It's a little disappointing he is playing challenger in Feb but I really hope he gives Indian Wells a go.

Very impressive by Jake.

This time last year him playing Davis Cup lead singles for GB would have seemed so very unlikely. And even with the time he has had since, at the start of this year still rather unlikely. But how he has stepped up today.

Now we are in a position that we should be clear doubles favourites for a 2-1 lead, since for all the doubles chat we are still sending out a very good pair.

To my mind it's very likely more about Jake vs Nishioka than about the doubles.

scottie1 wrote:

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Wow just Wow just seen the result well done Jake
I didn't think he would beat Kei who has made a terrific return to form after a long term injury.

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 I wonder if Nishikori found this court a bit fast in his advancing years. Take nothing away from Fearnley but perhaps Harris still has an outside chance against him in a 5th rubber if it comes to that. Harris played well in the first set, beaten by a very mobile  short guy and some inspired shots. Nishioka is 5' 7". Confidence ebbed away in the second by the looks of things. The Japanese might actually switch it up, take Nishikori out of singles to play dubs and bring in Daniel for the 5th rubber.

The highlights make it very much look close and that no one was playing badly but Jake just controlled the big points! Well done to him huge win!

The story so far:

QR2:  Jacob Fearnley WR 77 (= CH) defeated Kei Nishikori (JPN) WR 70 (CH = 4 in March 2015) by 3 & 3 

QR1:  Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) WR 67 (CH = 24 in June 2023) defeated Billy Harris WR 129 (CH = 101 last September) by 5 & 1

JPN 1 GBR 1

Seems like a sign of (a) how the tennis media has changed and (b) how the Davis Cup's star has fallen, that there doesn't seem to be a single UK national newspaper journalist out there covering this tie.

A few years ago, the full tie would have been broadcast live by the BBC, with a week-long build-up and reporting from all the major outlets. Without this thread, I would have forgotten that this qualifier was even taking place. Quite a few newspapers not even choosing to report the day 1 results.

indiana wrote:

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From a well-known betting site:

Matanuki & Yuzuki 11/2 vs Salisbury & Skupski 1/10

Nishioka 6/4 vs Fearnley 1/2

Nishikori 1/7 vs Harris 4/1

 

That's odds on we get to 3-1 up even before the 5th match.

So done and dusted 

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 31st of January 2025 07:18:29 PM

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 Interesting to see Fearnley's odds shortening, folk must be backing him. Although if its a British bookies, partizan betting can skew the odds but still he deserves the acclaim.