2017 Tennis Thread

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Nadal Fan

My 2018 grand slam predictions:

Aussie Open: Djoker over Federer
French: Nadal over Murray
Wimbledon: Raonic over Murray
Us Open: Nadal over Shapavolov

At this point I would be surprised if both Novak and Andy are even able to make it through to the quarterfinals of the first few major/1000 tournaments without playing any serious events in more than 6 months. They will be back but i feel like it will take a few months of slogging through the trenches.

AO: Federer over Cilic
FR: Nadal over Zverev
Wimbledon: Raonic over Murray
US: Djokovic over Zverev

[dash_pinched]

Sounds like Vasek's back is still giving him some issues and Schnur or Dancevic might substitute in for Vasek for singles action.

Before Pospisil hit with Shapovalov, Brayden Schnur, part of the named Canadian team with Shapovalov, Pospisil and Daniel Nestor, practiced with Frank Dancevic. One of the two could substitute for Pospisil in Friday’s singles – with a substitution of two of the team’s four players permitted up until an hour before Thursday’s draw for the weekend’s matches.

It would be the 22-year-old Schnur’s first ever Davis Cup match while Dancevic, 32, has now played 36 singles (15-21) in a Davis Cup career that began in 15 years ago in 2002.

http://www.tenniscanada.com/tebbutt-...-back-us-open/

[Reneeee]

Not to beat a dead horse here but what does Tennis Canada have to lose by including Felix over Frank Dancevic in their squad. With a record of 15-21 for Dancevic, baring his win against Spain way back in 2013 and Japan in 2014, I've never been very confident in his ability.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Reneeee

Not to beat a dead horse here but what does Tennis Canada have to lose by including Felix over Frank Dancevic in their squad. With a record of 15-21 for Dancevic, baring his win against Spain way back in 2013 and Japan in 2014, I've never been very confident in his ability.

Firstly, Felix is playing in Bosnia.
Secondly, it's crucial to back into the World Group so there is a lot to lose.
Canada does not want to go back into the wilderness of playing in places like Brazil and Mexico.

[Reneeee]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Firstly, Felix is playing in Bosnia.
Secondly, it's crucial to back into the World Group so there is a lot to lose.
Canada does not want to go back into the wilderness of playing in places like Brazil and Mexico.

Am I to assume that you're confident that Frank Dancevic should be Canada's 2nd fill in? There is a strong chance he doesn't play at all and is just a hitting partner during practice. I understand what is at stake, but putting Frank Dancevic on the court to me is a recipe for disaster.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Reneeee

Not to beat a dead horse here but what does Tennis Canada have to lose by including Felix over Frank Dancevic in their squad. With a record of 15-21 for Dancevic, baring his win against Spain way back in 2013 and Japan in 2014, I've never been very confident in his ability.

I think they realize that Felix has plenty of opportunities to represent Canada in the future and also want him to continue gaining confidence as well as ranking points on the Challenger tour. It's just great that Canada has this much depth in men's tennis at the moment. Just my two cents, but if Vasek can't go for singles on Friday, I'd like to see Brayden Schnur in action, he's had a fine season in his own right and this might be his best chance to get into some Davis Cup action.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Reneeee

Am I to assume that you're confident that Frank Dancevic should be Canada's 2nd fill in? There is a strong chance he doesn't play at all and is just a hitting partner during practice. I understand what is at stake, but putting Frank Dancevic on the court to me is a recipe for disaster.

Yes. He has experience. There are no other realistic choices.

Schnur and Felix have never played a best of 5 match. And the 2nd players of each team always have to play the 5th rubber if it gets down to it.
Shapovalov had never played 5 sets and we saw what happened last Davis Cup, cracked under pressure. He finally played his first 4th set at the US Open. These kids still have to develop.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yes. He has experience. There are no other realistic choices.

Schnur and Felix have never played a best of 5 match. And the 2nd players of each team always have to play the 5th rubber if it gets down to it.
Shapovalov had never played 5 sets and we saw what happened last Davis Cup, cracked under pressure. He finally played his first 4th set at the US Open. These kids still have to develop.

The 5 set match is the big thing you've mentioned here. It's a very smart move by Canada to keep Felix out of the equation until next season when he's hopefully managed to qualify for the Australian Open and played some serious 5 set ATP matches or at the very least main draw events.

Schnur has also gone through a long, hi quality road with NCAA, Futures and now Challenger play. He deserves a shot to play if Vasek can't go ahead of everyone else. He's still young and might develop into top 100 talent. It would send a pretty bad message for future participation if he were bypassed at this point.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

The 5 set match is the big thing you've mentioned here. It's a very smart move by Canada to keep Felix out of the equation until next season when he's hopefully managed to qualify for the Australian Open and played some serious 5 set ATP matches or at the very least main draw events.

Schnur has also gone through a long, hi quality road with NCAA, Futures and now Challenger play. He deserves a shot to play if Vasek can't go ahead of everyone else. He's still young and might develop into top 100 talent. It would send a pretty bad message for future participation if he were bypassed at this point.

That's all true but Canada's just handcuffed this time. If Pospisil can't go and Schnur plays singles who plays doubles with Nestor? Can Schnur play 3 5 set matches in 3 days? Can Shapovalov play doubles? Do we grab Shamasdin and have no flexibility? India's doubles team is their strength so are we just going to concede it and try and win 3 out of 4 singles?

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That's all true but Canada's just handcuffed this time. If Pospisil can't go and Schnur plays singles who plays doubles with Nestor? Can Schnur play 3 5 set matches in 3 days? Can Shapovalov play doubles? Do we grab Shamasdin and have no flexibility? India's doubles team is their strength so are we just going to concede it and try and win 3 out of 4 singles?

I wouldn't be surprised if Canada is simply hoping Vasek can cruise through the Friday match in 3 sets and gut out the doubles with Nestor before he has to step aside for Schnur to play on Sunday. Adding another doubles guy would be a waste imo as we still likely do not have the horses to take India in that match either way.

If Canada is 2-1 heading into the final day I would be fine rolling the dice with one of Shapovalov or Schnur to bring it home.

[dash_pinched]

I think our best chance of winning doubles is with the team of Nestor and Pops. If the back is still a little wonky, don't even have Pops play singles and roll out Denis and Brayden for singles on Friday.

[Mango]

Davis Cup media conference.

Token McDavid question has asked. Phew. I was worried the Edmonton media would forget.

Carry on.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Mango

Davis Cup media conference.

Token McDavid question has asked. Phew. I was worried the Edmonton media would forget.

Carry on.

Is Gretzky flying in for the Davis Cup this weekend?

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

I think our best chance of winning doubles is with the team of Nestor and Pops. If the back is still a little wonky, don't even have Pops play singles and roll out Denis and Brayden for singles on Friday.

The problem with that would be that even a healthy Pospisil/Nestor would be in tough to win that match. You'd then be laying all your eggs in the Schnur/Shapo basket which could easily end up 2-2.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

The problem with that would be that even a healthy Pospisil/Nestor would be in tough to win that match. You'd then be laying all your eggs in the Schnur/Shapo basket which could easily end up 2-2.

Yeah, it's a tough call, but I think I'd rather have Pops try to gut it out with Nestor in doubles as his recent play in singles has been pretty shaky and they do have some familiarity as a doubles team.

[Mango]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Is Gretzky flying in for the Davis Cup this weekend?

They didn't cover that, but Denis confirmed he's sitting in Gretzky's stall at Northlands.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Yeah, it's a tough call, but I think I'd rather have Pops try to gut it out with Nestor in doubles as his recent play in singles has been pretty shaky and they do have some familiarity as a doubles team.

The fact Canada is so handcuffed in this match is kinda what makes it so intriguing. What should have been a cakewalk is now going to be a legitimate battle.

[Mango]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

The fact Canada is so handcuffed in this match is kinda what makes it so intriguing. What should have been a cakewalk is now going to be a legitimate battle.

Rohan Bopanna's doubles prowess alone is worrisome. He's a savvy veteran.

But, I do have a soft spot for him after the success he's found with Gabi Dabrowski. Canada first, though!

[dash_pinched]

Nice win for Bianca Andreescu today over Jennifer Brady of the States (Brady recently made it to the round of 16 at the US Open) as Bianca wins in straight sets 6-3 6-2 at the WTA tourney in Quebec City.

[Mango]

Daniel has confirmed he's hanging up his racket for good next year:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/tennis/canad...r-retire-2018/

2018 Rogers Cup, U.S. Open and that'll be it for him.

Awesome interview.