Team GB can rally without Murray...

LEON SMITH has backed Great Britain’s Davis Cup team to cope with the loss of Andy Murray for next month’s last-eight clash with France.

The world No.1 withdrew from the Miami Open because of an elbow problem and will now not be part of Britain’s team in Rouen.

Murray was also suffering from a virus prior to flying home to London last week and was told to rest by doctors.

Dan Evans, Kyle Edmund, Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot will take on the French on indoor clay at the Kind arena from April 7-9.

Davis Cup captain 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 loss but we all wish him well for a speedy recovery back to full health and fitness. I know he would really want to be here with the rest of the team.”

Beating France, who boast five players ranked in the top 25 in singles as well as one of the world’s leading doubles pairs, would have been a tough task even with Murray.

Without him, they will go into the match as heavy underdogs and much will depend on world No.45 Edmund.

The 22-year-old is unusual among British players in that his favourite surface is clay and he stepped up impressively in Murray’s absence from the team against Serbia last summer, winning both singles rubbers.

Evans is ranked marginally higher at 43 but has not played a match on clay in nearly two years, while his only tour-level win on the surface came in a Davis Cup dead rubber in 2013.

Smith, however, sees no reason why Evans cannot perform on clay, citing the example of Tim Henman, who reached the French Open semi-finals in 2004 having previously struggled on the red stuff.

The Scot said: “Dan’s serve is good on any surface, his forehand can be a weapon, he obviously moves great so I don’t see why he can’t play well on it.”