One-Upmanship in Davis Cup Tennis

On Tuesday 22^nd September I was thinking if you were Belgian and had an opportunity to ‘win’ a tennis final before a single ball was served what would you do? Hold back, rush ahead or sit on a maybe for awhile.  Me? No doubt, I would take up the opportunity no questions so what were the odds Belgium will do the same, 20-1, 5-1? It is all a matter of the chosen surface for the match.

Great Britain made it to the Davis Cup Final to be held in Belgium later in the year (November) by beating the Australian team in the semi finals. It is the first time GB has been in the Davis Cup final for 37 years.  For the Belgians it is 111 years and on this occasion they have the choice of venue and surface. It can’t be grass but it can be a drop in clay court or a hard court surface, maybe even something called a carpet surface. 

Go to good old Wikipedia for a full easy to understand description of different surfaces. https://goo.gl/uS6nJq If you are going to place a bet on tennis tournament players it’s a good idea to understand them as each type will affect the playing style of the players.

Time and practice is needed in-between times when a change of surface tournament to tournament occurs. Due to tournament schedule  Andy Murray, the hero of GB’s defeat of Australia in the semi finals, might not be clay court ready in time for the final with Belgium.

Sure enough my bet was confirmed as correct. The Belgians have now (Wed 23rd Sept) chosen clay.  Murray due to play in The World Tennis will only have 3 days to prepare for the switch to clay for the Davis Cup.

I will let you know what transpires and just for the footy fans who might be reading this go here -- >  https://goo.gl/pzXWzV

In the meantime a comment on audience behaviour.

TO: Aussie spectators in particular at Wimbledon in 2016

Having just lost your Davis Cup semi finals please have the decency to behave with more decorum when you support your favourite players next year at Wimbledon than you did in 2015.

Davis Cup tournament audience behaviour is very different to Wimbledon. Standing and shouting, singing, drum playing, foot stomping, dancing are all part and parcel of it and can be enjoyed at Davis Cup matches but are not required in SW19 in June and July.

Wimbledon is NOT a Davis Cup venue. Clapping and cheering yes, ohs..... and ahs..... yes but a disruptive, rowdy, noisy racket, (no pun intended) display no. If the Australian support from The Fanatics exhibited and seen on TV in 2015 is a sample of Aussie manners and respect for others then Australia is no longer on my bucket list.  It seems you want people to notice YOU, never mind the tennis and you spoil it for everyone else.

Personally I would take the rowdy disruptive individual’s showing such disrespect to players and audience and turf them out. If you agree let The All England Club know. I would love to hear from the players on this one.

Next week: Watch this space!

Jemima J Jones - Blog Writer.