The former ace king also gives his thoughts on today's big servers
Wednesday 25 November 2015 13:01, UK
John Feaver, the former Davis Cup player and Lawn Tennis Association tournament director, believes Leon Smith's side have the momentum to lift the famous trophy for the first time in 79 years.
Great Britain, who won the last of their nine Davis Cup titles in 1936 in the days of Fred Perry and Bunny Austin, made their first final since 1978 with victory over Australia in Glasgow last month.
They now travel to Belgium for the November 27-29 final in Ghent after what has been a remarkable turnaround for a team that have risen from the verge of relegation to Europe/Africa Group III in 2010.
"It's just fantastic that they've got to the final of the Davis Cup," said Feaver, who represented Britain between 1977 and 1983. "It's a huge event and it means so much to the players because they love the team environment and especially Andy.
"He desperately plays for the team, the badge and the country rather than just himself, so I think to get through to the final is just amazing. We haven't done it since 1978 and it is such a great event."
Smith's side have already seen off the United States, France and Australia to reach the final, although much of the acclaim has come down to Andy Murray, who has a remarkable record of 25 wins from 27 Davis Cup singles matches.
But Feaver is adamant that Britain's success is not all down to the two-time Grand Slam champion with Jamie Murray, James Ward, Dan Evans and Dominic Inglot all making vital contributions to their run to the final.
"It is a team event, and yes, he is number two in the world now so to have a player who can play singles and can also play with his brother and almost anybody in the doubles [because] he is so strong.
"I do think the rest of the team play a big part in it but to beat Australia in the Davis Cup is huge and France as well. It hasn't been a cheap route to the final - they've earned it - and they've done it."
In Smith, Feaver feels Britain have found a captain who brings calm and stability to a team which thrives on a unique spirit with a winning mentality.
"I think it's a bit like captains of teams, when they say 'I wonder who that captain was?'. They're not out there shouting and yelling, they're quietly behind the scenes putting an element of steel behind it and you notice the players themselves, rather than the captain. I think that is a mark of a great captain and I put Leon Smith in one of those sort of categories.
"Hopefully, he takes it the right way, but he quietly galvanises the team together and quietly gives the players huge support on the side. He's solid as a rock and lets them do it.
"It was a left-field appointment in a way. Normally [the LTA] appoint past players and he's not a past player. But he has grown up with Andy [Murray] so there's obviously strength there and he's done a great job. He's achieved something that no other person has achieved so he's got to be congratulated."
With Britain being made bookies' favourites ahead of the Ghent final on the clay-court, Feaver has warned of the importance home advantage can have on the tie, saying: "It's always the kiss of death to say that we're favourites but with the number two player playing singles, he should be good for at least two and then whether he plays doubles again, to play three matches mentally in three days is very tough in Davis Cup.
"There's something more emotional and draining about playing in the final so on paper he should win, and on paper they should win the doubles, but it's at the end of the year and everyone is quite tired. You're low on energy levels so there is a chance of injury.
"Let's just hope that doesn't happen - they are favourites and they lead from the front.
"Belgium have home advantage and surface advantage. It's the movement for Andy, having to move properly on a clay-court is difficult.
"It surprised me to hear at the ATP World Tour Finals he was practicing on clay. I feel that shows just how much he wants it, but home advantage will give them a lot."
Back in 1976, Feaver, using an old fashioned wooden racquet, set a Wimbledon record of 42 aces in his second-round match against the former three-time champion, John Newcombe.
It was a record the former French Open doubles semi-finalist held for over 20 years until Goran Ivanisevic showed us all exactly what he could do.
And with the likes of Ivo Karlovic, John Isner and Sam Groth blasting their names into the record books, Feaver thinks it's not necessarily the speed of the serve, but what they can do through the air that matters most in the modern era.
"It's rather like a fast bowler or swing bowler. If you just have a bowler that bowls incredibly fast straight, if you get behind the line of the ball and hit it back you can be clever and take the pace off the serve, so there are other elements you need to think about other than just a straight, hard serve.
"And with all the stats, players are getting in 75 per cent first serves in - back in the day we just hit it hard and tried to get it in - a bit like a bull in a china shop."
If Feaver was strutting his stuff with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Murray and Roger Federer in the modern game, he probably thinks he would be best suited to the way tennis used to be played.
"It was just a privilege to play [for me] and I've no idea how I would do [in the modern era]," he said. "I was watching them at the O2 and they're all such athletes and so complete - I think I was probably better 30 years ago - think I'll stay there."
Feaver is Director of Partnerships at StreetGames which is a charity organisation helping disadvantaged children in their community. For information, head to www.streetgames.org
