[JustAileen]

Just a bit worried about Heather, but looks like they're doing well

[Dawson.]

What a bad loss for Hearher Didn't expect that at all.

[Kotre]

And the doubles winning streak continues, 62, 61.

[Dawson.]

Nice recovery girls

So what are we thinking vs Hungary? For Babos I always feel that a player who breaks a big losing streak by winning back to back matches is a dangerous one. And Arn was the player I was most concerned about before the tie, she's capable of an upset or two.

I reckon Judy should (and probably will) stick to her guns and play Hev and Laura for singles and doubles if necessary.

[BodyElectric.]

Bad loss for Heather, at least Laura won her match and they won doubles so that's good.

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Originally Posted by e5dawsonj

So what are we thinking vs Hungary? For Babos I always feel that a player who breaks a big losing streak by winning back to back matches is a dangerous one. And Arn was the player I was most concerned about before the tie, she's capable of an upset or two.

I reckon Judy should (and probably will) stick to her guns and play Hev and Laura for singles and doubles if necessary.

I disagree. Arn is tricky for any of our girls, and not a great match up for Laura. Yes Hev beat Babos recently but Hev's form is poor atm and I agree Babos could be dangerous after beating MLdB.

I would play Joko as #2 jsut see what she can do against Arn and put Laura in as our 'banker' against Babos. Not that you can guarantee Laura will win but I would be reasonably confident she would. Heather's confidence can not be great at the min she wasn't even that close to Michelle today. I think we will win the doubles against Hungary (especially if we play Hev and Laura) so we need to get that singles win and I think the best chance of that is Laura v Babos. I love Hev but I think if we play her in singles we lose tomorrow. Let's hope im wrong.

EDIT: Plus if Laura loses to Arn (wouldn't be surprised) that's a lot of pressure on Hev to win when she knows she isn't playing well.

[no-hay-igual]

I think I slightly agree with you, we have to remember that Babos is a player that Laura and Hev have played numerous times and know so well. Arn is certainly a crafty player but I would expect Laura and Hev to be beating her on their day.

With doubles, we need to play Laura and Hev. Laura and Joko are a good team but the former are our best doubles team.
I would play Babos vs Robson too, I think Laura seems to be playing pretty well atm and she'll bring her best against Timea.
The other singles i'm struggling with but I dont think Joko would be mentally ready to have this resting on her shoulders. I think Judy will play Hev in at least one of the singles and tbh i do expect Hev to beat Arn, despite her form, i'm sure she'll claw out her best

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Originally Posted by no-hay-igual

I think I slightly agree with you, we have to remember that Babos is a player that Laura and Hev have played numerous times and know so well. Arn is certainly a crafty player but I would expect Laura and Hev to be beating her on their day.

With doubles, we need to play Laura and Hev. Laura and Joko are a good team but the former are our best doubles team.
I would play Babos vs Robson too, I think Laura seems to be playing pretty well atm and she'll bring her best against Timea.
The other singles i'm struggling with but I dont think Joko would be mentally ready to have this resting on her shoulders. I think Judy will play Hev in at least one of the singles and tbh i do expect Hev to beat Arn, despite her form, i'm sure she'll claw out her best

Yes but due to Fed cup rules out of the two players nominated to play singles the player with the highest ranking must play the opposite teams player of the highest ranking. So if Laura and Hev both play singles Hev will have to play Babos as she is higher ranked. Laura can only play Babos if Hev is dropped from singles (she could still play doubles). Which is annoying! Cos I agree I think Hev has a better chance against Arn than Laura does. Hence I would put Jo in as the number 2 behind Laura.

Despite all this discussion I still expect Judy will stick with Hev and Laura, its a big call to drop Hev and Judy stuck with Anne last year after two poor matches from her.

[guichard]

Originally Posted by no-hay-igual

I think I slightly agree with you, we have to remember that Babos is a player that Laura and Hev have played numerous times and know so well. Arn is certainly a crafty player but I would expect Laura and Hev to be beating her on their day.

With doubles, we need to play Laura and Hev. Laura and Joko are a good team but the former are our best doubles team.
I would play Babos vs Robson too, I think Laura seems to be playing pretty well atm and she'll bring her best against Timea.
The other singles i'm struggling with but I dont think Joko would be mentally ready to have this resting on her shoulders. I think Judy will play Hev in at least one of the singles and tbh i do expect Hev to beat Arn, despite her form, i'm sure she'll claw out her best

Heather can't play Arn. It is team# 2 vs 2 and team # 1 vs 1




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[Dawson.]

Another way to look at it is that Hungary don't have too many options. Babos and Arn are the two singles players and Marosi is the doubles specialist, who will presumably pair up with Babos to make their strongest team. Babos will be expecting to play counter puncher Watson, Arn expecting to play big hitting lefty Laura. GB could let them believe this until the last possible minute and change the line up to Laura v Babos and Anne/JoKo v Arn. Completely different outlook to both matches with minimal time to prepare.

[Zenjo]

I think Judy has just got to go with Heather and Laura from now on. If they lose a match without their 2 best players in singles then she'll get heavily critisised and probably will have to resign from the role. Robson is on good form and Watson knows how to win even when not playing well. If one of the other 2 GB girls were ranked 70 or something and on form it would be a tougher decision, but not with them both in the 140's.

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Originally Posted by Zenjo

I think Judy has just got to go with Heather and Laura from now on. If they lose a match without their 2 best players in singles then she'll get heavily critisised and probably will have to resign from the role. Robson is on good form and Watson knows how to win even when not playing well. If one of the other 2 GB girls were ranked 70 or something and on form it would be a tougher decision, but not with them both in the 140's.

Surely as captain that is what she's there for? To decide on the team best suited to beating the team in front of them. That will vary depending on the players the opposition has. I doubt she would ever have to resign, for a start Fed cup is hardly high profile in Britain...

BIB: we really should win the doubles, especially with Hev and Laura playing. Therefore the objective is to pick the best players that will allow us to win one of the two singles. It's better to win one of them and lose the other easily than to lose two close matches. Which is what I feel personally will happen but then I'm a pessimist

And this isn't to knock Hev in any way, she's shown so many times before she's a fighter and I'm sure her form will pick up again soon.

Of course this will all go out the window if Laura just beat Arn

[Embittered]

Well she did, and she's obviously getting the hang of the crucial MTO tactic.

Originally Posted by @BritishTennis

#GBFedCup Hungary serves out the first set 6-0 at love after 20 mins. Robson calls for the trainer.

Originally Posted by @BritishTennis

#GBFedCup Robson back on court following treatment for a left shoulder injury

[BodyElectric.]

Originally Posted by Embittered

Well she did, and she's obviously getting the hang of the crucial MTO tactic.

I wouldn't say it's a tactic... i doubt she was choking the match..

She had a shoulder injury that has been bothering her since AO and she needed the trainer and it seemed to work.

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Originally Posted by LethalLaura

I wouldn't say it's a tactic... i doubt she was choking the match..

She had a shoulder injury that has been bothering her since AO and she needed the trainer and it seemed to work.

Yeah but shoulder injuries don't normally improve so dramatically with the trainer...got to think a little bit of it was mental. She was barely winning points at the end of the first set. Then comes out and cruises past Arn. I would have been impressed with 2&1 for a fully fit Laura, to do it after having treatment for a shoulder injury is very surprising.

Let's hope it isn't too bad, guess she'll be out of Doha tho.

C'mon Hev finish Babos off!