GB tennis blog captured the pictures that told the story of another great day for Britain as they sealed victory over Turkey.
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Brit duo seal Davis Cup victory
Doubles pairing Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski secured Great Britain victory over Turkey in the Davis Cup after defeating Ergun Zorlu and Haluk Akkuyon 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
The result finally ends Britain’s woeful run of five defeats on the trot, which left them within one bad result from falling into the lowest group in the competition.
Fleming and Skupski were handed the opportunity to seal the tie after the hard work was done by both singles players, Jamie Baker and James Ward yesterday.
They were also given another boost when the news came in that Marsel Ilhan, Turkey’s top ranked player, had pulled out, which perhaps signalled the oppositions lack of belief that they could somehow comeback from 2-0 down.
The contrast in confidence was clear to see in the first set as Skupski and Fleming looked in great shape in all areas.
The Turkish pair did manage to hold out until the sixth game where Skupski, who was hit hard by the ball earlier in the set, produced some fine tennis from the back of the court to break. The Liverpudlian then went on to serve it out and to take the set 6-3.
The momentum looked to be firmly in the way of the Brits as they broke straight away in the second. What should have then followed should have been a straight forward set for Britain but the Turks had other ideas, immediately breaking back and with that they began to find their own rhythm.
Suddenly, the British pair were under pressure as they struggled to get a sniff on the Turkish service. Despite this struggle Britain finally found a way and decisively broke at 4-4, which again left Skupski to serve out, this time to love.
The ability to step up to another level at the crunch time was again clear to see in the third set as Fleming and Skupski crucially broke once again in the ninth game, which this time handed Fleming the duties to serve out the match and the tie. (Click here to watch the duo's significant match winning point)
Whether the victory brought about jubilation or purely relief, the win should now give Britain something to build on towards the upcoming fixture, which will happen in March next year.
“Winning an individual match doesn’t compare to an overall team win, so it was great to have won for the team. We’re already looking forward to the next tie, said Fleming.
“Winning creates enjoyment and a desire to get into the team and it also breeds confidence. This win will hopefully give the guys confidence going into the next draw.”
With the tie rapped up Britain can now go out and enjoy tomorrow, with both Baker and Ward playing their reverse singles matches. They do have something to play for though because if they both win they will help secure the nation’s first 5-0 whitewash since Portugal in 2001, now what a debut that would be for new captain Leon Smith.
The result finally ends Britain’s woeful run of five defeats on the trot, which left them within one bad result from falling into the lowest group in the competition.
Fleming and Skupski were handed the opportunity to seal the tie after the hard work was done by both singles players, Jamie Baker and James Ward yesterday.
They were also given another boost when the news came in that Marsel Ilhan, Turkey’s top ranked player, had pulled out, which perhaps signalled the oppositions lack of belief that they could somehow comeback from 2-0 down.
The contrast in confidence was clear to see in the first set as Skupski and Fleming looked in great shape in all areas.
The Turkish pair did manage to hold out until the sixth game where Skupski, who was hit hard by the ball earlier in the set, produced some fine tennis from the back of the court to break. The Liverpudlian then went on to serve it out and to take the set 6-3.
The momentum looked to be firmly in the way of the Brits as they broke straight away in the second. What should have then followed should have been a straight forward set for Britain but the Turks had other ideas, immediately breaking back and with that they began to find their own rhythm.
Suddenly, the British pair were under pressure as they struggled to get a sniff on the Turkish service. Despite this struggle Britain finally found a way and decisively broke at 4-4, which again left Skupski to serve out, this time to love.
The ability to step up to another level at the crunch time was again clear to see in the third set as Fleming and Skupski crucially broke once again in the ninth game, which this time handed Fleming the duties to serve out the match and the tie. (Click here to watch the duo's significant match winning point)
Whether the victory brought about jubilation or purely relief, the win should now give Britain something to build on towards the upcoming fixture, which will happen in March next year.
“Winning an individual match doesn’t compare to an overall team win, so it was great to have won for the team. We’re already looking forward to the next tie, said Fleming.
“Winning creates enjoyment and a desire to get into the team and it also breeds confidence. This win will hopefully give the guys confidence going into the next draw.”
With the tie rapped up Britain can now go out and enjoy tomorrow, with both Baker and Ward playing their reverse singles matches. They do have something to play for though because if they both win they will help secure the nation’s first 5-0 whitewash since Portugal in 2001, now what a debut that would be for new captain Leon Smith.
Day Two: Order of play
Play begins at 2pm
Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski vs. Marsel Ilhan and Haluk Akkoyun
Follow me on http://twitter.com/geoffberkeley to keep up with the latest action from this potential match winning tie.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Day One in pictures
GB tennis blog captured the pictures that told the story of a great day for British tennis.
(Click here to watch the national athem played out at Devonshire Park)
Ward and Baker get Britain off to a flyer
Great Britain’s no.4 James Ward defeated Marsel Ilhan 6-2, 7-5, 6-7 (0-7), 6-1 to give the team a healthy 2-0 lead going into tomorrow’s doubles.
This crucial victory followed Jamie Baker’s convincing 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 win over Ergun Zorlu earlier in the day.
Having defeated Ilhan on two previous occasions, the 23-year-old Ward looked in confident mood in the first set breaking his opponent three times before taking the set 6-2.
Ilhan, who is ranked just outside the top 100, was not going to be out played by a superb Ward and managed to break immediately in the second. This lead did not last too long though as Ward powered his way back to regain a 4-3 advantage. A jostling of serve then followed until Ward crucially stepped it up in the eleventh game to take it 7-5.
With the cushion of a two sets to love lead you could have expected Ward to take his foot off the gas but instead he drove through the gears, breaking early to take a commanding 4-1 lead.
The match looked to be nearing its climax when Ward began to serve it out at 5-3, but the talented Turk had other ideas and produced some sublime shot making to break back. Ilhan then demonstrated his resistance again as he saved two match points to hang on in there and take it into a tie break.
The Brit then lost his nerve in the tie break and with it all seven of the points were available for the 23-year-old Turk to mop up and take it into a fourth.
This third set loss would have been tough to take for Ward but after a chat with new captain Leon Smith he came out fighting and subsequently broke the Turk's serve for the seventh then eighth time in the match. Despite dropping his own serve in the middle of the set Ward broke Ilhan again and then finally for the tenth time to take it 6-1 and with it the match to give Britain a comfortable 2-0 lead. (Click here to watch Ward's winning moment)
The confidence shown by Ward was built on the day’s earlier performance by Baker, who did not appear to break sweat against his 866th ranked opponent.
The British no.3 immediately showed his intensions as he dominated all aspects of the court to take the first set 6-1.
Zorlu managed to find his feet in the second, as he went toe-to-toe with the Scot until the sixth game, where the 24-year-old stepped up a level to crucially break and effectively seal the second set, which he went on to win 6-4.
It was an impressive display by Baker, who was back in Davis Cup action for the first time since Argentina in February 2008 and he went on to finish the match in emphatic style winning 6-1. (Click here to see Baker celebrating after win)
Baker said: “I was a bit nervous at the start as it felt a bit strange with me being the favourite to win. It’s very different to when I played Nalbandian that first time. But I get genuinely excited about playing these games and playing in opportunities like this one.”
After the fine work done by both Baker and Ward on day one the focus now turns to Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski in the doubles tomorrow as they have been given the chance to finally secure Britain their first victory in five.
Captain Leon Smith realises that the tie is not over, saying: "“It’s obviously a good start for us, but we will take nothing for granted. We have another important match tomorrow and the Turkish team will come out and want to win that, but we will be prepared for them.”
This crucial victory followed Jamie Baker’s convincing 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 win over Ergun Zorlu earlier in the day.
Having defeated Ilhan on two previous occasions, the 23-year-old Ward looked in confident mood in the first set breaking his opponent three times before taking the set 6-2.
Ilhan, who is ranked just outside the top 100, was not going to be out played by a superb Ward and managed to break immediately in the second. This lead did not last too long though as Ward powered his way back to regain a 4-3 advantage. A jostling of serve then followed until Ward crucially stepped it up in the eleventh game to take it 7-5.
With the cushion of a two sets to love lead you could have expected Ward to take his foot off the gas but instead he drove through the gears, breaking early to take a commanding 4-1 lead.
The match looked to be nearing its climax when Ward began to serve it out at 5-3, but the talented Turk had other ideas and produced some sublime shot making to break back. Ilhan then demonstrated his resistance again as he saved two match points to hang on in there and take it into a tie break.
The Brit then lost his nerve in the tie break and with it all seven of the points were available for the 23-year-old Turk to mop up and take it into a fourth.
This third set loss would have been tough to take for Ward but after a chat with new captain Leon Smith he came out fighting and subsequently broke the Turk's serve for the seventh then eighth time in the match. Despite dropping his own serve in the middle of the set Ward broke Ilhan again and then finally for the tenth time to take it 6-1 and with it the match to give Britain a comfortable 2-0 lead. (Click here to watch Ward's winning moment)
The confidence shown by Ward was built on the day’s earlier performance by Baker, who did not appear to break sweat against his 866th ranked opponent.
The British no.3 immediately showed his intensions as he dominated all aspects of the court to take the first set 6-1.
Zorlu managed to find his feet in the second, as he went toe-to-toe with the Scot until the sixth game, where the 24-year-old stepped up a level to crucially break and effectively seal the second set, which he went on to win 6-4.
It was an impressive display by Baker, who was back in Davis Cup action for the first time since Argentina in February 2008 and he went on to finish the match in emphatic style winning 6-1. (Click here to see Baker celebrating after win)
Baker said: “I was a bit nervous at the start as it felt a bit strange with me being the favourite to win. It’s very different to when I played Nalbandian that first time. But I get genuinely excited about playing these games and playing in opportunities like this one.”
After the fine work done by both Baker and Ward on day one the focus now turns to Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski in the doubles tomorrow as they have been given the chance to finally secure Britain their first victory in five.
Captain Leon Smith realises that the tie is not over, saying: "“It’s obviously a good start for us, but we will take nothing for granted. We have another important match tomorrow and the Turkish team will come out and want to win that, but we will be prepared for them.”
Day One: Order of play
Play begins at 12pmJamie Baker vs. Ergun Zorlu
James Ward vs. Marsel Ilhan
Follow me on http://twitter.com/geoffberkeley to keep up with the latest action from both Davis Cup ties.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Perfect setting
GB tennis blog toured Devonshire Park as it prepars to host Britain's crucial Davis Cup tie against Turkey tomorrow.
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