peasy23 Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Flanders Expo Arena in Ghent is seemingly the Belgians preferred venue, will be confirmed tomorrow. As expected they want to go on clay, and if they get their wish then it's reported that Andy Murray will opt out of the World Tour finals. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Interesting... I presumed that wouldn't be on the cards as it only holds 13,000 but they must have some reason. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Connolly Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Flanders Expo Arena in Ghent is seemingly the Belgians preferred venue, will be confirmed tomorrow. As expected they want to go on clay, and if they get their wish then it's reported that Andy Murray will opt out of the World Tour finals. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds are Forever Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Wonder if it's a bit of a bluff by Murray coming out and saying he would miss the WTF to prepare for Davis Cup if they go with clay. Would the Belgiums prefer a tired Murray on hard courts who's just played the WTF, or a well rested, prepared Murray on clay who's missed the WTF. Also interesting that Chris Kermode of the ATP saying Murray has to take part in the WTF unless he's injured. Not really sure how they can force him to play it if he just claims he has a sore back, couldn't prove otherwise. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Wonder if it's a bit of a bluff by Murray coming out and saying he would miss the WTF to prepare for Davis Cup if they go with clay. Would the Belgiums prefer a tired Murray on hard courts who's just played the WTF, or a well rested, prepared Murray on clay who's missed the WTF. Also interesting that Chris Kermode of the ATP saying Murray has to take part in the WTF unless he's injured. Not really sure how they can force him to play it if he just claims he has a sore back, couldn't prove otherwise. That was my thinking as well. A bluff to see what the Belgians are thinking. Goffin is good on clay, but Darcis ain't. Edmund came through qualifying and a round at the French this year before withdrawing injured. With the state of Murray's back I think it would be really easy for him to get a medical exemption. You would take Murray to beat Goffin and Darcis on clay every time. If he does sacrifice the WTF to win the Davis Cup you have to admire his commitment. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Woolshed Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'm maybe being a touch cynical but I think this will be our only real shot at this. You'd think he would maybe have another handful at the end of season masters finals. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkoRaj Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Didn't Federer miss the wtf last year to play in the davis cup or have I read that wrong somewhere? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'm maybe being a touch cynical but I think this will be our only real shot at this. You'd think he would maybe have another handful at the end of season masters finals. That's my thinking too tbh, they have done very well to get there, but it's no coincidence that it's almost 40 years since our last final appearance. We simply don't have enough quality players. Murray isn't daft, he knows he can't keep murdering himself in 3 high intensity matches in as many days a few times a year. I think he wants to put all his energies into the Davis Cup as this could be his only chance to win it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Didn't Federer miss the wtf last year to play in the davis cup or have I read that wrong somewhere? No he put Wawrinka out in the semi final which resulted in an alleged scuffle in the locker room, and he withdrew from the final citing a back injury. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds are Forever Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 (edited) That was my thinking as well. A bluff to see what the Belgians are thinking. Goffin is good on clay, but Darcis ain't. Edmund came through qualifying and a round at the French this year before withdrawing injured. With the state of Murray's back I think it would be really easy for him to get a medical exemption. You would take Murray to beat Goffin and Darcis on clay every time. If he does sacrifice the WTF to win the Davis Cup you have to admire his commitment. I'm not really sure why else Murray would openly, and voluntarily, admit this early that he'll miss the WTF. Darcis has been further at the French Open than any other slam, as has Goffin. And obviously it's Murray's weakest surface. So only way they'd possibly play on hard courts would be if they didn't want a fully rested Murray and would rather take their chance with a fatigued Murray who's just reached the semi-final/final of the WTF. Of course he could skip the WTF even if it was held on hard courts, so if they played that game they could get stung. Edited September 21, 2015 by Diamonds are Forever 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booitsme7 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Belgium have confirmed today that the Davis Cup final against GB will be held indoors on clay at the 13,000 capacity Flanders Expo in Ghent. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Belgium have confirmed today that the Davis Cup final against GB will be held indoors on clay at the 13,000 capacity Flanders Expo in Ghent. I think it's a bit of a stupid decision. A quicker surface would allow Goffin to play his more attacking game against Murray, allowing him to dictate play. Darcis has no chance whatever on a slow clay surface against Murray. GB have a far better doubles team, even if Andy didn't play with Jamie. Edmund has already beaten Darcis.. Ward played extremely well on clay away to the USA to get a point for GB. Although they are trying to nullify Murray by picking his weakest surface, they have also nullified themselves. If Murray was to win three points in the final he would be only the second person to win eight singles points for their country since the introduction of the modern world group format in 1981. John McEnroe went 8-0 and 4-0 in doubles in 1982. Getting those three points would be the second greatest Davis Cup showing. There is not a chance that Murray will lose a singles match, he wants to win this every bit as much as he did his first grand slam. Jamie is inspired playing doubles, certainly has outshone his brother in the three matches they have played. Quite incredible that Darcis Vs Edmund/Ward could possibly the most exciting match of the year if it does to a decisive fifth rubber. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-coo-shed Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 I think it's a bit of a stupid decision. A quicker surface would allow Goffin to play his more attacking game against Murray, allowing him to dictate play. Darcis has no chance whatever on a slow clay surface against Murray. GB have a far better doubles team, even if Andy didn't play with Jamie. Edmund has already beaten Darcis.. Ward played extremely well on clay away to the USA to get a point for GB. Although they are trying to nullify Murray by picking his weakest surface, they have also nullified themselves. If Murray was to win three points in the final he would be only the second person to win eight singles points for their country since the introduction of the modern world group format in 1981. John McEnroe went 8-0 and 4-0 in doubles in 1982. Getting those three points would be the second greatest Davis Cup showing. There is not a chance that Murray will lose a singles match, he wants to win this every bit as much as he did his first grand slam. Jamie is inspired playing doubles, certainly has outshone his brother in the three matches they have played. Quite incredible that Darcis Vs Edmund/Ward could possibly the most exciting match of the year if it does to a decisive fifth rubber. Agreed. Espeically since Murray has been great on clay this year and Edmund managed to get to the 2nd round of Roland Garros. I'm all for Andy putting as much preparation as possible into the Davis Cup Final, but a bit of me hopes that he plays as much as he can in the World Finals despite this. There is a still a good chance he can get no.2 by the end of the year, which is crucial for the Aussie Open. I'm confident he could do well in the Tour Finals and still beat Goffin/Darcis on the first day, especially if it is Darcis first. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Agreed. Espeically since Murray has been great on clay this year and Edmund managed to get to the 2nd round of Roland Garros. I'm all for Andy putting as much preparation as possible into the Davis Cup Final, but a bit of me hopes that he plays as much as he can in the World Finals despite this. There is a still a good chance he can get no.2 by the end of the year, which is crucial for the Aussie Open. I'm confident he could do well in the Tour Finals and still beat Goffin/Darcis on the first day, especially if it is Darcis first. It will definitely be Murray Vs Darcis on the first day. They changed the rules at the start of last year so it is 1s vs 2s on the Friday, and then 1 v1 in the fourth and 2 v 2 in the fifth. GB were drawn against Japan in Round One next year. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChoppeReid Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/09/25/serena-williams-poses-topless-for-calendar-photographed-by-annie-leibovitz/ Mark 30 November in the diary 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bairn Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 It will definitely be Murray Vs Darcis on the first day. They changed the rules at the start of last year so it is 1s vs 2s on the Friday, and then 1 v1 in the fourth and 2 v 2 in the fifth. GB were drawn against Japan in Round One next year. That's been the rule for over a decade, not a new things at all 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Whats Andy's schedule for the next few weeks? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-coo-shed Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 I think his next tournament will be the shanghai masters in October. What a difference a year makes with regards to his scheduling. He was playing in practically everything at this year point last year! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-coo-shed Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 As in the Asian tournaments! Will be interesting to see how many ranking points he loses compares to Federer over the next month by not defending his points from last year. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Johanna Konta going well in China. Beat Simona Halep and now faces Venus Williams in the QFs. Apparently she has won 21 of her last 22 matches. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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