I don't think that Cilic would be good enough to trouble Andy or Tim at the moment, not enough consistency yet
I think clay is our best option as if Ljubicic and Ancic are both fit and willing, they'll be the two players picked. Neither are complete mugs on clay, Ljubo made RG semis last year and Ancic also made quarters plus did well in some of the masters series. However, they're nowhere near as formidable on clay as on indoor or grass and I'd back Andy to beat both on clay. An inspired Henman could also have a better chance against Ancic on clay....he took him apart on slow hard in Tokyo in October.
I doubt Ivo would beat Fed comfortably on grass/indoors unless Fed had an absolute shocker. OK, with Ivo on top form, Fed would have very few chances but unless other players he reads the serve so well off the racket and when he can get the ball in play, he's got to be massive fav. How would Ivo break Fed ?? OK his baseline game has improved over the past year but he's still very hit and miss.
Lloyd said on the beeb that he feels clay will be our best option surface-wise. I've heard rumours that it's going to be in Scotland, where the Scottish Open is held....really hope not, I'll be able to go to the Croatia tie and it'd cost me a bomb to take train to Scotland and get a hotel for the night.
Hopefully it'll be held in Bournemouth, facilities there are excellent as they used to have an ATP....either that or maybe they can lay some clay in London/Birmingham
I'm told that grass is now the favoured surface for this tie, Wimbledon's court 1 and Nottingham's grass courts are the favoured venues atm
Tbh I think that if we choose grass it's a massive error with Ljubicic, Ancic and Karlovic in the Croatia team....they'll simply serve us out of the tie. On grass, it'd be by no means certain by Andy would get 1 rubber for us, never mind Tim
Maybe grass is playing to their strengths (although didn't someone say Ljubicic has retired from Davis Cup?) but it's also playing to ours. You can't deny that the Brits nearly all seem to save their best for grass add to that a home Davis Cup spot and it may be the edge we need. Yes it's not Andy's best/fav surface but it's a team of 4 and whilst we want him to be able to win his rubbers i don't think grass is going to hinder him all that much. Basically I think this is going to be a very tough match whatever surface we play on so playing to the strengths of our team and giving them as much help as possible is very sensible in my eyes.
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To look at a thing is quite different from seeing a thing and one does not see anything until one sees its beauty
Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience
Dont you think they should be asking Andy Murray which surface he favours as he after all will more than likely be playing 3 of the 5 matches.
Simon he will be....Andy does like clay...and grass....pity we cant uproot the flushing meadows surface and ship it over !!!
Why can't we? We don't even have to tell the Yanks. That's what the SAS are for!
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Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience
Dont you think they should be asking Andy Murray which surface he favours as he after all will more than likely be playing 3 of the 5 matches.
Simon he will be....Andy does like clay...and grass....pity we cant uproot the flushing meadows surface and ship it over !!!
Why can't we? We don't even have to tell the Yanks. That's what the SAS are for!
Either that or hold the tie at Flushing Meadows on the basis that the last 150years of American independence were a coup and it's really still a part of GB.
I've made this thread sticky as requested, I'm still a mod here so maybe Sheddie's sorted the problem in the last half hour Oh well.
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To look at a thing is quite different from seeing a thing and one does not see anything until one sees its beauty