MURRAY HINTING AT RETURN TO GLASGOW
ANDY Murray doesn’t look like a man embarking on a farewell tour just yet. But the window to watch top-class competitive tennis in Scotland – never very wide in the first place – is in danger of closing.
So if the former World No 1 is intent on making himself available for Davis Cup duty against Uzbekistan at the Emirates Arena on the weekend of September 14 to 16 – as he hinted after his four-set second-round US Open exit at the hands of Fernando Verdasco last night – the least his ‘ain folk can do is make sure they are there to give him a hero’s welcome.
As promising as the signs are for his recovery even in defeat, after recent reforms to the Davis Cup and the Scot’s hip operation, who knows when he will be back again?
“Glasgow has been an amazing place to host these ties,” said Leon Smith, the GB Davis Cup captain who was sitting in Andy’s players box at the Arthur Ashe arena for the occasion. “The atmosphere has been absolutely terrific all the way through 2015, 2016 as well, it has seen some amazing moments. It is so important that tennis can be showcased in Scotland. It is the fans that make it.”
With the likes of Cam Norrie and Kyle Edmund around (both of whom are higher in the ATP rankings) no longer does the GB squad look as barren without Murray as it did when he first opted out of Davis Cup action.
But while nothing has been confirmed just yet, it is nice to think that further five-set action against an Uzbekistan side with one genuine star in Denis Istomin might dovetail perfectly with the superstar Scot’s schedule. Whether it was he and Jamie Murray’s epic doubles semi-final win against Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth, he usually tends to bring box office.
“It would be absolutely terrific if Andy is there,” Smith. “He is a massive, massive figure within the team. He will obviously assess where he is after what has happened, speak to his physios, his coaching team and assess what he needs to do as part of his rehab.
“We don’t know yet what his availability is going to be for sure until he has had a really good chat with his team and figured out what is best for him. As much as I and everyone else really want him to be part of it, that chat with his team will be important. But we would love him to be there obviously – in whatever capacity – because he brings so much, on and off the court. I am sure the fans would also love him to be part of it.
“I’ll give him a call in the next day or two, over the weekend, ahead of announcing next week and hopefully he will be available. It would be wonderful to have him be part of it and he would be joining a really good team – with Cam and Kyle, what Evo [Dan Evans] has been doing over the summer and Jamie as well and all the other doubles guys. It is a very good squad now.”
Smith is at pains to point out the fact there is plenty at stake in next month’s tie – even if Great Britain are assured of a place in the qualifying rounds of a controversially reformed World Cup-style Davis Cup final in 2019 whether they win or lose. The format change means there is only one home tie potentially a year, and even that is uncertain if Britain were to reach the semi-finals.
“Well, we have to win to make sure we are seeded for next year and that is really important,” said Smith. “We want to be part of those finals next year, we want to be part of that play-off scenario and that means that winning this match to get seeded and earn a more favourable draw and that is important. So there is meaning in this tie, absolutely there is. And also we don’t know when Glasgow will get another Davis Cup tie – it might potentially be a very long time. We absolutely love the home ties and we want to make the most of it and showcase the sport.”
“At the end of the day, the vote has happened, it is changed to the way it is. there are still a lot of discussions which will take place about when the finals is going to be, it is common knowledge that having the finals in November isn’t great for the players.
“I am sure at some point there will be a more positive outcome about the timing of the event, but now you have got to give it a go.”