Davis Cup

Jac · Davis Cup

As expected Boggo is not in the team. I'm pretty sure Alex already knew that despite picking up the best results of the Brits over the summer (bar Andy of course) he would not be in line for a spot on the team, so hopefully he wont be too disapointed and can focus on rasing his singles ranking for the rest of the year - without having to worry about any media fallout after the tie etc.

At the end of the USO he will lose his last batch of points, which will probably drop him down to around 260, but he will then have a free run so if he can manage to win a challenger, or at least go deep in several then i'd expect him to finish the year well inside the top 200. hopefully he will get some kind draws, not getting too many seeds 1st rd etc.

His next event will be St Remy challenger next week and after that his plan is to enter the Metz ATP qualies.

oggy

How the hell are Ross Hutchins, Ken Skupski, James Ward, Josh Goodall and Dan Evans in the team ahead of boggo? Lloyd needs to wake up and give boggo a much needed boost by actually believing in him! He is clearly better than all of the players in the squad (except andy)

Sort yourself out Lloyd

Jac

Unfortunately Boggo has got too much 'previous' in DC.

Realistically the Polish team (and the Ukrainian team) are weaker overall than any Boggo has played against in the past however his loses in the DC over the years really mean Lloyd has too much to lose by picking him.

Lloyd was criticised fairly heavily in the press (most of which seem to have an agenda of some kind against Alex) for picking Boggo to face Austria, despite the fact Boggo was in in form player last summer - much like this year - and Lloydy doesn't want that to happen again as i think he rather likes the job.

i also have a suspicion that Murray doesn't want Alex in the DC team and if that's the case then its highly unlikely that Alex will get a spot. Alex does want to play DC in the future however, but to do that he will probably need to get his singles ranking way up and above the other contenders.

As i said before right now its probably good that Boggo is not in the DC. his singles ranking is low and he needs a good end to the year to move up. with some good results that's a definite possibility and that right now has to be his main priority.

oggy

Do you speak to alex regularly?

I still dont get it though! Lloyd is just being stubborn! It could really be the boost Alex needs if he was to win a davis cup match to give Britain the win! He is young enough to play for many more years at Davis cup! Technically much better than the likes of Ward and Goodall. They might improve but I still think boggo should of had a chance in the last davis cup match when lloyd set up a mini tournament for the Brits to gain a place in the team! Boggo could of proved that he is worthy of a spot!

Has Lloyd even mentioned the reason for not picking Boggo? Not that I can find!

Also why would Murray not want Alex in the team?

Jac

i speak to Alex fairly regularly, but i don't know exactly what goes on in the team. i got the impression Andy was disappointed with the level of effort he perceived Boggo put into the last tie vs Austria. certianly his comments in the immediate aftermath of the defeat to Austria suggest that.

I'm not sure its down to Lloyd just begin stubborn, but he will be looking at the media who have so much power in the UK, if he were to pick Alex and Alex lost again then he'd be in for a rough ride. With Andy publicly supporting Dan Evans its pretty much case closed on the 2nd singles spot.

As for the play off Alex wasn't invited but he against the idea anyway, to participate would have meant he have missed a challenger (one where he made the QF as it turned out). i am sure he would have done well there, which would also have given Lloyd a problem in regards to selection.

The problem with Alex & the media, in my opinion, is that when he is on court he keeps very clam, keeps his emotions in check, which is taken to mean doesn't care (which isn't true). He also gets himself in good positions but then doesn't close it out. Take for instance the Austria tie he was a set up in both his matches and lost both, Melzer upped his game and against Peya Alex was struggling with a hamstring strain. The 'English' don't seem to like this, they'd prefer someone to go out there who has no chance to win but will scream and shout and lose in straight sets, but at least show they cared in the process.

i hope there will be more opportunities for Alex in the DC in the future, but really i think he will have to get himself up and playing at a level beyond Evans/Goodall & Ward for that to happen.

Killerking

right. Bogers isn't in the team because A) he seems to lose every time he plays.
B) Britain needs winners on the team, not unlucky omens.
C) His record this year has been a travesty and
D) HE'S JUST NOT VERY GOOD! Boggers is a terrible tennis player with an attitude to match. his Wimbledon record shows this. He cabn't win a game, so we look to players who might actually do something. This is a tie we need to win, and Boggers isn't the player to win it.

Adam OUFC

Killerking

oggy

Typical british tennis fans! You guys watch wimbledon and that it and then make judgement on all british players

paulsawyer

oggy

Well Dan Evans looks like he is going to lose again so Britain lose! Its not wonder Murray gets pissed off at Davis cup. He always seems to win his 2 singles games and then watches as Britians other player loses!

I think Boggo would of beaten both of these Polish players - atleast 1!

Evans just doesnt have the talent of boggo! fact

Killerking

Killerking

Adam OUFC

I'm with Killerking, Bogdanovic has had the support some of these other players could only dream of, the LTA gave him Brad Gilbert.

Of course Bogdanovic won't get any better, he hasn't acheived anything and you keep praising, and saying he'll get better, when he's 25, players have usually developed by now.

To make a snap judgement that i only watch Wimbledon, i watch many tennis tournaments, have a vast knowledge of the sport, and have played recreationally and club level, so don't make a snap judgement at me.

Oh and Wimbledons 2 weeks

oggy

The comments from some people that Eaton should be in the team because of 1 win at wimbo is what I was on about.

The LTA spent so much on Boggo because they know he has the talent to succeed get it?

Get off the forums if you cant say anything positive about boggo

Adam OUFC

Jac

Josh Goodall is what 24, so 1 year younger than Alex with a career high of around 190. I don't think Josh has ever beaten a top 100 player and has only won 1 atp lvl match, and that was over a qualifier. So that a reason if nay why Alex should get more funding. But he doesn't, not any more at any rate. The funding is determined by ranking and i think specific individually set goals.

you might say getting Brad was preferential, but really that was the LTA trying to fix a mess they had made and it was not a good match up, Alex pretty much went backwards under Brad.

in yesterdays match Evans was abysmal. if boggo had put in a display that bad vs a player ranked outside the worlds top 600 it would be all over the press etc Boggo has put in bad displays in the DC, but at least he has done so against decent players. That guys career high rank was only 190!

Adam OUFC

Killerking

Jac

Josh won a futures event. He did well, he came through qualies. and was fired up after the way he was dropped from the DC team, but he was the top seed. you don't very often see player inside the top 250 at futures.

I don't think Josh has done too much this year at challenger level to be honest. i still expect Alex to end the year as GB no2 (mainly as he has nothing to defend points wise, whilst Ward and Josh do have quite a bit).

as for Alex, he made a decision a while ago not to play futures again (if you look back at his early career he jumped to challenger about as quickly as he could). not sure i 100% agree with that, but it's something he's stuck too.

Jono

I don't think that Dan Evans, (Andy's personal choice) is any better than Goodall, Ward and Boggo, and our British media should be aware of that. Yep,Goodall won a tournament but only 10K,the smallest on circuit. Boggo is still generally the next best to Andy Murray. I'm also disappointed with John Lloyd. If Dan Evans says he didn't play his best tennis, it is also up to our hands on caoch to get the best out of our players. The women seem to come on leaps,with Heather and Laura our future, and Bally and Katie knocking on top 100.And this brings me to Paul Annacone, our mens coach. How good is he forum members???????

paulsawyer

Not very if WR's are anything to go by...
I'm a supporter of Boggo through and through, don't get me wrong, but the only British Men's player who has come anywhere near his potential is Murray (who spent most of his tennis education in Spain)
Evans is a talented kid, but he seemed to lack any sort of passion or desire during the match, and even at a break up he capitulated.
We belong in this group, and i think/hope that boggo will be involved in the next squad as murray seems unlikely to play

Jac

So the next tie will be Lithuania away. normally away ties are clay, but they may opt for an indoor hard ct as they are rubbish on clay too.. its early march, will have to wait and see if boggo will be back in contention. and pretty sure Andy will skip it as it just b4 Indian wells (ot is it Miami, which ever is 1st)

oggy