Minimum Time Between US Open And Davis Cup Action
Minimum Time Between US Open And Davis Cup Action
Fears were high that the swift turnaround between the US Open, due to conclude –weather permitting – on the evening of Monday, September 8, and Britain’s Davis Cup World Group play-off against Croatia, scheduled to begin less than four days and 4201 mile east in Umag, would again rule out Andy Murray. But the Wimbledon champion is insistent he will not let his country down.
A rapid change of surface, from the cement of New York to Croatian clay, is the sort of thing Murray doesn’t just find difficult but dangerous to his health with lower back problems a constant threat for much of the last two years. The world no.2, who has only represented his nation in two of Britain’s last eight ties, including the last three but Murray was unequivocal when he stated: “I will definitely be there.”
Murray is heartened by improved performances of Dan Evans and spent last Sunday evening online watching the 23 year-old from Birmingham contest the Vancouver Challenger final. Evans may have lost in three sets to Canada’s own Vasek Pospisil but still shot up 54 places on the world rankings to a career high place of 194.
Long time British no.2 James Ward currently stands at no.174 after winning the recent Challenger in Lexington, Kentucky and Britain’s first choice doubles team of Colin Fleming and 2012 Wimbledon champion Jonny Marray is viewed as world class. So with leading Croatian Marin Cilic likely to be ruled out by suspension after his alleged doping charge, Murray likes Britain’s chances.
Murray said: “I’m hoping to use Wimbledon as a motivation to win more majors and if my success can inspire other British players then that would be great,’ he said. ‘I know all of these people pretty well and I really hope Wimbledon can be the start of us becoming a better tennis nation.
“All of them put in a lot of work and you can’t win matches at that level if you haven’t done that. I really hope Wimbledon kick-starts something. With Heather Watson and Laura Robson on the WTA, there is a good future there.
“It will be interesting to see where Dan can get to. I like him, he just needs to get his head down and apply himself for the next year as he can make a good career if he wants to.”
Should Britain beat Croatia, it would mean a return to the elite World Group for the first time since 2008. Britain beat Croatia in the two nation’s last meeting six years ago on the grass of Wimbledon’s No.1 Court , a tie that marked the last match of Tim Henman’s career.
Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association has still to name a successor for outgoing chief executive Roger Draper but Murray is clear in his views on the future. He said: With the funding and money we have at our disposal we have the potential to develop more players. We should be doing better with those kind of resources.”
The LTA is trying to capitalize on Murray’s success and on Monday Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to endorse the ‘Great British Tennis Weekend’ on August 17-18 that will offer free parks tennis and coaching across the country.
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