Davis Cup Final 8 - Malaga Nov 21-26

[exislander]

ARGH!!!!! It is Serbia in QF. Bottom half, so is that Wednesday? Just looked at last year's schedule.

[Stell]

I remember the last time, we played Serbia, Djokovic didn't get included in their team. Will he be included in their team in November?

[Hawkeye]

BBC suggesting that the Serbia tie may well be on Thursday to allow Djokovic an extra day's recovery from the ATP Finals. They also said that DC is his stated priority for the rest of the year.

[Hawkeye]

Just for once, the Beeb was right!

Our Davis Cup quarter-final vs Serbia will take place on Thursday 24th November.

We will face Serbia in the afternoon session in Malaga, from 16:00 CET.

[exislander]

Everyone hoping that Italy will win quickly in the morning match that day!

[Jane]

Thanks Hawkeye :thumbup:

[Hawkeye]

Team GB name the same team to face Serbia, i.e. Norrie, Evans, Draper, Murray and Skupski.

[Sallydaisy]

Evans now doubtful for DC.
:sad:
He pulled up with a calf injury when leading Tiafoe 4-1 in the 1st set of their match today.
On crutches apparently but not a tendon tear so remains to be seen if he can recover in
the next 4 weeks.

[Jane]

Thanks Sally. Sad news indeed. :sad:

[JAMES4578]

Sad for Dan, with regard to DC think his fitness takes priority.

[Elizabeth]

Cam retired from his doubles match today with injury. Not sure what his problem is.

[Jane]

He was having treatment around his right knee.

[exislander]

I believe Cam had a MTO for knee problem during his singles match. I think I have seen tape on a knee several times recently. Hope not too serious.

[patmoren]

Poor Evo having a bad year, Cam not doing much better and Andy lost in 2nd round in Basel. We haven't had much to celebrate this year.

[suttontennis]

not forgetting Jack Draper, who is just getting back to full fitness. Ditto Kyle.

[Hawkeye]

Dan withdraws. Do we bring in a doubles specialist, or another singles player?

[exislander]

A doubles specialist.

[Jane]

Hopefully it would be Jamie.

[themass15]

Although I saw earlier Cam might not play, according to the Daily Mail he will be fit.

[cazza99]

The commentators for Vienna today said that Cameron would be fit.

[Hawkeye]

Joe Salisbury replaces Dan Evans in the side for Malaga.

[Sallydaisy]

Andy won't be playing in Malaga; has picked up a shoulder injury (minor) and is
concentrating on being fit ready for the start of the 2024 season (he's down for Brisbane).

GB squad looking to be Norrie and Draper for the Singles, Skupski/Salisbury for the doubles.

[Jane]

Thanks, Sally - so disappointing for Andy and for us.

[clancy]

Such bad news for Andy and the team. Was hoping Andy would have got the chance of playing Novak; now hope Liam gets the chance of a match after his hard work this year. x

[JAMES4578]

Disappointing ,will be gutting for Andy but must put himself first. Hopefully our team is still very much up for this and have chance of winning two of the matches.

[Sallydaisy]

Liam got the call and is on his way to Malaga
:GBflag:

[Genbrit]

Thanks Sally. Glad Liam will be there.

[Jane]

Thanks Sally - thought that would happen.

[harriet]

i haven't been keeping up with events - who is Liam? and is Evans injured ? if not, wouldn't it better that he should play rather than Norrie?

[exislander]

Liam is Liam Broady, (brother of Naomi) ranked 102. Dan Evans was injured in Vienna on 24th October with 8-12 weeks recovery needed.

[harriet]

thanks exislander, that's very helpful

[cazza99]

schedule

ht tps://www.daviscup.com/en/schedule/2023-final-8-schedule.aspx

GB playing not before 3.00 pm on Thursday.

[exislander]

First team into the semi final is..........FINLAND!! They beat Canada 2-1.

[exislander]

Strong resistance from Czechia but Australia will play Finland in Friday's semi final.

[Stell]

I listened to Russell Fuller talk to our team and also Feliciano Lopez and one of the Woodies (either Todd Woodbridge or Mark Woodforde) on radio five live last night. They both believed we'd got a slight edge over Serbia as they believed Djokovic would be playing doubles as well and then he (Russell Fuller) said the tie would be shown on the Red Button from 3pm (15.00pm).

[exislander]

Italy go through to Saturday's semi final.

[clancy]

Not having any luck watching DC!! Not on Red Button.

[exislander]

Draper v Kecmanovic might be starting around 17.10 - only 2 hours later than scheduled due to Italy's lengthy match earlier and having to empty then refill the stadium with spectators.
I am guessing BBC can't show anything until the play is about to begin so it should appear soon on Red Button and on Sport Website.

[Rosalind]

I have it on red button now. Too late to have a start. We win on cheers

[pabbers]

It's on BBC iplayer

[pabbers]

And you can opt to watch from the start of the match or live

[Hawkeye]

Jack a mini break down in the first set tie break.

[JAMES4578]

Some resistance from Jack in the 2nd set Breaker but unfortunately goes down 7-6(7-2), 7-6(8-6). A few errors at crucial times, chance of progressing now somewhat remote.

[Jane]

:sad:

[Rosalind]

An evening of tennis now constitutes the Davis cup quarter final. What a comedown for that lovely tournament.

[lovetennis]

This has been the toughest of draws, not helped by the team injuries :sad:

[exislander]

This is the best I have seen Cam play in a long time.

[themass15]

Unfortunately not good enough though

[Sallydaisy]

Inevitable result IMHO. The GBR boys will be gutted.
:sad:

[JAMES4578]

Some good play from Norrie but could not really put a dent in Djokovic's service games, a break in each set was enough. So Sinner and Djokovic will face each other again on Saturday.

[themass15]

And hopefully Jannik will come out on top

[Stell]

Disappointed for Jack Draper, as I knew Cameron Norrie wouldn't beat Djokovic. I hope we'll be one of the two countries that will be given a wildcard before Sunday's draw.

[Rosalind]

Especially sad for all our fans. I hope they can go and support Italy now and be very very loud.

[themass15]

Italy is definitely who I would be supporting, my favourite country by a long, long way

[suttontennis]

And Novak wonders why he still isn't popular. Had this been played in Serbia and GB had won you can just imagine the Serbian fans sitting politely and listening to the winner's after match interview. Although had it been AM speaking they probably would as he know how to treat people in the first place.

"You should learn how to show some respect," Djokovic told the fans.

[patmoren]

Such a shame. I thought Jack gave the Serb a run for his money , seeing he has no long been back from injury. Cam has been having a bad year but even at his best he would have struggled with the way Djokovic is playing at the moment. He seems to have a new lease of life lately.

[Sallydaisy]

Kecmanovic d Musetti, Serbia 1-0 in their SF.
Next up ...
... Djokovic v Sinner

[cazza99]

And Sinner has won the first set.

[Sallydaisy]

Djokovic leads 5-2 in the 2nd set; Sinner serving to stay in it.

[Sallydaisy]

And Nole gets the break and 2nd set. Into a 3rd ...

[clancy]

Kecmanovic is playing very well right now and once again gives Serbia the best of starts. Sinner will find the 3rd set tough; hope he makes it. x

[Sallydaisy]

Djokovic holds for 5-4 in the 3rd set ... can Sinner be the winner???

[exislander]

Sinner breaks for 6-5!!!!

[clancy]

Sinner now 6-5 up final set! Bet the Italians are going mad! (as well as Novak). x

[Jan]

Well done Jannik!!!!!

[JAMES4578]

Sinner wins 7-5 in 3rd, great match and amazing how he came back from 0-40 in 4-5 game! Now down to the Doubles.

[themass15]

So happy Jannik won, one of my favourite players

[Sallydaisy]

Sinner and Djokovic will face each other again in the doubles!!!

ITALY: Sinner & Sonego
v
SERVIA: Djokovic & Kecmanovic

[Jane]

Italy took the first set 6-3 and it is 2-2 in the second.

[JAMES4578]

The Italians had early break at 2-1 but could not consolidate, Serbia now up 3-2 in 2nd. Sinner/Sonego have generally been more impressive up to now.

[Jane]

Italy win 6-3, 6-4 :yahoo::yahoo:

[clancy]

And the Italians take the deciding doubles 6-3 6-4 to make the final! Not the best of nights for Novak, beaten twice by Sinner! x

[Jan]

Brilliant!!

[cazza99]

Well done Italy :clap: :yahoo:

[themass15]

So pleased Italy won, the first time since 1998 in the Final. Shall look forward to watching the final tomorrow. Forza Italia!!!!

[JAMES4578]

Exciting Doubles and the Italians were the stronger Team, a great victory as Sinner and Sonego seal it. Jannik was a star today :cheer::cheer:

[Sallydaisy]

Crikey!
Well done Italy. They now have 20hrs before facing Australia in the Final.
:help:

[Genbrit]

Woohoo, enjoyed watching that. Well done Italy.

[patmoren]

Well done Italy, great result for them. It should be a tight final.

[JAMES4578]

Final is on iplayer as well as Tennis Channel International ,in case anyone has not heard.

[JAMES4578]

Italy 1-0 up after Arnaldi got the better of Popyrin 7-5,2-6,6-4-certainly a few tight moments! Sinner should beat De Minaur but of course not guaranteed. Would prefer the Italians to take their 2nd DC trophy too :)

[clancy]

Hadn't realised that Australia had won it so many times!

[Rosalind]

Sinner deserves it imo. Two nice teams though. No-one moaning about the noise, which is always a bonus.....;)

[JAMES4578]

An emphatic win for Sinner, in devastating form- well done! Whilst may have been better for a more competitive match to seal it Jannik has been the star of the show the last few days and De Minaur could not offer much resistance in the 2nd. Not having the same rest time was no disadvantage in this case. A great victory for Italy:cheer::swingin:

[themass15]

So pleased Italy won!!! Just hope Jannik can go on and win a Slam now. He absolutely destroyed Alex de Minaur.

[Genbrit]

:cheer:Yes, Italy & Sinner deserved the win.

[clancy]

So pleased that Italy won. Sinner was magnificent from the start and hopefully will now have the confidence to go all the way in the slams. Pretty demoralising win over De Minaur who is a handy player but nowhere near the same level. Looking forward to 2024 and hopefully seeing Andy involved in much of it. x

[Jane]

Agree with all of the above. :cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer:

[patmoren]

I enjoyed watching the Davis Cup. Just hope GB does better next year.

[Silverdee]

When in Malaga (and other places abroad) I am unable to access the forum. Does anyone else have problems?

[cazza99]

I don't have problems. Maybe try using a VPN.

[themass15]

I normally can't access it. I think you need a very fast broadband

[Silverdee]

Ok, thanks for replies. Luckily it wasn’t a problem this time as I had my own ticket.