The 2023 Davis Cup is officially underway in Manchester this week and with the group stages of the Finals taking place at the iconic AO Arena, just around the corner at Cathedral Gardens, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has decided to turn the space into a big fan village.
And it’s all completely free to enjoy.
Cathedral Gardens becomes home to various events throughout the year — Festa Italiana, MIF, sometimes the ice rink during the Christmas Markets etc. — and so with our city hosting the Davis Cup for the first time in nearly 30 years, LTA jumped at the chance to use the space for their fan village.
The ‘World Cup of tennis’ is taking place from 12-17 September and you can make the most of this wonderful free space whilst taking in all the action right here on the home court.
Manchester’s Davis Cup fan village (Credit: LTA)
Turning the historic little corner of the city into a mini-Henman Hill, the organisers of this year’s event have posted up just behind the Corn Exchange and on the grass right outside the National Football Museum.
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As well as being able to enjoy the tournament on the big screen, which will be showing all the games played here in Manchester, you can also soak up the Davis Cup atmosphere with free-to-play mini-courts, a number of interactive booths and other activities, as well as plenty of merch and food, of course.
After popping down for Great Britain’s first game against Australia on Wednesday, 13 September, the place was packed with kids on school trips enjoying the four free courts and the deckchairs were full of people watching the big screen.
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We’ll certainly be soaking up the atmosphere on our lunch breaks for as long as it’s there, with the space open to the public from 11am-7pm every day until the competition is over.
It’s all totally free to enjoy as well (Credit: LTA/The Manc Group)
Our boys got off to a great start this week by beating last year’s runners-up 2-1 on Wednesday, with youngster Jack Draper delivering a hard-fought victory against Thanasi Kokkinakis before British number two Dan Evans dispatched Alex De Minaur with ease.
GB did lose their doubles match 7-6(5), 6-4, with this year’s Wimbledon champ Neal Skupski teaming up with an already depleted Evans, both of which still put the Aussies through their paces and nearly saw the team walk away with a clean sweep.
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We are still yet to face Switzerland (Friday) and France (Sunday) for a place in the November knockouts but after a strong round of opening fixtures and with Andy Murray restored to this year’s squad, they stand a really good chance of going all the way — the Scot seems to think so, anyway.
Speaking to media even before Wednesday’s games, the 36-year-old said, “We have a great group of guys, I love being part of this team, we’ve got great staff as well. Everyone gets on extremely well. I do genuinely believe the team can win the event.” It remains to be seen how much Murray will play.
Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Danny Jones -
14th September 2023 
