PASS THE DUTCH
Murray may skip Holland test as Britain launch Davis Cup campaign
There are certain privileges that come with winning three Grand Slams and a Davis Cup for your country. In the case of Andy Murray, this week he has been allowed to remove discreetly the Great Britain team’s clothing sponsors’ logo from his kit. he is launching his own line of tennis wear through Castore, in which he has a stake.
So in sartorial terms he was slightly the odd man out when the squad lined up to preview today’s opening Davis Cup finals match against holland.
Otherwise Murray is deeply embedded in the British squad’s efforts to win this event in its new format as they begin the round-robin stage.
It will be Murray’s first appearance since winning the european Open in Antwerp on October 20, although both he and LeonLeo Smith, the team captain,capt left the possibilitybil open that he mightm just sit it out. Murray admitted tthat, having taken some time off, he might yet save hhimself for possible exertionsex later in the week. As Britain’s No 2 singles glessingles playerpla — due to his falsely low ranking — Murray would probably face Botic van de Zandschulp, ranked 200th in the world, and instead that task could be left to Dan evans or Kyle edmund, who yesterday confirmed, as first revealed by
Sportsmail, that once this week is over he will team up with Franco Davin, Juan Martin del Potro’s former coach.
As for Britain’s opponents, Dutch tennis has seen much better days, and they are weaker than Britain’s second group opponents, Kazakhstan.
‘Playing five days in a row is going to be tough just now,’ Murray said. ‘I did it in Antwerp and got through that tournament quite well. But it was tough and I’ve had a bit of a break as well.’
Murray was also troubled in Antwerp by an elbow injury. ‘I’ve lost a little bit of weight, not as much as I would like. Physically my elbow has been really good, so that’s positive.’
It also looks like Liverpool’s Neal Skupski will make his Davis Cup debut alongside regular partner Jamie Murray, at least in the early matches.
Andy Murray acknowledged that if GB made it to the latter stages, then it could be that his big-match experience alongside his brother was called upon.
‘There’s a difference between playing a final or maybe a quarter-final potentially,’ he said. ‘You have to think slightly differently at the beginning of the event than if you’re in the final.’
The Dutch, who lost 2-1 to Kazakhstan yesterday, have a relatively strong doubles pairing in robin haase and Jean-Julien rojer, and in the new format every match and set counts.
The event seems to be getting broadly decent reviews from the players, although there have been complaints from fans everywhere about its hopeless website and app.
A near full stadium is expected for Britain v holland, although crowds were mixed yesterday.
There was a lively attendance for Argentina v Chile, but it was sparse for France’s narrow win over Japan.
France holds a deep love for this competition’s traditions but initially, at least, it seems that their supporters are saying ‘ Non
merci’ to Gerard Pique and his fellow organisers.