Edmund handed leading role

LEON SMITH will be looking for Kyle Edmund to step up after confirming that Andy Murray is out of next week’s Davis Cup quarter-final against France.

The world No1 is suffering with a virus and an elbow injury that ruled him out of this week’s Miami Open.

It is a major blow to GB captain Smith, with France able to include two singles players from the world’s top 25. But in Edmund, playing on his favourite surface, he may have a secret weapon.

The 22-year-old is unusual among British players in that he relishes clay and he was impressive in Murray’s absence against Serbia last summer, winning both singles rubbers.

Edmund, now ranked No45 in the world, beat Janko Tipsarevic and Dusan Lajovic without dropping a set.

Edmund will be joined by Dan Evans in the singles, while Jamie Murray will partner Dom Inglot for the doubles in Rouen from April 7-9.

Smith said: “This is a team with significant Davis Cup experience now and these guys have all stepped up and delivered performances at the very top of the competition.

“Not having Andy in the side is obviously a big EDMUND: Clay is his favourite surface loss to our team and facing France in a Davis Cup tie is a tough test for any group of players. They have the strongest depth of squad by far out of any nation in the competition.” France captain Yannick Noah named Lucas Pouille, Gilles Simon, Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, but is missing the injured Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet, as well as new father Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. But, in Pouille and Simon, they have the world No15 and 25, while Mahut and Herbert are the Wimbledon doubles champions.