The Lawn Tennis Association has announced that The Queen’s Club in London has been chosen to host the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group quarterfinal between Great Britain and France, taking place on 17-19 July.
It is the first home quarterfinal for Great Britain since 1986, when it lost 4-1 to Australia at Wimbledon. Like that tie, this year’s quarterfinal will also be played on outdoor grass courts.
British captain Leon Smith will be relying on the British team’s knowledge of the courts, as well as a raucous home crowd. “The grass courts at Queen’s are some of the best in the world,” he said. “Our team will look to use the courts and the passionate home crowd to full advantage. The atmosphere and crowd support will be vital.”
Great Britain reached the quarterfinals thanks to a 3-2 win over USA in the first round. In a repeat of the 2014 first round, James Ward was the British hero on the opening day, defeating John Isner 15-13 in the final set.
Last year’s finalists France reached the quarterfinal thanks to a 3-2 win over Germany in a repeat of last year’s quarterfinal. The scoreline suggests the tie was closer than it was as France raced into an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie before Germany won the two dead rubbers.
Great Britain leads the head-to-head between the two nations 11-9 but France won the last meeting 5-0 in the 1992 World Group first round.
The last time The Queen’s Club hosted a Davis Cup tie was in 1990. France was Great Britain’s opposition on that occasion as well, and the visitors ran out 5-0 winners.
The Queen’s Club hosts an ATP World Tour event in the build-up to Wimbledon, a tournament in which British No. 1 Andy Murray has an excellent record, having been crowned champion three times.
(Courtesy of The ITF and Original Link – http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/204842.aspx )
Topics: Atp World Tour, BNP Paribas World Group, Davis Cup, France, Grass tennis, Great Britain, Queen's Club, Sports
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