BBC Sporttennis

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 12:55 GMT, Thursday, 5 March 2009

Goodall opens for GB in Davis Cup

Venue: Braehead Arena, Glasgow Date: 6-8 March
Coverage: Live coverage on BBC Two and BBC Sport website; updates on Radio 5 Live


Josh Goodall
Goodall is second in the UK men's rankings

Josh Goodall will spearhead Britain's Davis Cup bid against Ukraine in Glasgow after being drawn to play Ilya Marchenko in Friday's opening singles.

Hampshire's Goodall, the highest-ranked player on the GB team at 192, will be up against the world number 224.

Their match will be followed by Chris Eaton against Ukraine number one Sergiy Stakhovsky in the Euro/Africa Zone Group One tie at Braehead Arena.

Surrey's Eaton, ranked 383, faces a big task against the world number 125.

The Briton lost their only previous match last year in a match which featured three tie-breaks.

"It was one of those matches - one point here or there," said Eaton.

"I think he hit a net-cord pass on one of my match points. Those sort of matches can go either way. I'm looking forward to getting some revenge."

Interview - GB Davis Cup member Colin Fleming

Saturday's doubles rubber will see Ross Hutchins and Colin Fleming - the only Scot on show - team up against Stakhovsky and Sergei Bubka, son of Ukraine's Olympic gold medal-winning pole vaulter of the same name.

Sunday's singles matches will be the reverse of Friday's rubbers, with Goodall again first up against Stakhovsky, although the nominations can be changed beforehand should the team captains wish.

GB captain John Lloyd confirmed his four-man line-up on Thursday, with James Ward the man to miss out from the five who travelled to Glasgow.

Britain's world number four Andy Murray, the main draw for Scottish spectators, was ruled out of the tie after picking up a virus during the Dubai Open.

As a result, Llloyd is left with the most inexperienced British squad ever, with Hutchins the only member to have played in the Davis Cup - he has lost both doubles rubbers he has played.

But Lloyd rejected any notion that his rookies have nothing to lose.

606: DEBATE
Britain's One & Only
"I don't like that phrase - I think it's a cop-out," said Lloyd. "I don't believe in that at all; I don't think that's a good message.

"You've got a match to lose, so you have got something to lose. That's the way I look at it.

"You go forward with guns blazing. Don't come off and say, 'I had nothing to lose'."

A defiant Goodall insisted: "We've been called in to do a job and we're going to do our best to try to do it.

"We haven't come here just to make up the numbers."

Lloyd will be assisted in Glasgow by American Paul Annacone, the former coach to Pete Sampras and Tim Henman, who is now head of men's tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association.

"You've got to enjoy the occasion," said Lloyd. "I know it sounds a bit weird, because there is pressure.

"I'm very confident they'll have fun, and my job sitting there is getting them to enjoy the moment - no matter what happens.

"There's always going to be ups and downs in Davis Cup. It's very rare you get a stroll in the park.

"They're going to be prepared for that - the good, and possibly some dips."


GB v Ukraine - Davis Cup Euro/Africa Zone tie

Friday, 6 March (play begins at 1200 GMT)

Josh Goodall v Ilya Marchenko

followed by:

Chris Eaton v Sergiy Stakhovsky

Saturday, 7 March (play begins at 1300)

Colin Fleming/Ross Hutchins v Sergei Bubka/Sergiy Stakhovsky

Sunday, 8 March (play begins at 1200)

Josh Goodall v Sergiy Stakhovsky

followed by:

Chris Eaton v Ilya Marchenko

Print Sponsor


see also
Murray waits for fitness update
04 Mar 09 |  Tennis


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites