ROS SATAR CHECKS IN FROM DAVIS CUP IN GLASGOW. LOOKS AT THE MATCH UPS WITH BRITAIN PLAYING AUSTRALIA

Written by: Staff on 17th September 2015

ROS SATAR CHECKS IN FROM DAVIS CUP IN GLASGOW. LOOKS AT THE MATCH UPS WITH BRITAIN PLAYING AUSTRALIA

epa04648364 Swiss tennis player Henri Laaksonen serves a ball during a training session on the eve of the Davis Cup World Group - First Round, tennis match Belgium against Switzerland, at the Country Hall, in Liege, Belgium, 05 March 2015. EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON |

EVANS OUSTS WARD AS HE GETS THE NOD AS THE BRITISH NO. 2

A few eyebrows were raised in that quintessential British way as the announcement came prior to the Davis Cup semi-final draw between Great Britain and Australia, that sometime enfant terrible Dan Evans would be the late call into the British side.

Evans has been a Davis Cup hero in his time, being part of the team that started to claw its way back up the Zones without the aid of Andy Murray in those days. Along with James Ward, they were the stalwarts on the singles side, while Great Britain enjoyed a better strength and depth in the doubles.

But Evans has always had a mercurial streak to him, capable of great performances on the big occasions, but at times failing to get the day-to-day ‘monotony’ of tour wins under his belt. Often disliking the travel side of things, Evans soon dropped back down the rankings while Ward stayed steady and Kyle Edmund impressed with a down-to-earth, grounded attitude.

Leon Smith fielded the inevitable questions confidently enough, citing Evans’ recent wins on the Futures tour, versus Ward’s downturn in form.

“For James, the tie came maybe the wrong time for him after a summer that’s been quite tough results wise, but he’s played a big, big part in the team to date and I’m sure he’ll play a big part in the future as well, but I felt that Dan was in the best place to win for the weekend.”

What was telling though was a sliver of insight as to how the two dropped players were dealing with the news, on perhaps on of the most high profile ties in a place where support will be raucous.

“It is never easy, but I spent a lot of time throughout the years with both James (Ward) and Kyle (Edmund). You have to where certain hats with them at times, so it makes that difficult situation where you have to deliver rough news.

“But I saw Kyle back doing his sprints on the running track which sums him up. Wardy will get over it, it’s disappointing for him as he’s played a big part in recent ties, but at the end of the day this is what is going to happen in a team event when you have to bring the numbers down, and the important thing I have stressed to them is this team ethos and team feeling.

“They will get over it and move on again. Hopefully if we can get through this tie, and if we did have a final there is a hell of a lot to play for.”

With both teams facing their best chance in years of reaching a Davis Cup final, the Australians suddenly looked to be the team ready to enjoy the challenge more than the British. In very good spirits, Bernard Tomic even found time to answer someone’s phone as it buzzed during the first question to Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Hewitt played their good humour down after Tomic admitted that Evans’ win over him two years ago at the US Open would have been a large contributing factor.

“Once you get out there, obviously it’s a Davis Cup match for everyone and we’ve got to try and win three out of the five matches. We feel like we’ve put our best foot forward and hopefully the boys can get off to a good start on Day 1 tomorrow, but every match is going to be as crucial as the other. This year we’ve come together in both our ties – it’s been a real team effort and this weekend’s going to be no different.”

Andy Murray will kick things off against Thanasi Kokkinakis, when play begins on Friday. Although it is a first time meeting for the pair, they get on well on the tour and hit together from time to time. This will be followed by the crucial rubber where we see what Evans is made off. Criticised for perhaps less than welcoming comments on twitter towards new Brit on-the-block Aljaz Bedene, he could perhaps have been accused for having a sense of entitlement without the results to necessarily back him up.

But above all else, tomorrow afternoon we will understand if Smith’s gamble will set Britain on a historic tilt at the World Cup of tennis, or be consigned to the realms of “if only”…

The Davis Cup semi-final between Great Britain and Australia begins at the Emirates stadium at 1pm (BST).

Davis Cup Tidbits

· It is a rivalry as old as the ages as England take on Australia once more, looking to nibble into a 4-8 deficit to the visitors.

· Team GB has clambered their way back to the World Group, escaping relegation to Zone Group III in 2010 to now being within three rubber wins of a spot in their first final since 1936.

· Australia are no strangers to tight ties, they pulled off an outstanding comeback against Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals.

· Australia were last in the Davis Cup semi-finals in 2006, where they were roundly trounced by Argentina, whereas Great Britain suffered the same fate in 1981, on their last semi-final run.

· AT LEAST WE WON THE ASHES (That’s Cricket to everyone else!)

Ros Satar is a regular contributor to 10sballs.com and runs Britwatch Sports (@britwatchsports), because we Brits like watching sport. Occasionally we’re good at it.

Topics: Australia, Davis Cup, Glasgow, Great Britain, Ros Satar, Tennis News