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin? I think they'd have been a better choice than Gasquet and Monfils, who most likely will drop a calf in any of their matches...

Roger-Vasselin won't get into the team as he is too low profile and cannot possible play
singles. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to include two players in a team of four players with just
one match in mind. But, I think they will include Benneteau in the end
at the expense of one of the four guys currently selected based on their performance in the
boot camp and injury situation.

But, Benneteau will just play doubles along with one other player who was not chosen
to play singles.

 

[Billie]

The French have left out their FO winning doubles team, Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin? I think they'd have been a better choice than Gasquet and Monfils, who most likely will drop a calf in any of their matches...

I don't understand that decision as well. The French made a tactical error in their final rubber against that 2010 DC final vs Serbia. I often find it that people try to overthink the situation and make it more complicated and more difficult than necessary.uzzled

 

[Kieran]

The French have left out their FO winning doubles team, Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin? I think they'd have been a better choice than Gasquet and Monfils, who most likely will drop a calf in any of their matches...

Roger-Vasselin won't get into the team as he is too low profile and cannot possible play
singles. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to include two players in a team of four players with just
one match in mind. But, I think they will include Benneteau in the end
at the expense of one of the four guys currently selected based on their performance in the
boot camp and injury situation.

But, Benneteau will just play doubles along with one other player who was not chosen
to play singles.

I thought part of the rationale for playing on clay was that at least they'd be favourites in the doubles? Benneteau +1 isn't exactly Mac +1, but he's prolly better at doubles than the others. I'm not sure how they'll place their singles matches now, because I just can't see Monfils or Gasquet getting a win...

 

[Denis]

The French have left out their FO winning doubles team, Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin? I think they'd have been a better choice than Gasquet and Monfils, who most likely will drop a calf in any of their matches...

Roger-Vasselin won't get into the team as he is too low profile and cannot possible play
singles. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to include two players in a team of four players with just
one match in mind. But, I think they will include Benneteau in the end
at the expense of one of the four guys currently selected based on their performance in the
boot camp and injury situation.

But, Benneteau will just play doubles along with one other player who was not chosen
to play singles.

I thought part of the rationale for playing on clay was that at least they'd be favourites in the doubles? Benneteau +1 isn't exactly Mac +1, but he's prolly better at doubles than the others. I'm not sure how they'll place their singles matches now, because I just can't see Monfils or Gasquet getting a win...

The court selection makes less sense now, that's for sure.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

^^ Do I detect a little bit of fear or concern, GSM?

Yes, I do have concerns, especially with Stan doing terrible since USo (or is it even before that) and Fed being possibly overextended as he has played lot of matches.

But my point is that you worry yourself about things you don't have any impact on. Who knows maybe Stan gets inspired and wins both of his matches, but Federer loses? Or they both win both of them and it is an easy victory for them.

BTW, I tell this to my Nole fans friends when they are too concerned about him as well. Just try to enjoy and what happens, happens, hope for the best.

Come on, none of us have any impact on the result of any professional match. If we stop
worrying about them, we might as well close this forum and go to bed.

 

[Billie]

Well I understand discussing it a bit, but calculating matches not yet won or lost over and over again, that seems a bit too much to me. But don't mind me, just continue with your worrying.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I would say it would have to be in this order: JoWillieTs, Monfils,Simon, Richie G and Benne for Singles..

Monfils is out for 6 weeks now with a knee injury. Scratch him off that list. Tsonga's very inconsistent and if we're talking guys who trouble Roger especially I'd say Simon and Benneteau personally first.

Didnt you tell me that Monfils was out.. he competed last week in Paris

 

[the AntiPusher]

The French have left out their FO winning doubles team, Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin? I think they'd have been a better choice than Gasquet and Monfils, who most likely will drop a calf in any of their matches...

Roger-Vasselin won't get into the team as he is too low profile and cannot possible play
singles. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to include two players in a team of four players with just
one match in mind. But, I think they will include Benneteau in the end
at the expense of one of the four guys currently selected based on their performance in the
boot camp and injury situation.

But, Benneteau will just play doubles along with one other player who was not chosen
to play singles.

I thought part of the rationale for playing on clay was that at least they'd be favourites in the doubles? Benneteau +1 isn't exactly Mac +1, but he's prolly better at doubles than the others. I'm not sure how they'll place their singles matches now, because I just can't see Monfils or Gasquet getting a win...

What the heck are the French doing leaving out Benneteau, that's insane.. no wonder that is such a historically weak spined country.. JoWillieTS and Monfils will have to win 3 of the 4 singles.. I trust Monfils because this is the type of stuff he lives for but not Richie G.. he has historically always been one of Fed's primary pigeon bitches.. Good Grief.. they might as well just hand the darn cup to Roger and the swiss team

 

[Denis]

The French have left out their FO winning doubles team, Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin? I think they'd have been a better choice than Gasquet and Monfils, who most likely will drop a calf in any of their matches...

Roger-Vasselin won't get into the team as he is too low profile and cannot possible play
singles. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to include two players in a team of four players with just
one match in mind. But, I think they will include Benneteau in the end
at the expense of one of the four guys currently selected based on their performance in the
boot camp and injury situation.

But, Benneteau will just play doubles along with one other player who was not chosen
to play singles.

I thought part of the rationale for playing on clay was that at least they'd be favourites in the doubles? Benneteau +1 isn't exactly Mac +1, but he's prolly better at doubles than the others. I'm not sure how they'll place their singles matches now, because I just can't see Monfils or Gasquet getting a win...

What the heck are the French doing leaving out Benneteau, that's insane.. no wonder that is such a historically weak spined country.. JoWillieTS and Monfils will have to win 3 of the 4 singles.. I trust Monfils because this is the type of stuff he lives for but not Richie G.. he has historically always been one of Fed's primary pigeon bitches.. Good Grief.. they might as well just hand the darn cup to Roger and the swiss team

I think Benneteau is not officially out yet. They still have to announce their team.

I can see JWT and le Monf beating Stan. But even if that happens they still need to take the doubles rubber and I don't see that happening right now. Could be over by Saturday.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Roger-Vasselin won't get into the team as he is too low profile and cannot possible play
singles. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to include two players in a team of four players with just
one match in mind. But, I think they will include Benneteau in the end
at the expense of one of the four guys currently selected based on their performance in the
boot camp and injury situation.

But, Benneteau will just play doubles along with one other player who was not chosen
to play singles.

Agreed.. Also, Fed may loose to either guy so you are correct, it may by over after Saturday's double.. However, if it comes down to a match 5and if Roger is playing the rubber, the Swiss will win it.

I thought part of the rationale for playing on clay was that at least they'd be favourites in the doubles? Benneteau +1 isn't exactly Mac +1, but he's prolly better at doubles than the others. I'm not sure how they'll place their singles matches now, because I just can't see Monfils or Gasquet getting a win...

What the heck are the French doing leaving out Benneteau, that's insane.. no wonder that is such a historically weak spined country.. JoWillieTS and Monfils will have to win 3 of the 4 singles.. I trust Monfils because this is the type of stuff he lives for but not Richie G.. he has historically always been one of Fed's primary pigeon bitches.. Good Grief.. they might as well just hand the darn cup to Roger and the swiss team

I think Benneteau is not officially out yet. They still have to announce their team.

I can see JWT and le Monf beating Stan. But even if that happens they still need to take the doubles rubber and I don't see that happening right now. Could be over by Saturday.

 

[Denis]

^ looking to fill up some space on the internet?

 

[mrzz]

...if I were the French, I would have called Roger-Vasselin and Benneteau without even blinking. This would be a guaranteed point, plus Benneteau is decent singles player who can trouble Federer, if one of the other two, presumably the singles players, happen to falter.

Benneteau + another one, however, is a different story.

Forgettin the names for a second, logic says that the #2 player in the world is the favourite to win both his matches against players out of the top 10. So they should try limit damage by having one point in the bag by themselves. What is the difference of changing their #3 singles player by ERV? He would be a huge underdog anyway (before you say "Simon", look at his results on clay).