British Davis Cup Captain Aims to Get Early Commitment From Murray

Written by: Staff on 14th February 2012

British Davis Cup Captain Aims to Get Early Commitment From Murray |

British captain Leon Smith doesn’t need reminding his prime asset is Andy Murray but after serving as the world no.4’s junior coach for five years he knows him well enough to demand an early indication about availability about for the next round in April, which could put his side within one match of a return to the elite World Group.

Murray opted to sit out last weekend’s dramatic win over the Slovak Republic in Glasgow where Daniel Evans stepped up to be the tie-clinching hero. With Belgium next on the agenda, Smith plans to talk to Murray who is currently in Florida, working with coach Ivan Lendl before heading to the Middle East to contest the Dubai Duty Free Championships.

“I will try to get an idea of how he is thinking because it might affect how other players plan their schedules, although I won’t necessarily expect a firm answer,” said Smith, who like predecessors Jeremy Bates and John Lloyd revealed British captains feel they are walking on egg shells when dealing with Murray.

The tie falls directly after the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami and just before the opening of the European clay court season. Murray has made no public commitment to any event beyond Miami , besides the pre-Wimbledon AEGON Championships at London ’s Queen’s Club.

Last year he reached the semi-finals at Monte Carlo before going on to contest Masters Series events in Madrid and Rome before the French Open. Earlier this year he declared he is likely to return to the British fold for the April tie.

But Smith is right behind Murray in his desire to step up the level required to win major titles. “I and the whole of British tennis would want him to win a Grand Slam and we know how crammed the schedule is, so it’s important that when he can let himself rest and regenerate he does that,” said the British captain.

Topics: Andy Murray, Davis Cup