This article first appeared in Languedoc Living in July 2016
Davis Cup tennis quarter final tie – France vs GB
Davis Cup Tennis Quarter Final tie : France vs Great Britain, The Queen’s Club, London. 17-19 July 2015
By Katrina Allen
Best of 5 matches. Two singles, one doubles.
The Davis Cup tie was held at The Queen’s Club in London, venue for the AEGON tournament, the Wimbledon warm-up event, which is also known as “the suit and tie tournament” because that’s how members think one should dress to watch sport.
When you walk into The Queen’s Club, the first thing that strikes you is the smell of money. The next is the cut-glass public school accents, so grating on the ear. I remember once watching French player, Gael Monfils, at the AEGON from the members’ terrace and the man next to me spluttering over his Pimms loudly enough for all to hear, including Monfils, “Good lord, there’s a black man on the tennis court!”. Another member said of a player “I don’t know how he plays in his Rolex. I find mine so heavy.” All rather atrocious and yet riveting.
So why choose the place for a Davis Cup tie? Well, it’s got grass courts, which suit team GB (one big advantage of a home tie is that one gets to choose the surface). It’s also quite intimate, with the crowd close to the court, a good chance for the chanting, flag waving Brits., of whom the members no doubt rather disapprove, to make an impact.
Day 1: Rather predictable. James Ward lost in straight sets in a dreadfully lacklustre and, quite frankly, embarrassing performance. Andy Murray beat Jo Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets. I’d spent £80 on a ticket and was feeling rather irritated.
Day 2: Things hotting up. The Murray brothers rather unexpectedly won the doubles against seasoned pair Tsonga and Mahut – it was quite odd to see Jamie, career high singles ranking 834 (well, O.K., he’s a doubles expert), giving advice to Andy, the world number 3.
Day 3: First of the reverse singles. I’m sure most of us assumed that once team G.B. had won the doubles, Murray would beat Gilles Simon and it would be in the bag – we have such high expectations. I mean, Simon is world no 11 (and with a high of no 6) and recently got to the Wimbledon quarters having hammered Berdych in the last 16. It was also asking a lot of Andy to play three best of five setters on consecutive days. He was already emotionally drained and in low spirits from losing to Federer in the Wimbledon semis just a week before.
At a set, 4-2 down and a point for double break, Murray looked exhausted, slumping his shoulders every time he missed a shot (I hate it when he does that). Was it a mistake not giving him that day off? And yet, somehow, he broke back and then won a nail-biting and ultimately decisive tiebreak. Was it down to the sushi he appeared to be eating at the changeovers?
In the fourth set, Simon fell over. “France is receiving a medical time out” went the umpire somewhat bizarrely.
And that was the beginning of the end for France.
Andy cried while the crowd cheered. Ah, don’t we love seeing our sports stars cry.
So, Australia in September, also at home – I wonder if the Aussies will dare unleash the explosive, foul mouthed, tattooed, slightly bonkers, brilliant, irreverent Kyrgios, on Queens – I do hope so.
@katrinaallen21
Katrina Allen is a former Junior Wimbledon and senior tournament player.
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