Davis Comes To Town

So, Eastbourne isn't quite done with world class tennis events this year. Just three weeks after the Aegon International, and the Davis Cup has come to town. It's the first time the prestigious men's team event has been hosted in the town since Great Britain faced Israel in a Euro/Africa Zone Group One tie in July 2006. GB needed to beat Israel to avoid a relegation play-off. They lost.
Four years on, if they lose to Turkey, Britain will be relegated to the lowest possible tier: Euro/Africa Zone Three. It's scarcely believable that the country that gives the world Wimbledon - and, of course, makes considerable money from the Grand Slam event - should be in such a position.
The Davis Cup is more low-key in its preparations than the Aegon International. Devonshire Park was still open to the public yesterday, as both the British and Turkish teams practised ahead of Friday's opening rubbers.
There isn't the buzz surrounding the event that there was in 2006. Much of it surrounded Andy Murray, whose singles rubber win against renowned Israeli doubles specialist Andy Ram was not only his first career win from two sets down, but also his first ever five sets triumph.
This time there aren't the star names to excite the crowds, and there's louder disappointment at the continued stagnation of the British men's game below - well below - Mr Murray. But Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski are becoming quite a useful doubles pairing - 2 ATP titles and the Eastbourne final among their highlights in the last year - and James Ward played way above expectations at the Eastbourne singles event. But, even though few fervent tennis fans outside Turkey can tell you much about the Turkish players, British fans know only too well that no opposition can be written off.