Country Cups (Davis Cup, Fed/BJK Cup)

[ashkor87]

Italy up a set in doubs now..

[ashkor87]

Note to US: next time, get a captain who respects doubles..Fish evidently thinks anyone can play doubles .

[ashkor87]

And it is over for the US- beaten by Italy in the crucial, deciding doubles

[Deuce]

Interesting that Canada is not participating. I'm glad, as I view this as just another gimmick designed to bring in money.

What on Earth are the criteria for qualifying? I mean, Canada's players are certainly stronger than the players of some of the countries who have 'qualified'.
Perhaps kissing certain people's ass is a significant part of the 'qualification' process, and the Canadians have simply refused to do it...

The criteria are that you need to have players sign up for the tournament. None of the top Canadian men had signed up. That seems very odd, as Canada did so well at the ATP Cup (which this is replacing) this year.

What is the problem with "bringing in money"? Do you think the players should still be amateurs, playing for the love of the game? And this tournament is a great replacement for the totally unnecessary ATP Cup, which essentially duplicated the Davis Cup finals two months later, and the former Hopman Cup. An opportunity for men and women to play together as teams should be celebrated, not scorned.

Huh? Canada is in the Qfs, playing Germany next

^ We were referring to the 'United Cup', not Davis Cup.

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]

Note to US: next time, get a captain who respects doubles..Fish evidently thinks anyone can play doubles .

Remember when he didn't pick Rajeev Ram for the US team? Several of us commented about him not picking real doubles specialist(s) for the team.

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]

[Deuce]

Canada is getting their rear end handed to them by Germany...
Shapovalov lost to Struff in a match Denis would have won if he possessed more maturity. He lost the 1st set, but won the 2nd, and had the clear momentum. But a few shaky points caused him to completely unravel for long enough for Struff to break him and grab the momentum. Denis got it to a tiebreak, then lost it.

Right now, they're playing the deciding doubles, and Germany has just won the 1st set easily 6-2 over Shapovalov and Pospisil. Vasek is a solid doubles player, but, even though Denis is a decent doubles player, I question the choice of Denis for the doubles in a must win match. He simply doesn't possess the maturity to stay calm and focused, as one must in a big match. And this affects Pospisil, as Vasek feels that he must do everything to carry the team himself.
It's not a good dynamic.

Should have pulled my buddy Shamasdin, whom I've hit with a couple of times, off the bench to partner Vasek.

[Deuce]

Well, Shapovalov and Pospisil somehow shook off that terrible 1st set and won it in 3.
They didn't need Adil after all - just the threat of him coming in scared them into playing much better.

[ashkor87]

Note to US: next time, get a captain who respects doubles..Fish evidently thinks anyone can play doubles .

Fish now joins a long list of captains who have lost matches on their own, without touching a racket..Rinaldi is already on it, so is Guy Forget...

[meganfernandez]

Note to US: next time, get a captain who respects doubles..Fish evidently thinks anyone can play doubles .

Remember when he didn't pick Rajeev Ram for the US team? Several of us commented about him not picking real doubles specialist(s) for the team.

The weird thing is, Fish didn't just "not pick" Ram. He left him off the team. He didn't fill the fifth spot on the roster. Could have taken Krajicek, too. I wouldn't have jumped to any conclusions, but Ram made it clear that he was surprised and disappointed be be left off the roster. What a bizarre call by Fish.

[ti-amie]

Wait he never filled the fifth spot? No one told him?

[ashkor87]

Australia proved yet again that motivation matters more than ability in Davis Cup,! Beat Croatia ...!!

[ashkor87]

Wait he never filled the fifth spot? No one told him?

Sounds weird..almost like a personal vendetta...