On Sunday evening when we had all arrived in Coventry, Leon lead a motivational speech about the task at hand. With the help of some video highlights of all of our team and some detailed analysis of the Russian team, we were all very upbeat about the possibility of an upset, and everyone was ready to practice hard leading up to the tie. That is what we have been doing for the last few days.
As there is only one court at the Ricoh Arena we have been going over from the hotel in shifts to maximize our practice time (the Russians have equal practice time each day). Everyone was striking the ball cleanly right away and all of us think the temporary court is playing very nicely. With a first class team of staff that includes the captain, coaches, physio, doctor and fitness trainer, all of the warm-ups, recovery sessions, treatments and nutrition has been carried out at an exceptional standard. In terms of preparation, everyone will be going into the tie on Friday knowing that we have done everything in our power to be ready to play great tennis!
Personally, I have been loving every minute of this experience. Receiving our Davis Cup Team practice kit, tracksuit and bag on Sunday was a proud moment for me. Practicing with GREAT BRITAIN on your back is a wonderful feeling! This team is full of great guys who work hard and play hard. Practicing with players of the quality of Baker, Ward, Marray and Fleming has been incredibly valuable for my game, and all of the guys are always looking to have a joke off the court too which has created an easy atmosphere to settle into. Now, I am really looking forward to seeing a full stand, hearing the noise from the fans, and watching Team GB put in a great performance and cause an upset!
Ed Corrie