DAVIS CUP UPDATE FROM ROS SATAR, BRITAIN VERSUS AUSTRALIA

Written by: Staff on 16th September 2015

DAVIS CUP UPDATE FROM ROS SATAR, BRITAIN VERSUS AUSTRALIA |

From Instagram.

GLASGOW BATHED IN SUNSHINE AS GB GETS READY TO FACE AUSTRALIA

It only feels like yesterday since I was fighting off trench foot in the driving rain and sleet in March, and arriving in sunshine was… refreshing!

The Aegon GB Team is back on familiar ground too for many of the team, with the surprise inclusion of Dan Evans after British No. 3 Kyle Edmund took a tumble in training. He has since been for a scan on his ankle, but was hitting with the team today ‘virtually pain free’ according to GB Team Captain Leon Smith.

With US Open finalist and semi-finalist Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot respectively, this is a strong side, facing an Aussie team that may have been regarded in some kind of disarray over the year.

Firstly, Bernard Tomic had some harsh words about ‘the establishment’ at Wimbledon, and the less said about the recent mutterings of Nick Kyrgios the better, leaving Aussie battler Lleyton Hewitt, and bright-eyed and bushy tailed Thanasi Kokkinakis who seems to have avoided the rebellious streak that has followed his older compatriots (for now, anyway)!

Maybe the inclusion of Evans is a tactic to get under Tomic’s skin, having lost to the Brummie at the US Open in that streak of form, that has since deserted him. That being said, James Ward, so often a stalwart of the team in crunch moments as GB were making their way back up the Davis Cup hierarchy, enjoyed the highs of cracking the Top 100 after a spirited run at Wimbledon, only to tumble back down the rankings in a poor turn of form.

Photo via Instagram.

The pressure is undoubtedly on the family Murray, it is fair to say. In the summer, Andy Murray had to call on all his reserves after a tough European campaign to help Britain over the line in a very competitive tie against the French. The star on the middle day was Jamie Murray, fresh off his first Slam final in the men’s doubles and was solid as a rock in the often decisive doubles.

With an earlier than expected exit at the US Open, Murray Junior seems well rested enough, having enjoyed a kickabout at Celtic’s stadium next door, but he knows everyone will be feeling the expectation of the home crowd.

“We got into this position by everyone on the team playing their part, and there is pressure on everybody.”

Smith has been a steady hand to steer the Brits ship, and much like Fed Cup counterpart Judy Murray, he has done his best to encourage a real team atmosphere – the teams are always sharply dressed at the team dinner, they have party games for each tie, and share little in-jokes when they joust with the press after the draw.

And what of the Aussies – as well as the runaway comments from two of their stars, they have Wally Masur in now for the departed Pat Rafter but Hewitt will want to go out on a high, and this is not a tie for the faint hearted.

“We’ve got to try to take a little bit out of him, no question about it,” Masur said. “We’ve got to be as competitive as we can possibly be and we’ve got to turn it into a physical contest over the three days.”

The draw takes place on Thursday and play starts on Friday in Glasgow.

Ros Satar is a regular contributor to 10sballs.com and runs Britwatch Sports (@britwatchsports), because we Brits like watching sport. Occasionally we’re good at it.

From Instagram.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Murray, Australia, Bernard Tomic, Davis Cup, Great Britain, Jamie Murray, Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Kyrgios, Ros Satar, Tennis News, Thanasi Kokkinakis

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10sBalls_com says:

September 16, 2015 at 12:57 pm

-@DavisCup UPDATE FROM @rfsatar, BRITAIN VERSUS AUSTRALIA- http://t.co/LaThdm5e2e #GreatBritain #Australia #DavisCup
lindsey_estela says:

September 17, 2015 at 4:57 am

RT @TennisNewsOne: DAVIS CUP UPDATE FROM ROS SATAR, BRITAIN VERSUS AUSTRALIA http://t.co/72B5YUZwoD #tennis