Too bad neither Nole or Andy are playing Davis Cup but understandable. I would think that Tipsarevic would win his singles matches. Doubles is close to call but I would give a slight edge to the Brits. I guess it comes down to how well the other guys play. I would think that the Team GB would want to win this in 4 – can’t see James Ward taking out Tipsarevic on clay (his upset specials seem to be for the US team only)

July 15th, 2016 at 9:35 am

The match currently suspended due to rain :(. I knew this venue was not a good choice.

July 15th, 2016 at 11:11 am

Davis Cup:

First blood to GB via Kyle Edmunds vs Janko Tipsarev.

July 15th, 2016 at 4:56 pm

RZ: I think the Brits will walk it. Exception may be James Ward. Otherwise the Brit. double team will win and if Kyle has to play the last rubber he will win.

July 15th, 2016 at 5:38 pm

Coup in Turkey. Turkish public told to stay indoors. Oh my. Oh dear.

July 15th, 2016 at 5:59 pm

Martial law. Gunfire. Bridges closed. All airports closed.

July 15th, 2016 at 6:00 pm

@J-Kath – great win by Kyle! The last rubber is James Ward vs. Janko Tipsarevic. That makes me nervous…

July 15th, 2016 at 6:02 pm

@J-Kath Sad situation for sure.

July 15th, 2016 at 6:06 pm

I am glad Nole is not playing, it is symptomatic that Viktor gave the team cold shoulder too, ill adviced decision to play on that venue, I wonder if politicians (and “veliki vodja”) got involved somehow in choosing the venue, they pride themselves for rebuilding the stadium, it wouldn’t surprise me..
Danica, my understanding is that Nole and Viktor are not even in Belgrade?

July 15th, 2016 at 6:15 pm

hi wog boy: totally agree; i am glad nole is not playing AND not there. he is in marabelle spain, where his brother marko lives as i understand it, both training and relaxing, preparing for the next part of the season. not sure about viktor, though.

July 15th, 2016 at 6:27 pm

Hi jane, Viktor stated after Wimbledon that he won’t play since it doesn’t fit in his schedule. Typical Viktor :) What schedule?
I read that people are sitting on the rocks (stadium is built carving the rocks) and after the first rain they just left left stadium refusing to sitt on the wet rocks. There is no chairs, just carved rocks. There is more UK fans than Serbian ones, I guess the beer is very cheap for them…and they are used to rain;)

July 15th, 2016 at 6:38 pm

Wog Boy (and Jane)

More UK fans remained in the rain but they were less than 20% overall. Really a mess…meaning shouldn’t be happening in the first place. Why would Nole and Andy exhaust themselves? Again when the whole thing should not have taken place at this time. Think GB will win….certainly won’t be proud, except Kyle deserves to be acknowledged – big for him.

I am really very depressed tonight over Turkey. I am also very relieved that the UK came out of the EU (although have many complaints vis-a-vis UK politicians). However, this free movement across Europe by the EU is beginning to feel like armageddon..
.I have worked with with refugees and asylum seekers for some time and still do and weep at some of their problems – but the sheer size of masses on the move is simply over-powering- such levels are unnatural – Turkey was the Berlin Wall….so they all thought.!!! Unfair of course – was always going to breached one way or another. Half the world is on the move. So,so dangerous. Even if it goes away, we balance on a very narrow ledge. Not worried for myself, just my sense of What The Hell Are We Doing?

Turkey sounds like what happened with Quadafi and look where that got us. The troubles in France and Belgium, the failed attempts (we are told) in the UK. I could go on all night.

Off to bed now – apologies for using you as a punch ball. Just ignore me.

July 15th, 2016 at 7:12 pm

JK,

Yes, I guess I didn’t expressed myself correctly (blame my English), after the rain most of the local fans left but UK fans braved the weather..and beer;)

As for the second part of your post, don’t want to get too involved, but you are on to something and I agree. There is something very strange with this mass movement from middle/far east. I was in Belgrade Aug/Sep last year, I saw thousands of of those “refugees” who were occupying entire area around main train terminal. 70% young people, properly dressed, with money (pulling the money out of ATM when needed), most speak English, moving in the groups and most importantly, vast majority were not Syrians at all. They were all aiming for northern Europe and UK (best social benefits). It is mass invasion encouraged by most powerful European leader…but why, I don’t get it?!

I took my kids, since they are very left as most young people tend to be, through that part of Belgrade to have direct contact with them, since what you see on TV is fake, after half a day spending in that area where those “refugees” behaved like they owned that part of Belgrade. They just told me “Dad, we know what you think and you were right, this doesn’t look right and looks premeditated.” They are still very left and very “green”, but at least they admitted that TV reports they’ve seen in Australia about refugee crisis were misleading and incorrect.

July 15th, 2016 at 7:37 pm

J-Kath,
your worry is understandable. The world is mad. Or rather, those who govern it. :(

WB, as for the DC tie in Belgrade, as Jane said (btw, the one who really deserved the sainthood award :) ), neither Nole nor Viktor are in Belgrade. Viktor is supposedly getting ready for the US HC season. Venue is a total miss or mess, however you want to put it. It may be fine for a rock concert or indeed for a smaller sport event or even for corrida ( http://www.vingtpasses.com/article-corrida-a-belgrade-123213566.html ) but not for an exhausting, big time tennis tie in the mid of a Belgrade summer. This rain is not usual but it will rain until Monday. The match can be played until (and including) Tuesday. We’ll see.

The British will win the match, no problem there.

July 15th, 2016 at 7:55 pm

danica,

I don’t think jane is very religious person, bottle ot top shelf vine from Topola region will do better than sainthood, right jane?

July 15th, 2016 at 9:08 pm

Thanks WB, Danica (RZ & Jane)for putting up with my venting.

I’ll return to Tennis.

July 16th, 2016 at 4:23 am

JKath & WB – I am pretty far left (and have handled asylum cases pro bono), but I heard an interview on national public radio and a refugee was interviewed and said she wanted to get to the UK so she could get IVF. This was a year ago and I thought “This is why SOME parts of the refugee crisis upset people, and it’s a mistake to dismiss concerns as xenophobia.”

July 16th, 2016 at 8:43 am

Yes, BBB: In Glasgow lawyers were over-whelmed and so were translators for over 46 different nationalities. They were housed in Tower Blocks (e.g.Sighthill etc.)alongside the poorest of Glaswegians. The flats for asylumseekers & refugees were renovated & re- furnished with top-grade white goods & “posh” furniture,creating huge local resentment. Ah well, should stop now.

July 16th, 2016 at 9:18 am

I have some predictions up for the 3 ATP finals tomorrow at http://tennisabides.com
I think Cilic-Isner will determine the US-Croatia tie.

July 16th, 2016 at 11:59 pm

@Margot and all Andy’s fan..not sure whether you’re already read this but here’s some interesting news about Andy..http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/arise-sir-andy-alex-salmond-8435239?#zBF0xKJsJksd1g0C.97

July 17th, 2016 at 1:48 am

Also to Madmax,skeezer,jatin and all Roger’s fan..found this for you guys..http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-three-times-roger-federer-s-gesture-touched-sania-mirza-s-heart-2235287?

July 17th, 2016 at 1:57 am

@M…this one as well..http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Andy-Murray-The-next-World-Number-1–articolo34380.html?

July 17th, 2016 at 7:37 am

AndyMira: loving it :) But you’re just teasing irascible Ronn now, the poor chappy will most likely explode…..;)

July 17th, 2016 at 7:50 am

@M..honestly i’m not thinking of ‘the poor chappy Ronn’ when i posted it,i’m thinking of how you and friends will enjoy both of the articles..hope Ronn is in a very good mood today..otherwise i have to find another heroic to cheer you guys up like last time!Ha ha ha..

July 17th, 2016 at 7:58 am

GB v Serbia

Kyle Edmonds…wonderful start to what could be the last rubber. Looks like he will become the next UK No. 1 player.

July 17th, 2016 at 9:51 am

J-Kath,
He’s a strong guy with plenty of time to improve. He somewhat reminds me of Nole and Andy. Nole told him to just keep it up and he’ll be a top player.

July 17th, 2016 at 10:27 am

Danica

Who could want more? A combination of Nole and Andy sounds pretty good to me. He is so powerful. Andy Murray helps him a lot with practice and advice…I’m beginning to wonder if enuf is enuf for Andy’s sake….just joking (I hope).

July 17th, 2016 at 10:47 am

Sorri Danica. But really pleased for Kyle.

Margot: Did you watch the match?

July 17th, 2016 at 11:52 am

JKath, are you watching golf by chance? Amazing final round….

July 17th, 2016 at 11:53 am

BBB

Still watching the tail-end of the Tennis chat-chat.

However, my aerial is switched towards N.I. Hence no golf (unless it’s on the red button.) I’m buying a new TV Aug/Sept. so will get my aerial changed/moved then. Will probably get golf review later.

July 17th, 2016 at 12:05 pm

Another shooting – Baton Rouge, Louisiana US, 3 police dead others wounded. So so awful.

July 17th, 2016 at 12:12 pm

JK – it’s a thriller. The leaders are playing well.

I can’t watch the news anymore.

July 17th, 2016 at 12:22 pm

@M..congrats for the win..it looks like a string of good luck happened
to you nowadays..hopefully it will keep continue for the next 2 months..

@Dani..sorry for the loss k?Maybe Serbia will have a chance next time when nole join the team..

July 17th, 2016 at 12:39 pm

Congrats to team GBR. Well done and deserved.

The Serbian commentator said that the game Kyle showed is worthy of a top 20 and that he is in the group of young guns born after ’95 that could reach top 5, even #1 spot. This was certainly a great experience for him as he was the one leading the team this time.

Thank you AndyMira but I am not at all gutted or sad since the outcome was really never in doubt. ;)

July 17th, 2016 at 12:51 pm

Edmund was very impressive today. His ground game is really good. Btw are all the top seeds confirmed for Rogers cup, any top players skipping it for Rio?

July 17th, 2016 at 1:02 pm

I understand Dani..as for kyle..he made a BIG statement tonight..to play in Serbia,with the crowd mostly rooted for the home team and with all the pressure on his shoulder..and he passed the big test..hopefully he will show the same perfomance when they meet with Argentina in semi..

July 17th, 2016 at 1:05 pm

RZ: In the end you didn’t have to be nervous (apart from the last 15 minutes..rivetting). So good that Kyle was excellent, releases the pressure from Andy.

Anki: Not sure about Rafa but definitely Nole will be there. He is also playing doubles.

BBB: Beefy Johnson big mention at lunch-time…. (and McIlroy’s fit of disgust) -but understand what you mean about gripping end and congrats to Henrik Stenson – evidently his first major title and with a record score.

July 17th, 2016 at 2:06 pm

Bravo to team GB and especially Kyle Edmund for the win! J-Kath, you are right that I was glad that it didn’t come down to the 5th rubber.

Also bravo to the Croatian team for their comeback over the U.S. I thought we had it in the bag after the stellar start by the team, but after the Bryans lost, neither Isner nor Sock were able to pull through in their matches.

July 17th, 2016 at 10:54 pm

It’s amazing for GB. I mean, South Africa is not leaving the UK, so at least they can keep the Edmund guy after Scotland leaves.

#smallwins

July 17th, 2016 at 11:04 pm

@J Kath Oh, so atleast Rafa will be fully fit by Olympics. What is the point in Novak playing doubles, haha.

July 18th, 2016 at 3:03 am

Anki

Andy Murray skipping Canada.

July 18th, 2016 at 4:33 am

Andy going for two weeks to Majorca to train in Rafa’s Academy.
Coooool!

July 18th, 2016 at 6:53 am

@J Kath What?? Is it confirmed? He is the defending champ there?

July 18th, 2016 at 8:26 am

Yes Anki….Will go and pick up the report. Fingers crossed I find it again.

July 18th, 2016 at 8:40 am

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Andy-Murray-to-miss-an-important-tournament-in-the-next-weeks-articolo34558.html

July 18th, 2016 at 8:42 am

@J Kath TFS

July 18th, 2016 at 11:10 am

Anki:

UR Welcome.

July 18th, 2016 at 12:24 pm