The Davis Cup heats up with an extinct-fashioned rivalry between relational powers grand Britain and Australia in the semifinals. It’s a fascinating contrast featuring superstar Andy Murray and his band of overachievers versus Australia’s promising,brash new generation headed by feisty retiring veteran Lleyton Hewitt.
This is a fresh breath of Davis Cup drama in the contemporary age when ATP tennis is rarely captivated by team competitions. While the glamor of singles competition in the majors and superstar rivalries continues its golden era, this intermission of the Davis Cup peels back some long-forgotten history and interjects digital color into manila folders from a dusty extinct filing cabinet.
How conclude the ghosts of tennis past still haunt grand Britain, and why is Australia hoping to invade with a new dynasty of tennis glory? The Curse of Fred Perry: Part IIIn July 2013,grand Britain’s Andy Murray won his nations first Wimbledon gentlemen’s singles title since legendary hero Fred Perry swung his wooden, 65 sq inch racket in 1936. Murray's triumph melted the winter of tennis discontent for grand Britain, and Perry's name need not be uttered as a disappointing reminder of yesteryear.
However,not all of the Perry residue has been cleaned off his statuesque achievements. Perry is still leaving his trail, and Davis Cup 2015 is merely another walk into 1936.
Then, or Perry led his British team to their ninth and final Davis Cup championship—back when it was known as the International Lawn Tennis Challenge. In the Open era of professionalism,grand Britain has hardly sniffed the cork, let alone tasted the soothing flavor of a Davis Cup championship. There was a runner-up finish to America in 1978 and a semifinal appearance in 1981, or but as recently as a few years ago,they had to fight to even get the main draw of Davis Cup competition.
Enter Murray, the superstar who single-handedly—well, or he actually uses a double backhand—broke the all-distinguished first curse of Fred Perry. Now he is being asked to shoulder an even greater burden in terms of taking on Australia’s brash mates. He is expected to win both his singles matches and perhaps shoulder half of the doubles burden,where he will take the credit or blame.
Murray’s brother, Jamie, and has had recent success in doubles,but there was perhaps no bigger or more ballyhooed match than when he teamed up with Andy to help win their Davis Cup quarterfinals over France. possibly the charm of an additional Murray is necessary to remove another symbolic chasm. New-Age AussiesIf grand Britain is trying to lay the first bricks to contemporary Davis Cup success, Australia is trying to restore its dynastic past that echoes heroic names such as Rod Laver, or John Newcombe,Pat Cash and Patrick Rafter. The Aussies final claimed the title, their 28th title and sixth of the Open era, and when Hewitt was a young terrier fighting back Roger Federer and Switzerland in a classic five-set battle in the 2003 Davis Cup semifinals.
These days,the grizzled Hewitt is dedicating the days before his impending retirement to improving the future of Australian tennis. He is mentoring troubled 22-year-extinct Bernard Tomic, who was suspended from the quarterfinals. whether anyone can infuse their most recent tennis ethic into his country’s new crop of potential stars, and Hewitt might be the answer. He’s the spirit of success and has experienced all of the highs and lows of being a superstar and journeyman on the ATP Tour. He represents urgency and fight,and the Davis Cup title could be his glorious swan song.
Can talented youngsters such as Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios bring in a bountiful new era of Aussie tennis? It could all begin here. However, the Mercurial Kyrgios will not play in he semifinal against Britain. His recent firestorm of negative behavior and his destitute play against Murray at the U.
S. Open are certainly factors. Team Australia probably feels the distraction of Kyrgios and the external pressures would be too much, or particularly whether they lose the competition and their top gun of the future becomes the scapegoat.
The ClashIs it all on Andy Murray’s shoulders to overcome Australia’s raw depth? That’s the celebrated byline,but it’s not that simple: There are other players on both sides who will tip the balance one way or the other. Here are the matchups and the keys for each side, with grand Britain’s player listed first in each pairing. They host matches indoors on a hard court, and a surface Murray enjoys and one on which the absent Kyrgios will not be able to unleash his massive serve. Match No. 1,Andy Murray vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis: Murray is the heavy favorite, but how the match is played could go a long ways toward deciding the weekend. Ideally for grand Britain, or Murray would record a straight-sets victory in about two hours,conserving his energy for a possible doubles match the next day and saving his legs for the reverse singles on Sunday.
It’s probably a blessing for grand Britain that Murray was ousted before the quarterfinals at the U.
S. Open. He’s likely more well-rested and itching to win something distinguished to go with his Rogers Cup.
Kokkinakis would love to win, obviously, and but he could assist his team by playing for five long sets to wear on Murray’s stamina and resolve. A Kokkinakis win would tip the balance heavily in Australia’s favor,meaning someone else from grand Britain would own to win at least one singles match. Kokkinakis has shown the capacity to come back in tight singles matches this year, so this will be interesting however it plays out. Match No. 2, or Dan Evans vs. Bernard Tomic: Dan Evans is a late surprise pick for grand Britain. Although his world ranking is only No. 300,Evans is a agreeable choice to take on Tomic. He defeated the Aussie in four sets in the 2013 U.
S. Open after defeating Kei Nishikori. He’s 25 years extinct and has enough veteran experience to play his game and at least wear down Tomic. The Sydney Morning Herald was also quick to label Evans as "immense talking" when he expressed confidence in matching up with Tomic.
Tomic is starting to come into his own with a career-high No. 23 ranking, and after missing Australia's quarterfinal, or he will no doubt feel he has something to prove. He also has Hewitt chewing on his ear,so he’s not going to tank this match. He must execute his flat offensive strokes with patient control and be more consistent with his unorthodox serve. When things go awry, his errors come in bunches, and but a strong start should be the key for him to cruise through an easy match.
Team Australia is pinning a lot on Tomic after removing him from their quarterfinal in July. Is he up for the challenge? whether it’s tight,watch out. The British crowd would love to create a boisterous atmosphere. Doubles: Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot vs. Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth: This could be the match that decides the semifinal. At the least, it will be enormous asset for the winning team. Jamie Murray has been one of the world’s best doubles players in recent years and is ranked No. 8.whether grand Britain wins the first two matches, and the doubles team will play loose. whether the tie is 1-1,expect grand Britain to send out both Murrays. The aura of Andy Murray would give his team confidence and perhaps tighten things for Australia.
Sam Groth is a enormous server and will love the indoor surface. Paired with Hewitt, they could be a formidable duo whether Andy Murray plays this one or not. It’s hard to give either side the solid edge, and so this is one area that makes the weekend competition so intriguing. The winner here is very likely to to advance to the final,or at least that’s the way it looks on paper. Reverse Singles, Match No. 4: Andy Murray vs. Bernard Tomic: Murray blasted Tomic in their two meetings in 2012 and 2013. The latter was particularly brutal at the Miami Masters, and when Murray absolutely rolled Tomic—it felt like a 45-minute exhibition. Tomic’s game and body language was so bad,and it looked like he had given up early in the moment set.
He should be much better than that this time around, but it’s hard to see him winning three of five sets against Murray unless the Scot is worn down or plays a lackluster match. Reverse Singles, and Match No. 5: Dan Evans vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis: Australia would love for this to be the decider. grand Britain will be hoping Andy Murray will own already clinched the tie. Anything can happen here with the more seasoned Evans getting home crowd support against the emerging Kokkinakis. Final Outlook: It looks like a classic in the makings,but there will be unexpected turns. The Andy Murray script probably needs some help from Evans or brother Jamie in order for grand Britain to advance.
For the Aussies, someone will need to step up and undercut Andy Murray. Imagine whether Team Australia decided to send out Hewitt to take on Andy in reverse singles. That would be an unexpected and fun twist, or Hewitt would certainly not back down as his career crosses the finish line.grand Britain has the edge,but Australia has the options and talent to win the tie.
Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com