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**Janik** · 01-02-2016, 10:13

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Question for Sam - will you be getting work this year? Argentina Women are back in the Americas regional, where is that taking place? Argentina Men are at home in the Davis, you also cover that iirc?

Anyway, drop outs that I can see are:-
Begu (Rou) replaced by Racula Olaru (*#49)
Goerges (Ger) replaced by Anna-Lena Gronefeld (*#22)

and that appears to be it so far. Angie Kerber is still going to play as it stands.

**Rogin the Armchair fan** · 01-02-2016, 10:31

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

If Andy Murray's off on paternity leave (doubt anyone would begrudge him that), would GB still have enough to beat Japan? Their no.2, Taro Daniel, is only ranked 93, after all.

**Janik** · 01-02-2016, 11:10

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

A.Murray must be a serious doubt, especially if the baby is late as first ones often are.

It will depend on whether Nishikori plays. He tends to, though. If he does, Britain can win, but won't be favourites. No Bedene either, as his appeal is not being heard until after this match due to a bureaucratic shambles that isn't that surprising when two bodies involved are the ITF and the LTA, neither of whom is known for ruthless efficiency and timeliness.

**Janik** · 02-02-2016, 11:10

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Interview with Judy Murray ahead of this week. The frustration is palpable.

**Sam** · 02-02-2016, 19:13

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Janik wrote: Question for Sam - will you be getting work this year? Argentina Women are back in the Americas regional, where is that taking place? Argentina Men are at home in the Davis, you also cover that iirc?

I'm afraid I won't be catching with Majo and Mery for the Fed Cup (Ormaechea's not playing), as it's in Bolivia. I don't know whether the official site runs an English-language liveblog for the regional groups, but they haven't contacted me about it at any rate, and it starts tomorrow.

The men are away in the Davis Cup - they play Poland in Poland. If they win they'll play either Italy (which would be in Italy; last meeting was down here two years ago) or Switzerland (I'm not sure where; the last meeting was in Switzerland but that was in 1953 so the venue this time round will have already been determined by a draw, and I'm not sure what the decision was).

Likely semi-final opponents for Argentina would be Great Britain, which would be a hell of a lot of fun... but would be played in Britain. So it looks like my best hope of some work this year tennis-wise is to hope the ladies get the job done and then get a home tie in the playoffs. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a pleasant winter weekend out in Pilar...

**Sam** · 02-02-2016, 19:17

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

In checking the Davis Cup site to see whether they've already publicly announced where an Argentina v Switzerland quarter-final would be played, I've stumbled across the news that France's home tie against Canada is going to be played in Guadaloupe! That's very cool, if a little unorthodox.

**ursus arctos** · 02-02-2016, 20:11

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

The French team (or at least 4 of the 5 players) are rather unhappy with that.

**Sam** · 02-02-2016, 20:25

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

I can imagine. Was it done entirely on a whim to do something nice for Yannick Noah?

**ursus arctos** · 02-02-2016, 20:33

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

It was done entirely by Yannick for Yannick.

**Etienne** · 02-02-2016, 22:13

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Apparently Raonic has said that he probably wouldn't have travelled to France, but Guadeloupe is close enough to fit in his travel plans. *stir stir*

**Janik** · 02-02-2016, 22:13

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

How to win friends and influence people! On the other hand Guadelope is not in a bad location for Indian Wells and Miami, which immediately follow. Maybe Yannick can sell it that way.

Sam wrote: checking the Davis Cup site to see whether they've already publicly announced where an Argentina v Switzerland quarter-final would be played

They only draw lots for matches that need it when the match-ups are confirmed. So that particular issue will only be set until after R1, if necccesary.

With regard to this week, Judy Murray has picked Katie Swan ahead of Freya Christie for the second singles berth. Must have been a touch and go decision, Swan is lower ranked by dint of playing fewer adult matches, but has also been involved in much more high profile (and therefore high pressure) junior ones. Will be intriguing to see how she does.

**Southport Zeb** · 02-02-2016, 22:32

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

The venue for the France tie hosted the European Track Cycling Championships a couple of years ago.

**Janik** · 03-02-2016, 23:34

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Action got underway in Euro/Africa Zone Group I today (venue: Israel). Britain started with a rest day, so Pool B action was the groups other teams, with Georgia beating South Africa 3-0. Britain face South Africa tomorrow, and can't even contemplate not winning.

**Sam** · 04-02-2016, 03:59

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Good start for my friends, who beat Ecuador by three rubbers to nil today and only dropped seven games in doing so (as in seven games total, over the course of the three matches), including a 6-0 6-0 in the doubles, which admittedly was slightly mismatched, given Mery Irigoyen is world No. 66 in doubles and three of the Ecuadorian ladies don't even have a doubles ranking.

Tomorrow Argentina play Peru, and 'TBC' (according to the Fed Cup site!) they play Brazil, who also won 3-0 today.

In Americas Zone Group I Pool A, Paraguay and Bolivia both won 2-1, over Mexico and Colombia respectively.

**Janik** · 04-02-2016, 13:08

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Nearly as straightforward for Britain against South Africa. 14 games dropped, and only one bagel, but never more than 3 a set. Katie Swan got the bagel as well. Well, she's a growing girl, she needs her breakfast!

It makes the Georgia tie a virtual semi-final. If Britain can get through, the play-off would be against Belgium or Bulgaria, who also have a virtual Semi to play tomorrow. Britain, Belgium and Bulgaria look very evenly matched on paper, as the other two are also missing players from their best possible line-ups.

**Sam** · 05-02-2016, 04:38

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Argentina played Peru today (3-0) and it's difficult not to feel for Peru - they are apparently only able to muster a three-lady team.

Brazil also won 3-0, so both Argentina and Brazil are 6-0 for wins-losses in rubbers. On Friday they'll play each other to decide who wins Pool B.

In Pool A, Paraguay got a 2-1 win over Bolivia, whilst Mexico beat Colombia 3-0, meaning both are 4-2 in rubbers, but Paraguay have won both their matches with Mexico recording a win and a loss. Tomorrow's Mexico-Bolivia (the hosts are also W1 L1) and Paraguay-Colombia.

Looking at the rankings, Brazil must be favourites against Argentina. All four of their players are ranked higher than Argentine No. 2 Nadia Podoroska. I'll keep my fingers crossed for Argentina.

Contrary to what was on the website a couple of days ago, Majo Gaidano isn't the Argentina captain any more, too. Marcelo G�mez has taken over the job, apparently.

**Etienne** · 05-02-2016, 09:50

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Swan wins again, against a tougher opponent, Gorgodze is ranked 327, but 128 in the Race.

Watson on now.

**Janik** · 05-02-2016, 10:35

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Heather beats Shapatava in exactly an hour for the lose of two first set games.

Belgium are 1-0 up on Bulgaria, and Van Uytvanck has just won set 1 against Pironkova in the top string singles. It's looking like another key Britain vs Belgium encounter.

**Janik** · 05-02-2016, 10:43

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Oh, and the advantage of having Rae/Smith for this is apparent. Belgium's no.2 singles player, Ysaline Bonaventure, played both the Day 1 and Day 2 Doubles, and if Pironkova comes back will presumable play todays as well despite having played a three setter in the 2nd string singles this morning. Even if she doesn't have to do that, Bonaventure will still have played 12 sets of Tennis over three days (probably ~6 hours on court) compared to the 4 (~2 hours) for Watson and Swan.

Britain also have the advantage of being in a group of three as opposed to four. Those sort of structural breaks are something you have to make good use of.

**Janik** · 05-02-2016, 11:06

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Yup, it's Belgium.

Winning is going to take some rankings upsets for Britain. Based on the line-ups so far, the matches will be:-

Swan (#524) vs Bonaventure (#160)
Watson (#85) vs Van Uytvanck (#43)
Rae/Smith (#68= x 2) vs Bonaventure/Mestach (#57/#64)

The Belgian skipper might switch Mestach (#152) for Bonaventure in the opening singles, as she will be fresher. Can't see any other changes happening.

All those gaps are bridgeable, but Britain is second favourite in each string.

**Sam** · 06-02-2016, 06:38

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Argentina 2-1 Brazil! Podoroska beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 75 63, Mery got double bageled by Teliana Pereira, and then Mery and Catalina Pella beat Paula Gon�alves and Haddad Maia 63 63 in the doubles. That's a hell of an upset, going purely on the rankings, and I'm delighted for them. I've talked to all three of the Argentine ladies mentioned here, and they're lovely.

Argentina play Pool A winners Paraguay - another team with only three players - on Saturday for a place in the World Group II playoffs in April.

**Janik** · 06-02-2016, 08:56

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Britain chance to do the same is well underway. Katie Swan is currently into a deciding set vs Ysaline Bonaventure...

**Janik** · 06-02-2016, 09:27

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Bonaventure wins 6-3 3-6 6-3. Nothing for Swan to beat herself up over, she overperformed this week. Pressure on the senior players now, though.

**Janik** · 06-02-2016, 10:53

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

Watson seems to be continually firefighting. She keeps fighting to make it close, but that isn't enough. Set and a break down currently.

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National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

National Team Tennis Cups are so 2015

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