That’s all from me folks. I’m off for some much needed lunch but Nick Ames will be here soon enough to type you through Murray versus Tsonga. Enjoy that, Bye!
Game, set and match to Simon!
Third set: Simon 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 Ward* (*denotes server): Ward is serving to stay in the game. He loses the first point but wins the second. Simon drops the shoulder on the next one, sending Ward one way and the ball another. 15-30. It is soon match point to Simon after Ward loses concentration and sends out outside the lines. He saves the first match point but not the second. France 1-0 Great Britain.
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Third set: Simon* 6-4, 6-4, 5-1 Ward (*denotes server): Ward works Simon hard for the first point and brings out a rare show of good aggressive tennis. He does something similar on the next point and has his chance to double his lead only he overhits by this much, thus allowing Simon back into the game. Simon wins the next one to make it 30-15 before more overripe forehand action from Ward makes it 40-15 to Simon. The Londoner challenges what looks to be yet another overhit forehand only to find that it is in by mere millimeters. Any hope Ward has is soon extinguished with a cracking cross-court shot from Simon.
Third set: Simon 6-4, 6-4, 4-1 Ward* (*denotes server): Ward gets a rare point on serve – for this set anyway – but soon enough, let’s his opponent draw level by striking the net with a weak forehand. He retakes the lead and is then gifted a point by Simon when the Frenchman hits long with the court at his mercy. He then, for the first time in this set, holds. Huzzah!
Third set: Simon* 6-4, 6-4, 4-0 Ward (*denotes server): Ward gets off to a great start finishing off a rally with a delicate half volley near the net. Simon doesn’t let it get to him and soon enough he is 30-15 up. Actually, make that 40-15 up. Actually, make that game to Simon.
Third set: Simon 6-4, 6-4, 3-0 Ward* (*denotes server): Simon eases into the lead thanks to a superb cross-court shot that Ward couldn’t get close to. An unforced error on Simon’s part makes it 15-15 but Ward overcooks his forehand once again to gift a point to Simon. It is soon 15-40 but Simon backhand slices the first break point into the net. Will he take the second? Nope. He puts that wide by a considerable enough distance. Nonetheless, the Frenchman is soon given another chance to break for the second time in this set, a chance he takes.
Third set: Simon* 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 Ward (*denotes server): Nothing to see here. Just an easy hold for Simon. This could be over and done with very quickly.
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Third set: Simon 6-4, 6-4, 1-0 Ward* (*denotes server): It’s very hard to see Ward getting anything from this now, isn’t it? He starts off badly pounding a regulation forehand out of play. He doesn’t let his head drop though and he sends Ward the wrong way, after a terrific second serve, before putting one into the corner. That spurs him on and he wins the next two points easily enough. Simon comes back into though to give himself hope of an early break. He makes it deuce with a scorching forehand down the line. The momentum is with Simon now and it doesn’t take long for him to take the advantage and the game.
Simon wins the second set 6-4
Second set: Simon* 6-4, 6-4 Ward (*denotes server): Simon didn’t look convincing serving out the last time but this time he gets off to a better start, thanks to an overhit forehand from Ward. After a short rally, a lovely slice from Ward is too tricky for Simon to deal with and so Ward is back in the game. Actually, he’s not just back in the game, he is in the lead now. 15-30. That lead doesn’t last long as Simon’s second serve pushes Ward out wide and the Frenchman returns Ward’s return with a well-struck forehand that just about lands in. (He was forced to challenge.) Ward looks rueful. Simon then takes the next two points and thus the set.
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Second set: Simon 6-4, 5-4 Ward* (*denotes server): Ward is serving to stay in the set. He gets off to a great start, winning the first two points. He takes the next one too, but Simon challenges. It was a wasted challenge. But then, from nowhere, the tables turn. Simon wins one point and then another. It’s 40-30. The pressure is back on Ward. Can he handle it? He sure can.
Second set: Simon* 6-4, 5-3 Ward (*denotes server): Ward gets a nice start thanks to a double fault from Simon. The next point see the two players perform a fine rally with Simon coming out on top. He continues that upward trajectory when he forces Ward outside and comes into the net to poke an unreachable shot into the corner. Ward draws level – Gregg Bakowski came over to distract me so I missed out on how he did it – but an ace puts Simon back in the lead, a lead he converts into a victory.
Second set: Simon 6-4, 4-3 Ward* (*denotes server): Ward gets off to a good start, acing his way into the lead. He soon makes it 30-0 and 40-0 via some really aggressive action near the net. He’ll need more of that if he is get anything for GB from this match. Simon snatches a point but it counts for nothing as Ward pulls out another ace to end the game in some style.
Second set: Simon* 6-4, 4-2 Ward (*denotes server): A backhand into the net gives Simon an early lead. That is doubled when Ward lands a simple forehand outside the lines – he challenged the call but it was well wide. Simon makes it 40-0 but Ward gets himself a point via a well struck backhand. His revival doesn’t last long.
Second set: Simon 6-4, 3-2 Ward* (*denotes server): Tok, tok, tok goes the rally, as the players exchange 24 shots. It ends in Ward’s advantage but he squanders that lead by double faulting. Sigh. He gets back in it and goes 30-15 up and Simon gives him a helping hand by allowing his forehand to hit the net and land wide. Ward, eventually, holds.
Second set: Simon* 6-4, 3-1 Ward (*denotes server): It looks like it is going to be another love game to Simon until at 40-0 he overcooks a perfectly easy forehand to give Ward some hope. Simon looks angry with himself but he is soon smiling again when he wins the game on the next point.
Second set: Simon 6-4, 2-1 Ward* (*denotes server): Ward eases into a 15-0 lead but Simon levels the game with a magnificent forehand down the line that lands right in the corner. We get our first decent rally of the second set that ends with Ward hocking one out of court. It is now Simon’s turn to ease himself into a lead and that he does, reaching break point in break-neck speed. On the next point the Londoner tries to be aggressive but he pulls one wide and Simon has broken him.
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Second set: Simon* 6-4, 1-1 Ward (*denotes server): Simon wins the first love game of the match. Ward looks frustrated with himself. The crowd try to get him going with more of that awful chant. I bet even he hates it by now.
Second set: Simon 6-4, 0-1 Ward* (*denotes server): Simon returns from the break with a spring in his step. Ward looks a bit despondent. The wind is really blowing across the court. Despite the despondent look, he takes the first point. And the second. And the third. But not the fourth. That was an overhit backhand. Nonetheless, he keeps his cool and holds. That’s a good start to the second set for him.
Simon wins the first set 6-4
First set: Simon* 6-4 Ward (*denotes server): Simon is serving to take the set. He wastes a challenge on his first serve and faults on the second one. 0-15. He faults on his first serve again and serves a rather slow second one. Out comes the rally and out goes a backhand from Ward. 15-15. His serve is a bit more steady this time but it’s his backhand that lets him down. Ward forces him into the corner and there is nothing he can do but hit the net from the line. Ward is obviously feeling sorry for him, though, as he lets him back into the game. 30-30. An ace from Simon gives him set point and he takes that after Ward sends a forehand into the net.
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First set: Simon 5-4 Ward* (*denotes server): Ward is serving to stay in the set and he gets off to a bad start going 0-15 down. He recovers and the crowd go wild. The go even wilder when he pulls out an ace on the next point. 30-15. They are a bit more subdued when his ball hits the net and sits up perfectly for Simon to send an unstoppable shot down the line. Ward retakes the lead and he serves another ace to hold.
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First set: Simon* 5-3 Ward (*denotes server): The first point is fought over a long rally that ends with Ward doing one into the net via his forehand. The process is repeated once more only this time with a different ending, as Simon does one into the net via his backhand. Ward then makes it 15-30 before he overcooks his forehand to make it 30-30. That forehand has been the source of most of his mistakes today. Simon gets his head in the game and takes the rest of the points easily enough.
First set: Simon 4-3 Ward* (*denotes server): Ward takes the lead but its soon 15-15 when Ward fails to read a Simon forehand properly. Ward retakes the lead once more but gifts his opponent a point by shaking a forehand wide. 30-30 it is. On the next one, Ward is forced into the corner and invited to lob. He says thank you very much but Simon knows where the ball is going. He ends the lob’s life by smashing it down hard and fast. Break point. The pressure is on Ward. How will he handle it? By serving an ace, of course. That spurs him on and he holds the game.
First set: Simon* 4-2 Ward (*denotes server): This is an important game for Ward but he gets off to a bad start by going 15-0 love down via a delicate drop volley. Nonetheless, he drags himself back into it by firing a tremendous forehand down the line that is just out of Simon’s reach. Simon attacks Ward’s forehand but Ward holds on and it is Simon who falters, backhanding one from the back of the court into the net. Simon draws level with more delicate work near the net and takes the game on the next point.
First set: Simon 3-2 Ward* (*denotes server): Ward’s sock game is on point. They’re white with red dots, like the Tour de France jersey. Which is more than you can say for his tennis in this game. He had a healthy lead (40-15) and looked to be cruising but he has thrown away a few points, or more to the point, Simon has attacked his forehand and it’s been found wanting. That lead then was cut and Simon got himself to deuce. Some superb rallying – from both sides – ends with some delicate near-net work from Simon and a break point, a break point he takes. First blood to France.
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First set: Simon* 2-2 Ward (*denotes server): Simon rushes into a 30-0 lead. There are more choruses of “Let’s go Wardy, let’s go”. I’m not going to lie to you, this could get very tedious, very quickly. Back to the court. It’s not 40-0 to Simon after Ward slipped on his arse in the corner. Ward takes a point from him but it doesn’t stop the Frenchman from taking the game. Meanwhile, this has happened:
@ianmccourt How are England getting on? pic.twitter.com/Lvexv8J0j1
— Alan Weir (@oldgreydoc) July 17, 2015
First set: Simon 1-2 Ward* (*denotes server): Ward, serving into the wind, double faults on the first point. He puts that behind him to draw level before a powerful cross-court forehand moves Simon wide and the Frenchman cannot control his return properly, overhitting it by a bit. Two relatively easy points later, Ward has held.
First set: Simon* 1-1 Ward (*denotes server): More good tennis from Ward sees him push Simon out wide, who cannot only hit the net with his backhand return. Simon levels proceedings with a smash and then, for the first time in this match, he takes the lead. A long(ish) rally ends with Simon inexplicably backhanding one into the net and then even more inexplicably, the Frenchman double faults. Break point for Ward. He fails to take that after his forehand hits the net and bounces just wide. Deuce it is. Simon takes the first advantage and the game when Ward cannot return his serve.
First set: Simon 0-1 Ward* (*denotes server): “Let’s go Wardy, let’s go,” croon the crowd. They hush down when told off by the umpire but are roaring again when Ward takes the first and second point. He continues his stylish start by making it 40-0 but the game’s first rally ends with him poking the ball just outside the white lines. Never mind that, though, as seconds later he serves his way to an opening game win.
Yeah, they’re still toking. Oh wait. It’s time to go but not before a couple of last-minute words from the captains.
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Here is what captain Smith has to say about this match:
He’s 89 in the world playing against 11, so he will have to produce another upset. James is going to have to play one of the matches of his life - again. But he is capable of it.
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Tick, tok, tick, tok, tick, tok. The players are warming up. While they do that, can someone answer this question please?
Quick question: who makes those kits? @guardian_sport @ianmccourt
— Lefty Catchers Pa (@LeftyCatchersPa) July 17, 2015
The sun is out in west London, as are the fans and the Union Jack blazers and the flags and a strong wind. That should make for interesting conditions. “This is special,” says Andrew Castle. Guess he was talking about the tennis and not the blazers.
That’s what the world has come to. A world emoji day. Deary me. Anyway. We can soon forget about all that jazz. The TV is talking and it’s saying that Ward v Simon is on its way. Huzzah!
Apparently it is.
Is it really world emoji day?
Good afternoon
Be honest, you thought tennis was dead, didn’t you? You thought that with the strawberries sunk, the champagne skulled and the cucumber sandwiches chewed, that was it for tennis – until Wimbledon rolled around next year, of course. How very wrong you were. Here we are today with a Davis Cup quarter-final match between James Ward and Gilles Simon on our hands. This is going to be tougher than overcooked steak for Ward. Simon is currently 11th in the world, which means he is the highest ranked Frenchman in the world of tennis. He has also been impressive on grass this summer, making it to the Wimbledon quarter-finals only to be out-classed by an out-of-his-class Roger Federer. These two have never faced each other before but Simon knows his game like the back of his hand. “I have practised a lot with James the last two years, because our coaches are really close,” Simon said. “We shared a lot of practice sessions, so I’m maybe the one who knows him the best in the team. I know what to expect. It’s going to be hard but I am ready for the match and I’m sure it’s going to be a good one.” That pendulum swings both ways, of course, and so Ward will have a decent knowledge of how Simon slices and sluices his way around the court. However, the over-riding feeling is that the Frenchman will just have too much in his bag of tricks for a man ranked 78 places below him. Will that come to pass? Stay tuned to find out.
