Country Cups (Davis Cup, Fed/BJK Cup)

[ponchi101]

really high time Davenport resigned in disgrace.. cant get anyone to put on the USA jersey? really? It is the first job of the captain to persuade your best players to play.. else what is the point of being captain?

And when they say no, what do you do? Put a horse's head in their bed?
There is a limit to what a captain can do. And let's remember: this is an uniquely American problem. Almost all other players show up for their country.

[ashkor87]

The American BJK Cup team was decimated yesterday after Pegula, Collins, and Kessler pulled out. The team is now being led by...Alycia Parks.

Fortunately for them, the only player of note in their group is Rebecca Sramkova.

Sramkova is more than enough

[ashkor87]

this is an uniquely American problem

I am not calling for the others to resign, am I? If you dont have any influence at all over your players, why are you captain?

[ponchi101]

this is an uniquely American problem

I am not calling for the others to resign, am I? If you dont have any influence at all over your players, why are you captain?

Who do you think could make Pegula or Coco play?
Not putting you on, serious question.

[ashkor87]

this is an uniquely American problem

I am not calling for the others to resign, am I? If you dont have any influence at all over your players, why are you captain?

Who do you think could make Pegula or Coco play?
Not putting you on, serious question.

Someone they look up to. Venus could make Coco play, I expect..don't know anything about Pegula

[Suliso]

Nobody could make them play, but perhaps someone could convince.

[ponchi101]

"HI, Coco. This is Venus. Yeah, right? How are you? Listen, I was named captain of the BJK team, and I was wondering if you want to play. I mean, I really want you to play. Yeah, for the team. What do you say? Yes, I know it is right in between Charleston, which you will not play anyway, and Stuttgart, and I know you are thick in the run for #1, but imagine the pride of representing your country! Yeah, I know, being a world #1 and being an American is something to be very proud of, but... you know, it is a team thing. You get to wear that cool uniform with the USA colors and... prize money is on the low side, I know that too, but it is for your country and... the surface thing is important, I know, the BJK cup may not be on clay and you need to get ready for the clay season and... Ok, I see. Maybe next year. I get it.
Anyway: do you have Sofia Kenin's number?"

[ashkor87]

BJK Cup next - Italy looks the strongest, because of doubles.. Czechia would have been but they havent qualified - imagine Vondrousova, Muchova, Krejcikova and Siniakova - who can best them?!
US is pretty strong, with Pegula and TT - both good doubles players as well - can they combine well? In this competition, everyone will have a good #1, the quaulity of the #2 and the doubles team will swing every tie...and Italy is the best at that as it stands, though Czechia could have been better.

[ashkor87]

what makes this competition even more meaningless is that the real powerhouses - Balarus (Sabalenka, Azarenka) and Russia (Andreeva, Alexandrova, Samsonova..) are not allowed to compete. Yes, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is evil but was the US invasion of Iraq any less so? Time to stop burdening these sporting events with political biases.

[ponchi101]

So, the fact that somebody in the past did something wrong absolves the ones that do the same thing in the future?
Yes, the USA should have faced sanctions in the early 2000´s. That does not mean Russia should not face sanctions now.

BTW. I am in Iraq right now. Kind of a mixed bag of responses (I have spoken to a few people). On one hand, thanks to the USA Iraq was able to get rid of Saddam. Alhamdulillah!
On the other... (expletive) the USA for what happened afterwards. (their opinion).

[ashkor87]

So, the fact that somebody in the past did something wrong absolves the ones that do the same thing in the future?
Yes, the USA should have faced sanctions in the early 2000´s. That does not mean Russia should not face sanctions now.

BTW. I am in Iraq right now. Kind of a mixed bag of responses (I have spoken to a few people). On one hand, thanks to the USA Iraq was able to get rid of Saddam. Alhamdulillah!
On the other... (expletive) the USA for what happened afterwards. (their opinion).

always good to experience it first hand...

[ashkor87]

So, the fact that somebody in the past did something wrong absolves the ones that do the same thing in the future?
Yes, the USA should have faced sanctions in the early 2000´s. That does not mean Russia should not face sanctions now.

BTW. I am in Iraq right now. Kind of a mixed bag of responses (I have spoken to a few people). On one hand, thanks to the USA Iraq was able to get rid of Saddam. Alhamdulillah!
On the other... (expletive) the USA for what happened afterwards. (their opinion).

no, absolve isnt the point. Dont sit in judgement - people who live in glass houses etc..the hypocricy.

[ashkor87]

I think it is wrong to let politics into sport at this level - for instance, has anyone called for Israel to be banned from all sporting events? I wouldnt, either. It is a slippery slope, with no end in sight. Dont go there.

[ashkor87]

glad to see Davis Cup is sticking to the format of 4 singles and 1 doubles in between.. doubles can be the 'swing' match - US and Czechia tied at 1-1.. Tiafoe poduced his usual poor performance against Lehecka and Fritz won against Mensik.. the US captain really needs to ask himself why he picked Tiafoe- some players are really bad at this format.. Sloane is another who comes to mind - someone I would never pick if I were captain.

[ponchi101]

Had to pick Tiafoe because Shelton is injured. And Paul too. He had nobody else.
I say.