2011 Fed Cup

[jonesy86]

Disappointing performance, but for a Fed/Davis Cup tie, that's about the lowest amount of home court advantage there is.

All players have been in Australia for at least a month and are well and truly aclimatised to conditions. Then the place they played it at only holds 2,000-3,000 who were like a golf crowd.

 

[Sman-21]

go easy on sam i think shes been punching above her weight for the last year.

She was in awesome form an gettin great results.

I dont believe she has the talent to be where she currently is.

Hope she proves me wrong

 

[red+black]

Disappointing performance, but for a Fed/Davis Cup tie, that's about the lowest amount of home court advantage there is.

All players have been in Australia for at least a month and are well and truly aclimatised to conditions. Then the place they played it at only holds 2,000-3,000 who were like a golf crowd.

All true, but it seems like Sam always needs excuses.

go easy on sam i think shes been punching above her weight for the last year.

I dont believe she has the talent to be where she currently is.

100% agree on both counts. Be interesting to see how far her ranking drops this year.

 

[CHBench]

Aus dodged some massive bullets, to again draw Ukraine in the World Group play offs in April.

 

[pepsi]

Great result. Where will it be played? Bondarenko sisters are still their highest ranked players and they have not been in that good a form the last few months.

 

[raff23]

Well what a let down, Sam appears to be in a rut, either that or people have figured out how to beat her. Jarka is actually better mentally than her, yes she gets pretty angry but she still seems to be able to keep the nerves and pressure in check. For a top 10 player, Sam doesn't actually beat that many of the other players in the 10. Have fun trying to defend all the clay season point mate.

EDIT: just read Sam apparently lost 4.5 kilos in the off season or something. Is it possible it might not've been a good idea?

Get her moving around the baseline and shes stuffed, very poor defensively. the worst in the top 20 by a fair way. For someone who appears supremely fit her mobility and agility are subpar. Compare her to novak's supreme defensive capabilities and its embarressing she is even in the top 5. Having said all that she will imo have a strong clay court season once again, her deficiencies get covered up because of the slow surface and it enhances her weapons significantly so dont be surprised if she goes deep into the french again. Hardcourt isnt her best surface no matter how much she tries to tell people it is, it isnt. Her serve doesnt get the kick like it does on clay and therefore the cheap points dont happen as often. She doesnt beat many in the top 10 and it will only happen on clay if she does as it did last yr. We need to realise she is a clay court specialist so the expectations of what she can achieve should be directed at the french open and nothing else.

 

[red+black]

Great result. Where will it be played? Bondarenko sisters are still their highest ranked players and they have not been in that good a form the last few months.

http://www.fedcup.com/en/results/head-to-head/head-to-head.aspx?team1=AUS&team2=UKR

Looks like a home tie. We should be able to break the 2-tie streak of the away side winning.

2007 - UKR d. AUS 4-1 in AUS
2010 - AUS d. UKR 5-0 in UKR

 

[andrepetz]

http://www.tennis.com.au/news/2011/03/08/australia-to-host-ukraine-in-glen-iris


Being played at Glen Iris Valley Recreation Club

Its a pretty good venue, played there a few times, didn't think it was up to hosting a major event like this though.

 

[matt_897]

Bizarre place to play a Fed Cup tie, might as well be playing in Frankston

 

[matt_897]

Anybody going to the tie this weekend. Ok, the tie is completely is understrength but a Fed Cup tie is a Fed Cup tie...

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

I'd go but Glen Iris is completely on the other side of town for me. I have essays due as well.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Its 1-1. Jarka won easily Rodionova lost easily. Word has it thought that rodionova has been carrying a hip injury since early in the year and actualyl needs surgery but is trying to play anyway. Is she desperate for money or something? She's really jeopardised her ranking a fair bit this year by winning only 1 match...

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Lol and we're out. What a joke. Rodionova should've been replaced by Ferguson in the second match but wasn't. Not saying that Dokic or Stosur should've made the trip, but its pretty poor that a country with quality players (if you ignore Stosur sucking arse at the minute) will be back in the doldrums for another year. oh well.

 

[CHBench]

Rodionova's citizenship needs to be revoked for that. Embarrassing.

 

[matt_897]

Rodionova's citizenship needs to be revoked for that. Embarrassing.

No David Taylor should be sacked for picking Rodionva when she clearly wasn't fit. Couldn't believe they picked her for the doubles, honestly one of the most mind boggling decision think that has been made in pro sports. And I'm not overstating, it just didn't make any sense. The whole crowd noticed she was injured and groaned when it was announced that she was playing doubles. He should be forced out of his job and Sam should sack him too, her results are going the wrong way as well....

 

[Davo23]

Russia v Ukraine !

and the Russians lost ...



.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

No David Taylor should be sacked for picking Rodionva when she clearly wasn't fit. Couldn't believe they picked her for the doubles, honestly one of the most mind boggling decision think that has been made in pro sports. And I'm not overstating, it just didn't make any sense. The whole crowd noticed she was injured and groaned when it was announced that she was playing doubles. He should be forced out of his job and Sam should sack him too, her results are going the wrong way as well....

Surely Rodionova could've pulled out though? Apparently she was devistated after the tie. I would be cracking it if I was Ferguson. I doubt Sam would sack him though, she seems close to him. I feel sorry for Jarka, pretty much 2 ties now she's held her own but everything has gone wrong around her.

 

[raff23]

Surely Rodionova could've pulled out though? Apparently she was devistated after the tie. I would be cracking it if I was Ferguson. I doubt Sam would sack him though, she seems close to him. I feel sorry for Jarka, pretty much 2 ties now she's held her own but everything has gone wrong around her.

sam should be feeling the brunt of a bit of criticism here, she would have known roidonova was under an injury cloud but she selfishly turned her back on the fed cup team, she needs form, a great way to find some confidence would have been to take australia through to the next round with a couple of good wins under her belt. How it affects her french open preparation is mind boggling, a couple of days playing in australia for australia?, last time i checked the french doesnt start till late may, she better hope she starts to find form otherwise she will get a deserved serve imo.

 

[matt_897]

sam should be feeling the brunt of a bit of criticism here, she would have known roidonova was under an injury cloud but she selfishly turned her back on the fed cup team, she needs form, a great way to find some confidence would have been to take australia through to the next round with a couple of good wins under her belt. How it affects her french open preparation is mind boggling, a couple of days playing in australia for australia?, last time i checked the french doesnt start till late may, she better hope she starts to find form otherwise she will get a deserved serve imo.

Don't be silly, none of the blame should be on Sam, she needs to be focused on defending all her points over the next few months, she has final points to defend from Stuttgart this week (she won her 1st round match last night) and with her form lately, travelling to Australia for a few days would of put a dent in trying to re-build form.

This tie should of been won without Sam, Ukraine were insanely understrength and if David Taylor had a brain cell, he would of played of Ferguson or Peers in the 2nd singles or the doubles. Especially when they had positive H2H records against these players. That's truly mind-boggling