Andy’s back after baby break

FOR the first time in years Andy Murray took a twoweek break from training early this month, to concentrate on his newborn daughter Sophia. But today the starting gun will fire on his return with the announcement of Great Britain’s Davis Cup squad, whose title defence he will lead next week against Japan in the first round. Murray, who has kept a low profile since running out of his post-Australian Open final press conference to fly back to London, will be named in a group of five or six for the tie at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena beginning on March 4. With Sophia born on February 7, the world No 2 spent a couple of days in Scotland last week to show her off to friends and relatives, but is now back in full training. Present at practice has been former British player and now coach Jamie Delgado, who could be confirmed as part of Team Murray as assistant coach to Amelie Mauresmo in the coming weeks. GB captain Leon Smith will name the Murray brothers, Kyle Edmund, Dan Evans and doubles specialist Dom Inglot in the initial group that has to be cut down to four the day before the tie. James Ward could miss out due to a back injury picked up in Australia. The second singles spot will be contested by Edmund and Evans, with the latter desperate to feature in his home city of Birmingham.

JO KONTA was yesterday listed at 26 in the world rankings, making her the highest ranked British female since the turn of this century. She is playing this week in the Telcel Open in Acapulco, her first event since she reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January.