“10s Whenever” Newsletter Vol. 124

Written by: Staff on 31st January 2014

"10s Whenever" Newsletter Vol. 124 |

Photo of Pancho Segura at Petco Park today. By BCP, Brett Connors Photography.

Bloody Brits Off to a Rousing 2-0 Start

SAN DIEGO – OK, now what?

That’s the midnight lament of USA Davis Cup captain Jim Courier as he deals with the improbable 0-2 deficit his team now faces against upstart Great Britain.

Friday’s opening day brought his side two singles losses – one expected; the other, not at all.

“We got what we expected from him,” said Courier, referring to James Ward, the unheralded Brit who took down the much-favored Sam Querrey in five sets, 1-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. “He was all over the place. But in the end he fought all the way through and his quality shined through.”

The burden of such resilience now falls to the Americans, who now must win each of the tie’s three remaining matches, risking the indignity of a first-round Davis Cup exit.

“Yeah, I’m a little bummed, obviously, that I couldn’t help the team out,” said Querrey, no doubt understating his disappointment. “But it’s not over.”

Certainly, the opening-round outcomes – Andy Murray’s 6-1-, 6-2, 6-3 win over last-minute sub Donald Young and Querrey’s oddly dispirited 3-hour, 17-minute loss in which he lost 10 of the final 11 games – shift the pendulum to the Brits.

As of now, Murray is scheduled to pair up with teammate Colin Fleming against the USA’s virtually unbeatable doubles combo of Bob and Mike Bryan, the world’s best at plying their trade.

That could change by 12 noon Saturday, with Murray opting to stay on the sidelines, to preserve energy for Sunday’s reverse singles matches. He is scheduled to face Querrey in Sunday’s first match.

British captain Leon Smith said the final decision rests solely with Murray. He plans to ask Murray his disposition about playing three consecutive matches when he arrives Saturday morning at Petco Park’s makeshift, red-clay tennis complex.

Though the clay seems slightly slippery, compared to Roland Garros, the overall setting has drawn unanimous rave reviews from players and fans alike.

“It all depends on how Andy feels,” said Smith, awaiting word. “I’m still planning on him playing.”

Here’s betting, along with Britain’s doubtless delighted bookies, that Murray feels better than Courier does right about now, no matter if the Scot suits up or not.

Advantage, the Crown over the Colonies.

— John Freeman

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