Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/602829
21 Jamie murray and John Peers have work to do to reach the semi- finals of the aTP World Tour Finals after losing their second match at the O2 arena. murray and Peers marked their debut on Sunday by beating Fa- bio Fognini and Simone Bolelli, but Rohan Bopanna and Florin mergea proved a tougher nut to crack. The indian/Romanian duo fol- lowed up their victory over the Bryan brothers by winning 6-3 7-6 (7/5) to book their spot in the last four. murray and Peers now almost certainly have to beat the top- ranked Bryans in their final group match on Thursday if they are to make the semi-finals. They made a bad start when Peers double-faulted to give up a break in the second game, and four missed chances in the fol- lowing game were the only ones they had to claw back the deficit in the opening set. The writing looked on the wall when murray, who was named in Great Britain's team for the Davis Cup final on Tuesday, was broken in the seventh game of the second set having hit Peers in the back of the neck with a shot. But two loose shots from mer- gea handed the break straight back, and murray and Peers then fought off another break point thanks to a remarkable shot from the Scot. He turned away in self defence as the ball flew at him from close range but it hit the edge of his frame, looped up onto the base- line and Bopanna missed his smash. The stroke of luck did not prove a turning point, though, as Bo- panna and mergea recovered from 4-2 down to win the second- set tie-break 7-5. Sport maltatoday, Wednesday, 18 november 2015 tennis Doubles setback for Murray and Peers No Bedene in Davis Cup final THe Slovenia-born star, who be- came a British citizen earlier this year, attended a meeting in Prague yesterday in a bid to make himself available in time for the clash with Belgium, the international Tennis Federation having previously ruled him ineligible due to his appear- ances for the country of his birth. However, the iTF postponed his hearing at the last minute and announced his case had been ad- journed until its next board meet- ing in march. Bedene, writing on Twitter, said: "Disappointed that the hearing with the iTF was postponed, i will keep my head held high. Hopefully more positive news are (sic) com- ing in march. Thank you everyone in British tennis for your help." The next board meeting will take place on march 20-21 - after Great Britain's first-round tie of next year's competition against Japan. The LTa said it was "disappoint- ed at the iTF's late decision" and urged a rethink over the resched- uling of the hearing. it added: "We feel it is important to state that we have complied with the process set forth to us and are working hard to achieve a positive outcome. "it is in everyone's best interests given how long this process has been ongoing, that a fair hearing does place as soon as possible, ide- ally before the first round of Davis Cup in march 2016. That has to be the number one priority going for- ward. We continue to fully support aljaz in his bid for a successful ap- peal." The iTF said it had adjourned the case "in order to ensure that the rights of all parties are consid- ered". Great Britain had actually named a five-man squad for the final, to be played November 27-29, just hours prior to the iTF's announcement. Kyle edmund and James Ward are both included, alongside andy murray, Jamie murray and Dom inglot, who have been named for all this year's ties. it would now appear that ed- mund, who won a Challenger Tour at the weekend on the same clay surface which will be used in Gh- ent, and Ward will battle it out to secure the second singles spot in Leon Smith's team which must be whittled down to four before the draw is made next Thursday. edmund is yet to play in a Davis Cup tie so could be considered something of a gamble. in con- trast, Ward is highly experienced in the competition having won key rubbers for his country, including a shock win over US star John is- ner in this year's first round. Changes can be made to those nominated but it would appear Dan evans' hopes of staying in the team are now over. He played in the semi-final victory over aus- tralia but has been omitted this time around. GB captain Smith said: "The team has had some incredible re- sults this year and we know that off the back of defeating the three other Grand Slam nations we carry great momentum going into the fi- nal. "However, we will 'not underesti- mate the challenge in front of us. The Belgian team is full of top-100 talent and they will push us all the way. "While our team will be spear- headed by andy, the other guys give us strong options in both the singles and the doubles positions. Jamie is having an outstanding year and is firmly established as a top-10 world-ranked doubles player'. He has played a key part in our ties this year with vital wins against both France and australia partnering andy. "Dom is playing some of the best tennis of his career having reached the semi-finals of the US Open and recently the semi-finals of the Paris masters Series. He played an outstanding Davis Cup match ear- lier in the year with Jamie against the Bryan brothers, narrowly los- ing the fifth set. "in James Ward, we have a player who really gets the Davis Cup and has had several big wins over the last few years against top 100 play- ers in this competition. Kyle ed- mund has had a very good year on the tour, breaking top 100 for the first time and qualifying at both australian and French Open." He added: "The support from our fans has been unbelievable. There is no other word for it. For those making the trip to Belgium it will be more important than ever that they make as much noise as possi- ble and get behind the team." andy murray, who has lent his support to Bedene's bid to make the team in recent days, added: "To represent your country at the Davis Cup final is a huge honour and will be a new experience for me and all of the team. "i'm really excited about the tie in Belgium, they have some very talented players who will make this a tough contest. We have had amazing support from our fans in the previous ties and i know the ones travelling for the final will play their part." David Goffin leads a Belgium team which, as expected, is un- changed from their semi-final win over argentina. The world number 16, thrashed by andy murray at the recent Paris masters, is joined by Steve Darcis, Ruben Bemmelmans and Kimmer Coppejans. The tie will be Great Britain's first final for 37 years and they will be looking to lift the trophy for the first time since 1936. Belgium's only final came in 1904 - when they lost to the British. Jamie Murray and John Peers will surely have to beat the Bryans now Provisional GB Davis Cup team: ANDY MURRAY if Britain are to win their first Davis Cup title since 1936, it will be largely down to murray. He has won eight of the nine rubbers Britain needed to reach the final, six in singles and two with his brother in doubles. The world number two has only lost two of his 27 singles rubbers in the competition. JAMES WARD The 28-year-old has been a real Davis Cup stalwart during Smith's captaincy. Britain would probably not have made the final had it not been for his stunning five-set victory over US number one John isner in march. But the Londoner's form has been up and down and he was left out of the team for the semi-final against australia. KYLE EDMUND The 20-year-old from Beverley in Yorkshire has given himself a real chance of making his Davis Cup debut in the final. Smith watched as edmund won a Challenger title on clay in Buenos aires on Sunday, which this week helped him equal his career- high ranking of 99. a player on the rise and with a big serve and forehand, he is likely to be a regular for Britain for years to come. JAMIE MURRAY The elder murray brother has had the best season of his life. Now an established member of the top 10 in doubles, he and austral- ian partner John Peers reached the Wimbledon and US Open fi- nals and qualified for the aTP World Tour Finals. The 29-year-old performed superbly in Davis Cup wins over France and australia alongside his brother. DOMINIC INGLOT Should andy murray not play doubles, inglot would partner Jamie. The pair took the Bryan brothers to five sets in the USa tie and, like Jamie, inglot has been in good form. The 29-year-old and Swedish partner Robert Lindstedt reached the semi-finals of the US Open and won a title in Winston-Salem. inglot's big serve is his main weapon. British number two Aljaz Bedene will not be able to play in the Davis Cup final