Dan Flower

Davis Cup Final in Ghent – Great Britain v Belgium

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Cast your mind back to 2010 and you’ll probably recall a low point in British tennis history. Great Britain’s 2-3 loss to Lithuania in the Europe/Africa Zone Group II first-round left us staring at life in the bottom rung of the competition and an unenviable relegation play-off against Turkey in Eastbourne four months later.

As I sat pondering on this before the final, I couldn’t quite believe it was just five years ago. Britain would of course go on to win that tie in Eastbourne 5-0, and with it they would kick-start Britain’s remarkable climb up the Davis Cup ladder to the point we now found ourselves in – a final against Belgium and the chance to win the Davis Cup for the first time in 79 years.

Could we take that final step and bring home the trophy?

As I headed to the Belgian city of Ghent, I’ll admit that I felt a little anxious about the tie. Whilst we were the favourites on paper, re-writing the history books certainly wouldn’t be easy.

Adding to the tension was the on-going security situation in Brussels, a city that’s less than 40 miles away from the venue. In the days before the final there were even question marks over whether the tie would actually go ahead.

Upon arriving in Ghent I immediately laid to rest any concerns I had. This city is really something special, with beautiful canals and walkways set against stunning medieval architecture. It’s truly a hidden gem, and although there was heightened security for the tie, the truth is that nobody gave it much thought once we were there.

Onto the Friday and it was time for the final to get underway. The sense of excitement and anticipation amongst everyone inside the Flanders Expo was huge, and I can’t ever recall experiencing such a raucous atmosphere inside a tennis arena. Davis Cup ties are always noisy, but this was something else.

The first match saw Kyle Edmund taking on David Goffin. Facing the Belgian no.1 was always going to be difficult, however Kyle played a quite unbelievable match and really pushed the world no.16 to the limit.

Despite Goffin ultimately coming through 3-6 1-6 6-2 6-1 6-0, the man from East Yorkshire certainly showed what he is capable of and displayed more than a few signs that he could go on to be a great player. The first two sets in particular were a prime showcase of his effective brand of heavy-hitting tennis.

The second singles match placed Andy Murray against Ruben Bemelmans. Andy was always a massive favourite to win this match and so it proved. He took it comfortably, winning 6-3 6-2 7-5 to level the final at 1-1.

In any Davis Cup tie there is always an added amount of tension before the crucial doubles rubber – and this occasion was certainly no different. The situation staring back at us was simple: Clinch the doubles and Britain looked like heavy favourites to take home the trophy. Lose it and the Belgians would be in prime position.

Andy and Jamie Murray once again teamed up to take on Steve Darcis and David Goffin. Whilst the Murrays were favourites to come through, everyone inside the stadium knew that the Belgian pair would be no pushovers.

The early stages of the match were indeed extremely tight, with the first nine games going with serve as both teams settled into a comfortable rhythm.

It would be Britain however who would strike the first blow, with Andy and Jamie clinching their first break point of the entire match to take down Goffin and grab the first set 6-4.

Early momentum in the second set went the way of Darcis and Goffin, with Jamie being broken in the fourth game to leave GB trailing 1-3. The Belgian pair would go on to hold serve and take the set 6-4 to level up the match at one set apiece. As expected, this wasn’t going to be easy!

Onto the third set and the tension increased once more as Jamie was again broken in the early stages. But this time it was different: the British pair fought back beautifully, breaking twice in a row to go 4-2 up, before clinching the set 6-3.

The Murray brothers now had all the momentum and broke Belgium again early in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. With Jamie serving at 5-2, a wayward return from Darcis sealed the victory for Britain and put us 2-1 ahead in the tie.

We were now just one win away from history – and so it was down to Andy Murray to beat David Goffin and win the Davis Cup for Great Britain!

After a tight start, Murray broke Goffin to go 4-2 ahead and put the first set within touching distance. He would hold on from there with ease, eventually taking it 6-3.

The second set proved to be equally tight, with both players holding serve relatively comfortably. The crucial breakthrough arrived in the eleventh game, with Murray breaking Goffin to edge 6-5 ahead. He clinched the set in the next game with a stunning crosscourt winner.

Despite an early setback in the third, Murray instantly rallied to level up at 2-2, before breaking Goffin again a few games later to go 4-3 and then 5-3 ahead. Just one more game!

With Goffin serving to stay in the match, Andy really applied the pressure and a few points later found himself at match point.

The final point of the match is one that is sure to live long in the memory of any British fan, and not just because it was the moment Great Britain finally won the Davis Cup. This was a truly spectacular rally that summed up everything that’s so great about Andy Murray: his total determination to win, and his amazing natural ability to outfox his opponents with wonderful feel and intelligent shot making. This was Andy at his very best, and winning it with that amazing lob just somehow seemed so fitting. Even Andy himself couldn’t quite believe it.

We had done it – and you could really see what it meant to everyone involved. The crowd went wild!

 

The Davis Cup is of course a team competition, and whilst Andy is certainly the star of the show, great credit should go to the whole team for what they have achieved over the last five years. Players including Jamie Murray, James Ward, Dan Evans, Dom Inglot and Colin Fleming have all played their part in getting us here. We also shouldn’t forget the support team, who have played an invaluable role in the success.

Special mention should of course go to Leon Smith. He is the man who has brought the team together and rescued us from the dire position we were in when he took over as Captain in 2010. He has brought passion, belief and determination to the team, whilst he has continually displayed a wonderful aptitude for great strategy and decision-making.

So what’s next for Great Britain?

A home tie against Japan in March sees GB start the defence of the title – but for now let’s just enjoy this magnificent victory and hope that it inspires many more youngsters to pick up a tennis racquet and start playing this wonderful game.

Congratulations to the whole team! It was an absolute privilege to witness this truly historic moment – and it will certainly live long in the memory of all British fans.

By Daniel Flower

Davis Cup Semi-Final in Glasgow – Great Britain v Australia

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It’s fair to say that Great Britain and Australia have enjoyed wildly differing levels of success in the Davis Cup over the last few decades. The recent tie at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena was GB’s first appearance in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup since 1981. By comparison, Australia had reached this stage of the competition fifteen times over the same time-span.

But things have certainly changed a great deal over the last few years, thanks largely to Andy Murray’s thrilling heroics and wonderful performances by Jamie Murray, James Ward, Dan Evans and Dom Inglot. Great credit should also go to the superb captaincy of Leon Smith, who has established a wonderful spirit and belief in the team.

So it was with great optimism and excitement that I headed to Glasgow for the tie against the Aussies. We were within touching distance of the final and I knew that the atmosphere was going to be electric, with thousands of British fans cheering on each and every point. The noise in the arena was incredible and undoubtedly helped the team a great deal.

The first match on the Friday saw Andy Murray taking on Thanasi Kokkinakis, a match in which Andy ultimately triumphed with ease, coming through 6-3 6-0 6-3. It was the perfect start for Great Britain.



The second match of the tie saw a reversal of fortunes, with Bernard Tomic triumphing over Britain’s Dan Evans 6-3 7-6(2) 6-7(4) 6-4. Despite ultimately losing, Dan played some great tennis in this match and at several stages looked set to make a dramatic comeback.

As is so often the case in Davis Cup ties, Saturday’s doubles proved to be crucial in determining the outcome of the tie. The reality staring at us before the match was simple: Win the doubles and we would most likely be through to the final. Lose it and the Aussies would be the clear favourites.

I think it’s fair to say that this match did not disappoint! Andy and Jamie Murray once again produced some absolutely stunning tennis to take a nail biting match against Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-7(6) 6-4. We were just one win away from the final!

When we arrived in the arena on the Sunday it was once again down to Andy to finish the job. We all knew that his opponent Bernard Tomic is a world-class player, however the odds definitely looked stacked in our favour and there was a real sense of excitement and optimism amongst the crowd. Andy passed the test with flying colours, comfortably dispatching Tomic 7-5 6-3 6-2. We were through to the final!

So… It’s now just over a month until the tie in Belgium and I honestly still can’t quite believe that we have come this far. The possibility of GB winning the Davis Cup was almost unthinkable just a few short years ago, however we now find ourselves heading into the final as the bookies favourites to come out as champions. Whilst it certainly won’t be easy, I really believe that we can do it.

To all the players and everyone involved with the team… Thank you and good luck in the final. Let’s do this!

Wimbledon 2015 Review: A Wimbledon to Remember

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Can you believe that another Wimbledon has been and gone? It doesn’t seem like five minutes since Novak Djokovic stepped out onto Centre Court on the first Monday of the Championships, and yet here we are reflecting on yet another year, with all the highs and lows that have happened over the last two weeks.

From a British perspective, it has been a Wimbledon to remember. Whilst you could argue that in some ways it has been a tournament of almosts, to take such a viewpoint would be being overly negative. Despite a few disappointments, there has been much to celebrate, and there are plenty of signs that there is a lot to look forward to over the rest of the season.

Let’s begin with my personal highlight of the tournament: Heather Watson’s stunning third-round performance against Serena Williams, a match in which she was just two points away from defeating arguably the greatest female player of all time. Whilst Heather will have been devastated to have ultimately lost the match, she should take great pride in the performance she gave in front of a patriotic Centre Court crowd. No other player pushed the eventual champion so hard during the fortnight, and it is certainly a mark of the improvements she has made to her game that she was able to really challenge the world number one. All the signs are there that Heather could soon be knocking on the door of the very top of the game.

The other star British player of the first week was undoubtedly James Ward. I was lucky enough to watch James play in his third round match against Vasek Pospisil and thought that he played some great tennis during what turned into a five-set thriller. Although it was disappointing to see him lose, Ward’s run to the middle Saturday of the tournament means that he has achieved a crucial milestone in his career: He is now ranked in the world’s top 100 for the very first time.

James Ward in action at Wimbledon 2015
James Ward in action at Wimbledon 2015

There were other British successes, too. Let’s not forget Liam Broady’s fantastic first-round victory against Australian Marinko Matosevic, a match in which he came from two sets to love down. Aljaz Bedene also gave a great performance to beat the experienced Czech Radek Stepanek in round one, whilst it was wonderful to see Laura Robson back on the court at Wimbledon following such a serious injury. The comeback trail will be a long one for Laura, however she is a great player that is more than capable of getting back to where she once was.

Moving on to the second week of the Championships and British hopes once again lay firmly on the shoulders of Andy Murray. Victories over big serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic and surprise package Vasek Pospisil put Murray back into the Wimbledon semi-finals and a date with Roger Federer. It was not to be for Andy, with the Swiss maestro playing some unbelievable tennis to come through in straight sets.

Whilst Andy will be hugely disappointed to have missed out on the opportunity to make another Wimbledon final, he should certainly take heart from the fact that he went down playing some sublime tennis.

Let’s also not forget what a fantastic achievement it actually is to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon. We’ve almost come to take Andy’s Grand Slam performances for granted over the years, and yet we should never lose sight of the fact that consistently going so deep into these tournaments is a truly remarkable achievement. Andy has reached 18 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals, and his showing at Wimbledon was the 17th time he has reached at least the semi-finals of a Grand Slam during his career. It is a fantastic record, and we are truly lucky to have him around.

Another British player we were always lucky to have was Tim Henman. I have great memories of watching Tim down the years, so it was great to catch a glimpse of him during my visit this year, alongside former ladies champion Lindsay Davenport.

"Come on Tim!"... Tim Henman and Lindsay Davenport rally with the kids on Day 6 of Wimbledon
“Come on Tim!”… Tim Henman and Lindsay Davenport rally with the kids on Day 6 of Wimbledon

The final Saturday of the Championships saw more British interest, with Andy’s brother Jamie appearing in his first Grand Slam men’s doubles final. Together with Australian partner John Peers, the pair lost in straight sets to the experienced Rojer and Tecau, however it was a great performance from Jamie and means that he moves up to 20th in the rankings.

Away from the British action, there were plenty of other great moments to enjoy during this year’s Championships. It was special to see Serena Williams achieve the much talked about ‘Serena Slam’, whilst the final between Djokovic and Federer provided a truly wonderful spectacle. During my trip to Wimbledon, I will always remember sitting just in front of the main TV cameras on Centre Court to watch the conclusion of the Simon v. Monfils match under the roof. Although this was my 13th time on Centre Court, this was by far the best seat I’ve ever had. The view was amazing and will live long in my memory.

Centre court comes alive under the roof.
Centre court comes alive under the roof.

Whilst Wimbledon might be over for another year, we’re now just a few days away from Britain’s Davis Cup quarter-final clash with France. I can’t wait to get out there and support the British team next weekend. Come on Great Britain!

Wimbledon preview: Can Murray do it again?

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I’ll admit that I woke up this morning feeling a bit like a kid on Christmas morning. Today is of course the start of Wimbledon, but this year’s tournament is also a little bit special. After last year ending Britain’s seventy-seven year wait for a Men’s Singles Champion Andy Murray will today step out onto Centre Court to begin the defence of his title. The question on everyone’s lips is ‘can Murray do it again?’

On his way to the title: Andy Murray at Wimbledon 2013
On his way to the title: Andy Murray at Wimbledon 2013

Andy has had a tough season so far and looked some distance off his best at the beginning of the year as he returned to the tour following back surgery. There have been plenty of encouraging signs in the last few months however, with a semi-final showing at the French Open suggesting he is close to hitting top form.

So, what can we expect from him at Wimbledon this year?

The next two weeks will bring a new kind of pressure for Murray and we don’t know for sure how he will cope with the demands of defending a crown he worked so hard to win. For added spice there’s also a new coach in town, with former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo stepping into his coaching corner.

Andy Murray playing on Centre Court during Wimbledon 2013
Andy Murray playing on Centre Court during Wimbledon 2013

My personal opinion is that Andy is in with every chance of defending his title. He has well and truly proved that he is one of the best grass court players in the world and he hasn’t lost a match at Wimbledon since his defeat to Roger Federer in the 2012 final. Following that loss he returned to Centre Court just a few weeks later to win Olympic Gold and of course triumphed in last year’s final against Novak Djokovic, who is this year placed in Murray’s half of the draw. Aside from that the draw has been relatively kind to Andy, particularly in the early rounds. The first real test could perhaps come in the last eight, with Ferrer or Dimitrov being possible Quarter Final opponents. Murray won’t be looking that far ahead, though – and the Grand Slams have proved time and time again that nobody is safe during the early rounds.

It's time for Wimbledon to get under way
TVs and cameras at the ready: It’s time for Wimbledon 2014 to get under way

On the women’s side the British charge is this year being led by Heather Watson, with Laura Robson missing the event with a wrist injury. Heather comes into Wimbledon on the back of a semi-final appearance on the grass in Eastbourne, where she also had arguably her best ever win against top-twenty player Flavia Pennetta. These are great signs that the young Brit can have a successful Wimbledon campaign and it’s going to be interesting to see how she does. Watson first has to overcome a tricky first-round opponent in Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia.

Aside from Andy Murray, day one of Wimbledon sees plenty of British men in action, with five of them scheduled to take to the courts. Dan Evans opens against the Russian Andrey Kuznetsov, whilst James Ward faces the vastly experienced Mikhail Youzhny. Rising star Kyle Edmund plays Andreas Haider-Maurer of Austria, whilst Dan Cox starts his campaign against Jeremy Chardy of France. Dan Smethurst will make his Wimbledon debut on day two against America’s John Isner.

British women to look out for on the opening day are Johanna Konta, who plays Shuai Peng of China, and Naomi Broady, who faces Hungarian Timea Babos. Day two sees Samantha Murray having the unenviable task of facing Maria Sharapova, whilst Tara Moore also has a tough draw and plays former finalist Vera Zvonavera.

How will the Brits do over the next two weeks? Only time will tell and it’s going to be truly fascinating to watch. Get ready to shout loudly, wave your flags and #BackTheBrits.

By Daniel Flower

Despite some successes, British players will be glad to have left the red dirt behind

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It’s little more than a week since Andy Murray’s French Open challenge came to a devastating end at the hands of an ever-brilliant Nadal but already the clay court season kind of feels like a distant memory.

Andy Murray in action in the French Open first round
Andy Murray in action in the French Open first round

In some ways this year’s Roland Garros was a great tournament for Murray, who equalled his best ever performance in Paris by reaching the semi-finals. But it was the manner of the defeat to Nadal that in many people’s eyes served to overshadow his great achievement of reaching the last four. This wasn’t just a defeat, it was a comprehensive drubbing – and although Andy must have been pleased to have reached the last four he was clearly looking to go all the way.

For all the significant progress Murray has made on clay it is still the surface he is least effective on – and he certainly has made progress. I was lucky enough to visit Roland Garros this year and watch Andy play in his first round match against Andrey Golubev, where I left the court with the definite impression that he was moving better than ever on this surface. But ultimately it would appear that he still has some way to go if he wants to truly conquer the clay and one day win in Paris. With Nadal around that could prove to be a tall order, but then Andy has made a habit of proving people wrong in his career, so who knows?

S0763323It’s not just Andy who isn’t exactly what you’d call best friends with the red stuff. British players have traditionally struggled at Roland Garros, however this year there were several highly notable achievements. Perhaps leading that list is James Ward, who became the first British man in more than 40 years to qualify for the second Grand Slam of the year. That his progress was halted in the first round of the main tournament was perhaps no surprise having been drawn against the experienced Tommy Robredo, a player who has reached the French Open quarterfinals on five previous occasions – but even so it was a great performance for James having come through three rounds of qualifying. He has very much proved his clay court credentials this year, most famously playing a crucial role in helping Great Britain to victory over the USA in the Davis Cup in February.

S0543204On the women’s side Heather Watson successfully came through qualifying and put in a good performance to triumph in her opening main-draw match against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic. Heather also battled hard against Simona Halep in the second round, however the Romanian star ultimately proved too strong for the young Brit. The signs for Heather are good though and I’m confident that she can have some success at the All England Club.

With Wimbledon now only just over a week away the attention is very much focused on Andy Murray and the defence of his title. I’m sure he is glad to have left the red clay behind and is looking forward to stepping back onto the grass of Wimbledon, which by contrast is arguably his best surface. Should fate dictate that this year’s Wimbledon sees a Murray v Nadal rematch then I think it will be an entirely different match to what we saw in Paris. I can’t wait!

By Daniel Flower