Isnt it natural that as Roger plays fewer matches in each tournament(for example, he is not playing all finals like used to), he may choose to play more DC?

'Federer gave Hewitt a five set licking' ???? I think you're mistaken Pete, I'm fairly certain Fed and Hewitt did NOT have a 5 setter.

I know that Stan beat Hewitt in 5 to clinch it though.

Is FO the only tournament that plays the winner's national anthem?

Federer was injured in 2009 (he'd announced his intention to play first round DC vs US), and sick in 2010, then Switzerland was relegated to zonal play in early 2011.

Great Britain isn't a world group side, so if I were Severin Luthi I'd pencil the Swiss in for two sure singles points against any team other than Serbia or Spain, leaving Wawrinka and/or the doubles team (which could be Federer/Wawrinka) to pick up the decisive point.

Wawrinka's ranking has dropped since 2009, but he's still capable of top 20 play. I wouldn't bet on Switzerland to win the whole thing, but neither would I be astonished to see them reach the SF or better in the next two-three years.

I would love to see Federer take the whole tennis world by storm again!! I have never seen Federer win a grand slam LIVE and I still believe he can do it and I would just like to see this ASAP. All my friends are saying that Nadal and Novak are the best, I like Novak but not love and I loathe Nadal! I would love to see Federer just rise again like a phoenix and just start dominating especially at the Olympics! I hope he ignites that fire again and dominates again!

Pete,
This piece I wrote in 2010 about Fed's non-participation in the post-USO 2010 relegation tie may give you some background into this issue:
http://www.ubitennis.com/english/sport/tennis/2010/09/22/388632-diss_swiss_good_news_rest.shtml

Simply stated, Fed hasn't really "vacilated" nor had a "change of heart" per se. He's been very open over many interviews that during the period of his domination he put his individual career above DC; he was also no less clear that that would not always be the case - that some mythical time in the future would come to pass where his "priorities would change" and he would recommit to DC.

The only question to ponder has really been when that time would come. He's obviously been in a transition period lately with his results so that may be part of it. Also, politically, there's no question that the Khazakstan incident was a big debacle - Fed's parents even criticized him for it, not for not playing but for waiting too long to let the team know he wasn't playing. In any event, he's since met w/ federation leaders and they've come to a better understanding of how DC plays into his future. I'm sure that that incident played a part in his decision to go to Australia after USO.

And once he'd done that - things have their own momentum - as Roger himself said, after Stan's heroic win in that tie he just felt he couldn't let it all be for naught and wanted to support the Swiss at least through the first round this year. Should they win against the US, he hasn't yet committed to the next round, we'll see.

Andrew Burton, it's true that Fed did intend to play in 2009 first round after the flush of olympic victory, but in 2010 he already announced he was skipping the first round early in the year, well before he became ill post-AO. The illness was a coincidence, but he wouldn't have played even if well.

Pete,

Whatever TMF does,he receives "flak"!Good/bad,Win/Lose...you get my point?

Dammed if he does,dammed if he doesn't!

Oh Please Pete now we take issue with Roger

Give me a Break no?

Gee I just taken Valium to get over the previous post on Rafa

Deep Breath.......

It seems Mr. Bodo never tires of self-aggrandisement, trying to elevate his 'blog' to the status of actual relevance.

Insinuation, innuendo and cryptic comments. Really, he should be writing for People or Star or some other celebrity gossip rag. Did it ever occur to him to actually approach Roger and ask him where the fire is? Roger is usually plain-spoken, or course, he doesn't suffer fools lightly.

CWATC, do you have other Fed-on-DC quotes from more mainstream articles (say, one from SI that reported on Fed's statement as it happened)? Not that I'm questioning the veracity of that article you just linked. Just want more "official" sources.

Well, IMO, Pete is doing his job, which is writing to present several different perspectives about the most popular players.

An opinion blog is just that, the writer's "opinion"".

Nam 1

I am totaly aware of that fact ok

NP

I did leave you a further message on the other post.I guess you must have missed it

AM, if it was about the Lakers game, MA said that LA will be playing 2 consecutive days starting with the Celtics tomorrow. So you should be able to catch the LA-NYC games on Friday (or Sat in your time zone, I think).

games = game

Eh, who gives a crap. The Fakers are toast.

NP

Maybe I need to check my program schedule.I thought it was Thursday night here.Thanks.

NP

I dont want to ponder on any forgone result at present

I am just getting myself back after that previous post:)

What Federer has done and is doing is no very different from what other tennis "stars" have done over the years re: Davis Cup and Fed Cup: play like an eager beaver when you're a young up and comer, lay off when you become "bigger" and want to focus on building your individual resume (i.e. Slams etc), and return to DC/FC for Olympics and/or in the latter stage of your career.

Call it selfish or smart or whatever...it's what's done -- often.

AM,

I wasn't addressing my post to you.

More so to some posters who seem to need to call Pete out for expressing a certain opinion which is what the comment section is for but it is not necessary to call him names.

I am not a big fan of Federer. When I was very young Sampras was my favourite tennis player, as Sampras grew older Federer started to look like the "next Pete Sampras", and I just hated that fact...

HOWEVER, let me be clear. I have tremendous respect for Roger. I don't want to see him leaving tennis anytime soon. He is a big credit to the game.

Ruth @8.42

that is exactly what I was trying to say on my first post.

As Roger plays fewer matches in tournaments, ie. does not advance to finals and semis each time, he will be more able to play DC. After all, even if he is not winning slams, he is still the best player in his country's team.

Nam 1

I just found this post to be 'ironic' thats all

Ruth

I see you have returned from the beach:)

AM, the Fakers are toast.

I hope this will turn out just as wrong as my early prediction about the Kobies last yr, but this time even HAL is snickering DREAM ON!

The late writings are what I'd like to call the "tease the fans a tennis.com and let them theorize",hahaha

I must confess though I haven't read yet ok gone to see what's up!

Maybe Pete felt the need to balance out the recent surfeit of Rafa-Nole posts!

I expect one about "Poor Andy" soon.

NP

As I said to you before

We need to get of this new 'idoit' of a coach

I am planning a petition

Bring Back Phil....

It's beautiful and I'm a tal l girl, and I met my boy friend on -- Tal l kiss. Ç○ m --, you also can check it for date, it's efficient...

waow Yassine,my favorite suura in the Quran,*bows* to the pseudonym!

Aube

Do you mind translating that post of yours to me

If you dont mind:)

"What Federer has done and is doing is no very different from what other tennis "stars" have done over the years re: Davis Cup and Fed Cup: play like an eager beaver when you're a young up and comer, lay off when you become "bigger" and want to focus on building your individual resume (i.e. Slams etc), and return to DC/FC for Olympics and/or in the latter stage of your career."

NOT Pistol Pete!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzSI5VffQ74
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yme1uaKKb0k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tS5u602E5w

AM, right now the Fakers are bigger morons than Phil.

Now for a Pistol Pete Moment

As if I didnt know that was coming....

NP

WORD!

send a check Madame President then I'll translate...lol!

"It's beautiful and I'm a tal l girl, and I met my boy friend on -- Tal l kiss. Ç○ m --, you also can check it for date, it's efficient..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgZc6ejiVj4

haha I ventured on the thread before last and someone there is advertising tall singles,like wahahaha,lolol!

Aube

In your Dreams ok lol!

I am not a money tree.

You look just like one here but I'll translate free for you...

Aube

Okay I have to confess after getting my hair done yesterday I did do a 'little fashion shopping'...still..........

Need you tell me Madame President?,I know everytime you set foot outside and see a worthy shop you're going to use Mr President's card,not that I'll chastise you for doing so,I find shopping wonderful and uplifting.lol!

Aube

I have my own money and also use my own credit card....at times

I worked part time again remember and seeing I am in charge I get good money.

Yeah yeah yeah,I know that song you know and sing it to whoever wants to hear it all the time,yet anytime I see Pappi's Wallet I'm all over it!

hey, hubbies have to be worth something,no?

My interest in Davis Cup is very high now...heck why?

I even watched Fed Cup last weekend..I must be suffering some malady.

This Davis Cup thing will pass soon I think..I am pretty sure of it.

If not, send meds. Vicodin.

Aube

Can we help it that our hubbies want us to look'wonderful' all the time no?

NP, I'm a little confused by the question: the quotes in my article from Fed were not in response to the Kazakhstan issue, they were just general statements about DC from the past few years. The statement about his pullout and "finishing the year strong" was from his official website.

Do you mean you were looking for more quotes about the general idea that he intended to return to DC in his later career? He's said it multiple times, I would have to check. But Roger doesn't give direct interviews to SI, who rarely cover tennis. "L'Equipe" is hardly non-mainstream - it's the top sports magazine in France.

the big apple

LOL!

L'Equipe is the top sports magazine in France

+ 1

!Can we help it that our hubbies want us to look'wonderful' all the time no"

most valuable argument and a brilliant one to!lol!

ok on a more serious note, is DC going to be anywhere on TV this week end?

Master Ace,do you know?

"Ruth

I see you have returned from the beach:)"

Yes, AM. Today was the first day that we've had 100% sunshine all day long; the rainy weather of the past several days is very unusual for this time of year in the Caribbean. Thank goodness I have 11 more days to enjoy what I hope will be more sun-all-the-time weather. :)

NP: You know that Pistol Pete is my all-time favorite, but, yes, he, too, made himself scarce at times when PMac desperately needed him (and Agassi) to play, but they both refused. Incidentally, there were times, early in Pete's career, when the USA had so much depth that the team didn't need him to play.

I remember that just before Mrs. Santa disappeared from TW, she and I had a rousing discussion about this topic in which she reminded me (though I didn't need reminding) of Pete's "no Patrick" period.: )And one of the reasons JMac pouted and abandoned the captaincy of the team was that he couldn't convince Pete and Andre to play just as Zina Garrison couldn't get Venus and Serena to play FC -- except for a couple Florida ties (which I happened to attend in 205 and 2007).

CWATC, I meant to ask if you had any Fed quotes from particular MSM articles. That "article" was basically a blog post with a mishmash of quotes. I remember you making these same (& valid!) pts before, so I was wondering if you had the original articles handy.

SI was just an example, any MSM will do. Also I was more interested in Fed's past statements about his general unwillingness to commit before the USO, not his future plans.

For NP: this is the portion of the L'Equipe interview I took the DC quotes from, from January 2010. The interview appeared in the magazine portion and was translated into English by enterprizing folks on the internet. Part of it concerns Tiger Woods and that part was reported by the US press. But they were less interested in Fed's thoughts on DC :)

"Q: You withdrew from the Davis Cup 1st round. Is it because it’s against Spain, in Spain, and on clay?
RF: Not because it’s Spain. Just because it’s on clay. Between Dubai and Indian Wells, it just doesn’t fit. It saddens me, but I know why I took that decision.

Q: Some said it was self-centred and unpatriotic. People thought that after having beaten Sampras’ record you would be able to play the Davis Cup…
RF: People have to understand that it’s just not possible to do everything. Had I made another choice, maybe I wouldn’t have wom RG last year. Do people prefer me to play the Davis Cup or to hold the GS record? Don’t Swiss people prefer having me as the world no1? If I play it and then it costs me in the rankings, people will always be there to tell me: ‘Ho, hum, you’re not no1 anymore!’

Q: Is it really impossible to do both?
RF: I consider that a Davis Cup round amounts to take out one Masters 1000. And I’m not ready to do that. I still favour my individual choices; time will come when this changes. You also have to understand that I do not have a team as abundant as Rafa’s with Spain. I’m not complaining. It’s just a fact. Rafa hasn’t played the quarterfinals and the semifinals last year. But people saw him as the star in the finals. They just forgot he wasn’t there before."

You can read a full translation of the interview here:
http://ruansfedererblog.com/?p=2402

Ruth

I hear you with the rain

Sydney has had rain since December and its still raining and thundering today.

Sydney wont be getting a Summer at all this year

Thank goodness for Melbourne when I expierenced Summer for 2 weeks:)

"NP: You know that Pistol Pete is my all-time favorite, but, yes, he, too, made himself scarce at times when PMac desperately needed him (and Agassi) to play, but they both refused. Incidentally, there were times, early in Pete's career, when the USA had so much depth that the team didn't need him to play."

Yah, Pete & Dre had that pwnage, uh, rivalry issue to sort out back then. To wit, one didn't agree to play until the other did as well.

Still, I should point out that Pete didn't use to skip all the rounds until the very last relegation tie--that is, while the majors were still being contested. QF & SF in '94, all the rounds except the very 1st in '95, SF & F in '97. And I should also add, Pete actually injured himself shortly after the '95 finals, but he still came back to compete in '97! (I think even many of Sampras' most rabid detractors would cut him some slack for skipping '96.) And he got injured in the finals AGAIN!

Both of those injuries no doubt contributed in part to his dismal starts in the following years. That's really my pt: you can't just look at the #s and try to gauge the level of commitment from said participant.

Anyhoo I've gone over this before. No need to rehash the whole thing again.

NP, well I gave you the L'Equipe interview above.

Am still a bit confused - do you mean you want quotes from Fed about the Kazakh incident and why he waited so long to make his decision?

I can tell you that it's not a matter the english-speaking press has ever asked him about to my knowledge. There were some articles last year from the swiss-german press where he said that he decided late because he was trying to keep his options open as long as possible, including the option to play, but he realized afterwards he'd made a mistake and did apologize, not for not playing, but for the poor communication between himself and the federation.

But it would be a challenge to find that original swiss-german source - I don't archive every article I read, unfortunately.

CWATC, thx. That earlier article left some wiggle room for spin/context-twisting, but the L'Equipe snippet is satisfactory.

CWATC, no, that wasn't what I was looking 4. And I take your word re the Kazakh brouhaha (or whatever the hell it was).

Again I just wanted to see with my own eyes that Fed's views were accurately represented. Gawd knows I'm opinionated as hell, but I do try to be objective.

To label Federer a Davis Cup refusnik and question his motives is low and cherry picking the facts to ignore.

- The Davis Cup has lost its prestige and significance in tennis. Let's stop pretending it means otherwise. It should be scrapped. Federer playing Davis Cup -- instead of training -- has impacted his recent Grand Slam results while his rivals have missed or played less matches.

- it's misleading to call Federer a refusenik without applying that term to every player. By Sunday Federer would have played in 21 ties (55 or 56 matches). In his entire career the refusnik Pete Sampras played only 16 ties (only 28 matches). Andre Agassi played only 22 ties (36 matches). Rod laver played only 11 ties (24 matches). Patrick McEnroe played only 4 ties (4 matches).

- By September 2006, Federer had already played 15 Davis Cup ties (41 matches) -- at 25 years, 1 month (Nadal's age last July). By age 22, Federer had played in 3 ties outside Europe: Federer 2003 Australia, 2002 Russia, 2002 Morocco, 2004 Romania. 

- Nadal (at age 25 years, 1 month) had been in only 12 ties, only 23 matches. Unlike Federer, Nadal has failed to participate in every away tie outside Europe -- not even for the 2008 Davis Cup final in Argentina, 2011 tie in the USA, 2008 Peru, 2007 USA. If Nadal has stopped playing for Spain -- his record ends here. Without a strong team, nadal would not have won any Savis Cups. To date Nadal has played only 14 ties, only 27 matches.

- Djokovic (24 years, 9 months) so far has played 17 ties, only 30 matches.

- Murray has (24 years, 9 months) so far has played only 11 ties, only 22 matches.

well it was only a matter of time before the Davis Cup Fed doesnt care about his country snark returned lol ... odd how Nadal and Djoker's crippled play last fall is forgotten, and Fed's ever wise scheduling that's enabled him to keeep playing and being so fit, is sacrificed to bash Rog about being wary of single handedly carrying the Swiss past either Spanish or U S teams away, when he pretty much has to win 3 matches or they lose, either way he looks like a bum, etc.

maybe one day, we will address the 6 hours matches and quicksand surfaces that make offensive tennis virtually extinct, and stop expecting Federer to carry his country to a Cup pretty much single handedly...

imagine Nadal having to play/win a doubles match for Spain to win the cup? and Ferru is almost guaranteed to win ONE singles match, can we say the same of Stan against the likes of France or even the U.S.?

lets hope, but its a big ask, and Fed knows it .. still this is a decent draw overall, DC would be infiniately more interesting if Fed is playing throughout the year...

that said, Nadal's entire DC career has been on clay, at home, at least 85 percent... BIG DEAL! but why bring this stuff up, right? Nadal can always come up with an injury to get out of those pesky away ties on hard courts ...

as usual Feds interview spells it out, the perception is, Nadal is some magical patriot and Fed is self centered, its really too absurd, if you want to look at the facts as he points out, his decisions make perfect sense...

that said, if Fed acutally played good tennis and won some of these big matches in Slams with Nads, rather than just flail away with puzzling play, he wouldnt have to manage these accusations nearly as much ...

I would love to see Nadal show up to play an away tie against Serbia, France, the US, Argentina, even the swiss, he shows up when its on clay, at home, the safest possible scenario...

I thought players had to sign up for Davis Cup inorder to be eligible for Olympica.

Good morning,

I have to smile every time Pete seems surprised to write down how many matches (and ties) Federer has played in Davis Cup. I think your "refusenik" is an apt description for it comes back to bite you. :)

Of all the consecrated American players of the last generations who are always presumably committed to play DC only John McEnroe has played more ties (30) and matches (69) than Roger. Roddick, 25 ties, 45 matches. Agassi 22 ties, 36 matches. Todd Martin, 18 ties, 30 matches. Sampras 16 ties, 28 matches. Connors, 7 ties, 13 matches.

My heart goes to the Argentinians who are playing since 1923 and not a trophy won yet. Guillermo Vilas played 29 ties and 81 matches. And what about Nalbandian who has played in 22 ties and 44 matches?

And that's a lovely picture you posted, Pete. You've made my day. Thank you. :)

Federer alreafy qualified for Olympics when he played in the tie against Portugal last July, while nadal, djokovic, Murray skipped playing DC (did Novak play doubles?). Federer sacrificed his post Wimbledon training block and it showed in his losses to Tsonga abd Berdych and Djokovic during Canada, Cincinnati and the US Open. Fed did not have to travel 22,000 miles, suffer jetlag and burn ten days of his post US Open recovery to play Australia on grass last September as well as burn another 10 days to play the USA on clay this weekend. If he squanders Rotterdam next week or Dubai in three weeks Davis Cup is to blame. Unlike other top players, Fed has to play doubles as well as both singles in Davis Cup.

Watched my recording of Masha-Chanelle from Eurosport. For about 10 minutes. I could hear a humming sound in the background. They've installed drool pumps. I guess they just couldn't change buckets fast enough.

Morning, Manix. :)

Many more buckets needed this week in Paris judging by your comments. Or as the locals say beaucoup de seaux.

Off to work.

That humming might be associated with the frequent use of barf bags

Well I was live at that DC play off in Sydney when Australia played Swiss

Indeed Roger flew back after the USO.He also played singles and doubles in that tie.When I first laid eyes on Roger before he played his singles match I thought to myself 'hell he does look tired and worn out'.Roger arrived in Sydney and went viturally straight to the practice courts at Sydney that afternoon.Its a 14 hr flight from Dubai and I have done that trip myself.

Roger again showed why he is a Champion and gave soo much of his time to all the fans that turned up to see him.The venue was booked out in a few days when it was confirmed Roger would play.I had the priveledge of talking to Roger and getting his autograph that was after his singles match.

It anyone is to take issue with Roger and his playing of DC over the years for his country I find that hard to accept quite frankly.

If one looks at what Roger has done for the tennis world and he continues to do for tennis both on and off the court? at age 30 mind you I feel they are small and narrow minded.

It will be a sad day in tennis when the Greatest Shot Maker I have seen play the game retires.

Roger still loves the game and the history of the game...period.

Roger to me you still Have The Fire In Your Belly....

< couldn't care less about Davis Cup.

Pironkova back to reality thanks to Klara Zakopalova....

Davis Cup (Friday - Saturday - Sunday)
* = Number 1 player

Spain vs Kazakhstan (8 AM - 9 AM - 8 AM)
Ferrero vs Kukushkin*
Almagro* vs Golubev
Granollers/M Lopez vs Korolev/Schukin

Austria vs Russia (8 AM - 8 AM - 7 AM)
Melzer* vs Kunitsyn
Haider-Maurer vs Bogomolov*
Marach/Peya vs Davydenko/Youzhny

Canada vs France (5 PM - 5 PM - 5 PM)
Raonic, Pospisil, Dancevic and Nestor vs Tsonga, Monfils, Benneteau and Llodra

Switzerland vs United States (7 AM - 8:30 AM - 6 AM)
Wawrinka vs Fish*
Federer* vs Isner
Federer/Wawrinka vs M Bryan/Harrison

Czech Republic vs Italy (10 AM - 9 AM - 7 AM)
Stepanek vs Seppi*
Berdych* vs Bolelli
Cermak/Rosol vs Bracciali/Starace

Serbia vs Sweden (8 AM - 8 AM - 8 AM)
Tipsarevic* vs Prpic
Troicki vs Ryderstedt*
Tipsarevic/Zimonjic vs Brunstrom/Lindstedt

Japan vs Croatia (10 PM Thursday - 10 PM Friday - 10 PM Saturday)
Soeda vs Dodig*
Nishikori* vs Karlovic
Ito/Sugita vs Karlovic/Zovko

Germany vs Argentina (8 AM - 8 AM - 7 AM)
Petzschner vs Monaco*
Mayer* vs Nalbandian
Haas/Petzschner vs Monaco/Nalbandian

Repeat post from the previous thread:

Yolita,
Late to discussion but good points about Federer could be seeded 2. Do not forget that Federer is playing Rotterdam next week and if he wins that one, you can put 500 pts on his number.

"So, don't talk to me about "Nadal consistently beating Djokovic" ever in their history, without adding "on clay" qualifier to it."

Ixvnyc,
Is this the same comment Federer's fans have been making for years now on their H2H? However, unlike Federer, Djokovic has reversed the H2H since the beginning of 2011 Indian Wells

Oh, Mr. Bodo you are so smart and funny!

Fernando says that Maestro is about Maestro. Maestro is playing Davis Cup becasue he believes it will help HIM this season. No other reason.

Fernando is Fernando

Fernando is "only" Fernando - sorry F, but as you're not the Maestro you really haven't got a clue what Roger believes in! And, FYI, Roger has never been just all about Roger!

That was the slowest freaking 2-set match I think I've ever watched. Slower even than Rafael Wozniacki

Aube,
Tennis Channel will have the Swiss/USA tie live this week along with delayed action from Paris.

Sorry, confused. I must have fallen asleep or sumthin. appy polly loggies.

"They've installed drool pumps. I guess they just couldn't change buckets fast enough."

lol

I know Pete likes men's tennis more, but it's third post in a row on men. I hope he'll give some love (even if it's tough love :-)) to WTA in the next post...

Sokol,
Hopefully, we can ride the ATP wave out this week as for the next 3 to 4 days, I expect Davis Cup to be front and center. Speaking of DC, do you think Youzhny will play this weekend as Tarpischev is up to his usual "tricks"? The WTA starts their Middle Eastern swing on Monday in Doha. Petra, Venus and Kaia are out already. Serena, Maria, Kim and Na did not have Doha on the schedule and I would not be surprised if Victoria, Jelena and Sabine is on the w/d list. If they are, Caroline will be front and center led by the questionable coaching decision in her camp. Good enought WTA info for you? LOL!

"Anyhoo I've gone over this before. No need to rehash the whole thing again.

I should follow NP's lead here, but I can't resist mentioning again something that I and others have mentioned a hundred times before:

You should never, never play the numbers game with DC in an attempt to show that one player is/was more committed to DC than another. Why? If you're a player from a small country or one with few tennis players and you make yourself available for DC regularly for a numer of years, you can amass a huge number of matches played -- up to 3 for every doggone tie (if you play doubles, too).

Meanwhile, your counterpart in a country with many good players makes himself available, but is not needed or called, and therefore doesn't even get the chance to play as often.

Add to that the fact that if your team wins the tie after 3 rubbers ecause it has 2 strong singles players and a good doubles team, a top player will be most lkely be excused from playing a second singles match.

So, please...no more "look at how many ties, matches" etc this or that one played in these or those years. It's meaningless/irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

Even more important, never, never bring patriotism or other such isms into discussions of DC participation. They're usually equally irrelevant and far from the thought processes of most players when they make their DC decisions -- even if they say, quite honestly, that they enjoy representing their country in a team effort.

End of (repeated) rant.

BTW Go, Vania King! Love that young woman.

Caro and Rory just did a joint photo ad for Omega watches in Dubai. She still has Rolex as a sponsor, though.

@Ruth:

"Even more important, never, never bring patriotism or other such isms into discussions of DC participation. They're usually equally irrelevant and far from the thought processes of most players when they make their DC decisions -- even if they say, quite honestly, that they enjoy representing their country in a team effort."

And how do you know that? Not to mention that you contradict yourself at the end there...

Well, I'm with Tim on this one. I was waiting for Bodo's yearly persecution post about Federer and DC. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

BORING!

Good Morning Everyone,

Well I am waiting for Petes next post

Bets on it will be about Andy Murray

I mean he has covered Novak,Rafa,Roger.....?

I know DC is on this weekend I am sure Pete can squeeze in a Andy Murray post:)

Yes and while I am on it....would be nice for a change for a post on the WTA...you know there is a seperate competition going on....somewhere:)

AM: I too hope he writes about Andy Murray as oposed to say Sharapova, urgh.

And bon matin to you!

Game Lover

Well I think you maybe on the money there:)

C'mon Angelique

Well I predict it will be about the performances of Isner and Fish and what that says about the state of American tennis -

AM

Your lemon/honey worked, at least I can talk and sing a bit. Still don't have my falsetto though.

CWATC

Maybe we should start a competition lol!:)

Manixdk

Small steps ok:)

Angelique has got it together, and Nicu is faaaading

I'd rather see Djokovic do an Andy Murray impression than read any more about how Murray is "close to winning a Grand Slam."

Just read an e-mail from Darren Cahill on espn.com saying Gonzo will retire after Miami

email = twitter

In addition to whatever national pride any of them have, don't they all want to play Davis Cup because it's FUN? I should think it's a welcome break from the grind of the tour.

Now we're old and grey Fernando
And since many years I haven't seen a rifle in your hand
Can you hear the drums Fernando?
Do you still recall the frightful night we crossed the Rio Grande?
I can see it in your eyes
How proud you were to fight for freedom in this land

didn't see much, but some all-out approaches from Niculescu at the end and an entertaining match point. Kerber d Niculescu 6-3 4-6 6-3

"tough match with a strange player" the interviewer says, lol. Kerber says she will "try her best" against Maria tomorrow.