With the memories from their epic success over the United States still fresh in the minds of both the players and fans, the decision over where to play their next Davis Cup tie against the French seems to be edging towards a July appointment on grass, probably at the Queen's Club. Playing the tie on grass seems to have been the preferred choice ever since the team qualified for the quarter-finals, as it has been concluded that the surface offers the team its best chance of success, the sticking point seems to have been just where to play the matches.
The British team are eager to maximise their potential home advantage, as they seek to reach the unrivalled stage in recent times of the semi-finals at the prestigious team event. Indeed, no British team has managed that since 1981. There had been some initial discussions held before Britain had beaten the Americans with the Queen's Club, to see whether there was the possibility of holding the quarter-final there, but it was believed that those had led to a somewhat disappointing reaction. However, the relations seem to be improving now that the London club have been made aware that the team would prefer to hold the tie there.
The private Queen's Club in West Kensington already holds its own prestigious grass-court tournament just prior to Wimbledon each year, currently sponsored by AEGON.
With that event scheduled to be held between 15th and 21st June this year, the Club will no doubt be considering whether the courts can be restored to something like pristine condition in time to hold the matches on them. The Davis Cup ties are expected to be held between 17th and 19th July, the week after Wimbledon finishes, which doesn't leave that long to 'patch up' a grass court.
With both Andy Murray and James Ward as the likely singles choices having already gained experience from playing in the Queen's event in the past (Murray is a past winner), they should feel at home on the grass court and also in the surroundings. They will also favour not having to 'acclimatise' to a different surface after playing matches at Queen's and then at Wimbledon, hence the choice of grass making sense.
Andy's brother, Jamie, has a mixed-doubles title at Wimbledon on grass to draw on, so should also feel comfortable on the surface.
Britain remain one of the outsiders to lift the Davis Cup, although they have been the winners 9 times in the past, with their last triumph being all the way back in 1936 and the days of Fred Perry. Andy Murray may have re-written the Wimbledon history books in terms of British success, but to do the same in the Davis Cup would surely be asking a bit too much….or would it?
