Team GB Vs '2005 Davis Cup Winners' Croatia / GB Def. Croatia 4-1

Obviously GB have been handed a very hard tie...but...to be the best you must beat the best..soo... :D

The only positive spin is that GB will play this tie at home, giving them stadia, crowd and surface advantage.

The first question is...What surface should GB lay down?

I originally thought grass, because Ljubo hasn't had much success on it, but they also have Ancic and Karlovic so it is a two sided coin...

Hmm..alot to think about..

But overall looking forward to a great tie :D

I think it all depends on whether Ancic is fit or not - if he's not then I'd definitely go for grass, otherwise maybe a slow hard court?

I think Ljubicic should win both his singles and then it depends on whether Ancic is fit or not. I'd back Henman to beat Karlovic but not Ancic. I'd back us to win the doubles though as they haven't got any doubles specialists whereas we have Jamie Murray.

A Ljubo/Ancic team could be deadly if Ancic is fit though.. Lloyd might have to take a gamble and field Murray/Murray for the doubles.

A Ljubo/Ancic team could be deadly if Ancic is fit though.. Lloyd might have to take a gamble and field Murray/Murray for the doubles.

Yep if Ancic is fit then Murray/Murray is a must!

I think it all depends on whether Ancic is fit or not - if he's not then I'd definitely go for grass, otherwise maybe a slow hard court?

I think Ljubicic should win both his singles and then it depends on whether Ancic is fit or not. I'd back Henman to beat Karlovic but not Ancic. I'd back us to win the doubles though as they haven't got any doubles specialists whereas we have Jamie Murray.

You don't think that Murray would be capable of beating Ljubicic on a slow hard or grass court? Both bad surfaces for Ljubicic, but especially on a slower court, Murray would probably be able to grind out a victory due to the longer rallies.

Yes I agree with you about Ancic/Henman. Ancic beat a much healthier and younger Tim at Wimbledon, so I doubt Tim would fair any better now...

You don't think that Murray would be capable of beating Ljubicic on a slow hard or grass court? Both bad surfaces for Ljubicic, but especially on a slower court, Murray would probably be able to grind out a victory due to the longer rallies.

Yes I agree with you about Ancic/Henman. Ancic beat a much healthier and younger Tim at Wimbledon, so I doubt Tim would fair any better now...

I think any Murray-Ljubicic match is pretty much 50-50 on any surface to be honest. The slower the better for Murray I guess. I don't understand Ljubicic's failure on the grass at all though as he has the game for it.

Yeah I can't see Henman beating either of the top two Croats and that's on any surface sadly.

I think we need Murray on top form and a lot of luck. It may be that we are reliant on Murray winning three matches unless Karlovic plays and then I'd back Henman.

I think any Murray-Ljubicic match is pretty much 50-50 on any surface to be honest. The slower the better for Murray I guess. I don't understand Ljubicic's failure on the grass at all though as he has the game for it.

Yeah I can't see Henman beating either of the top two Croats and that's on any surface sadly.

I think we need Murray on top form and a lot of luck. It may be that we are reliant on Murray winning three matches unless Karlovic plays and then I'd back Henman.

Yea it's pretty confusing..although it's the same as Safin's failure on grass. Big serve, groudstrokes...but still atrocious :lol:

So if we were very optimistic and said that Murray would win both his matches, and the doubles could go either way, in some ways we are hoping that Ancic isn't fit or injured...which is not something I particularly want to wish upon any player..but it would be helpful ;)

dear god no, its going to be murray/ljubicic. they better have some loud air horns for that match, cos most of the crowd will fall asleep.

heres my prediction as a truly patriotic and unbiased brit, croatia will whip our guys sorry asses

GB to win 3-2

Jazar's predictions in the last match vs Netherlands were to my liking!

More of the same GB!

Jazar's predictions in the last match vs Netherlands were to my liking!

More of the same GB!

those predictions were more in hope. there was nevern any doubt of beating the dutch. the croatians are more talented than the dutch and more talented than us

you hoped that Sluiter would bt Murray and Haase would beat Tim.

right

you hoped that Sluiter would bt Murray and Haase would beat Tim.

right

yes cos i hoped murray would lose cos i absolutely despise him and i hoped henman would lose to make the tie more interesting

Only 9 more days until the tie begins... :banana:
Team GB's prospects are actually looking a lot brighter now that Ancic and Karlovic have made themselves unavailable..

Score predictions please...?

I will punt with 3-2 to GB [after going 3-0 up.. :angel: ]

Another interesting question..

Who should be played with Jamie in the dubs? Obvious answer = Andy, but is his wrist capable of three matches in three days should it be a close tie..?

Another interesting question..

Who should be played with Jamie in the dubs? Obvious answer = Andy, but is his wrist capable of three matches in three days should it be a close tie..?



Andy will play with Jamie. If they somehow win the first 2 then Jamie and Andy will take it home. His wrist is A ok now and he will only use it as an excuse if he loses. It's all in his head now the problem with the wrist.

Andy Murray ready for Davis Cup pressure
Times Online and Agencies

Andy Murray is ready to handle the additional pressure Tim Henman's farewell appearance will put on Great Britain's tennis team in next week's vital Davis Cup clash with Croatia at Wimbledon.
Victory will take them back into the elite World Group but Murray - who has now assumed the mantle of figurehead of British tennis - is not underestimating the effect Henman's emotional departure could have.
"I don't normally get nervous when I'm playing matches but I'm already thinking about this one," said Murray.
"Tim's last match is going to be at Wimbledon so, yes, it adds a bit of pressure but a lot of excitement as well and I'm really looking forward to it. I think it's going to be special for Tim, the rest of the team and the fans as well."
Murray is confident that the Great Britain team is strong enough to take advantage on home turf, saying: "I'm sure we've got the team to do it. Everybody's fired up for it. Tim's obviously going to be really looking forward to it and he'll be pumped up.
"We're pretty comfortable on grass and although the Croats are obviously very good players, it's not their best surface so hopefully we can come out on top."
Murray accepts that, with Henman following Greg Rusedski into retirement, he will have to shoulder the burden of the nation's Davis Cup hopes for the foreseeable future.
He wants to team up with brother Jamie in the doubles and that will almost certainly mean playing three matches in three days in every Davis Cup tie, a workload which Henman admitted eventually took its toll on him.
"After Tim's gone I don't think they've got too many options," said Andy. "I hope a few guys can come up so it's not just about me and Jamie. I'm sure for the next year or so it might be like that - but maybe in a couple of years it will be different."
He admits that Henman will be a hard act to follow but he is relishing the challenge.
"Tim is British tennis, really. He's been one of the greatest British sportsmen of the last 10 years - no question. Everybody who is an athlete knows how difficult it is to stay at the top of a sport for such a long period of time," he added.
"He's had bad injuries and always come back from them, he's played great in Davis Cup, played great at Wimbledon and he's dealt with the pressure really, really well. I think he's a great player and a great role model who always handled himself well.
"I've learned a lot from him. I spoke to him a lot and he helped me when I was coming on to the tour. He's one of the few guys that nobody dislikes. Normally when you are playing a professional sport, especially an individual one, you fall out with people.
"Team-mates in football fall out all the time but Tim gets on with everyone. He speaks to everyone and everyone says nice things to him so I'm sure he'll get a nice send-off."
Henman, meanwhile, has withdrawn from an exhibition tennis event this weekend after becoming a father for the third time, his wife, Lucy, giving birth to a baby girl, Grace, weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces on Friday afternoon. They have two other daughters, Rosie, four, and Olivia, two.
Henman was due to play Croatian Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic at the O2 Arena tomorrow. “I was looking forward to playing at Betfair Turbo Tennis on Saturday, but obviously my place is with my family at this happy time,” he said. His place will be taken by Greg Rusedski.

Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article2455287.ece

the croatians will be stringing their rackets on a pacific stringing machine

the croatians will be stringing their rackets on a pacific stringing machine

Is this meant to be a joke? :scratch: [or do you just know the stringer..?!]


P.S It's 'racquets'... Use the English version!

Is this meant to be a joke? :scratch: [or do you just know the stringer..?!]


P.S It's 'racquets'... Use the English version!

its no joke. i know the stringing machine

Is this meant to be a joke? :scratch: [or do you just know the stringer..?!]


P.S It's 'racquets'... Use the English version!

Incorrect, racket and racquet are simply alternatives in the English language.

Incorrect, racket and racquet are simply alternatives in the English language.

Yes but Americans tend to use the shortened/simpler version, so therefore it would be nicer if we could stick to the other one.. :p

the croatians will be stringing their rackets on a pacific stringing machine

this information has subsequently changed. they now won't be using a pacific stringing machine

24 hours (ok, 25!) to go!!! I'm excited haha! I need to do some actual work today so I don't feel guilty about sitting around all weekend watching tennis!

Everyone enjoying it so far..? :scared:

croatia suck without ljubicic

I was working in the VIP lounge at Wimbledon as a waitress yesterday, the atmosphere was amazing. I would have given anything to be courtside but alas it wasn't to be! All the players families were in the restaurant, it was weird! I nearly walked into Judy haha!

I'm in the library because our internet isn't working. Need to run home now and watch Tim & Jamie kick butt!

can't wait to find out who gets to beat us in the world group first round

Have some faith!! Although, I don't have much hope either...

Yesterday's match was excellent! Although I couldn't watch half of it, I was hiding! :lol: Go Timmy & Jimmy!! :D

Have some faith!! Although, I don't have much hope either...

what is there to have faith in?

Shh! Leave me in my happy little world of denial.

Jamie played admirably :)

well, i'm sure another admirable peformance by him will easily win us the world group first round

well, i'm sure another admirable peformance by him will easily win us the world group first round

That's the spirit! :p

Okay, I realise we don't have about 10 high ranked players to choose from like, I don't know, Spain. But there is nothing at ALL wrong in giving the boys the benefit of positive thinking. Alright?! ;)