Smith won’t take a cup risk on Kyle
KYLE EDMUND lost his battle to fly the flag for Britain in this weekend’s Davis Cup tie with Spain, exposing the lack of depth that remains in the British game.
After his exertions in reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open, Edmund had flown out to Marbella initially as just a cheerleader for the opening rubber of the 2018 tournament but was encouraged by his progress when he had a hit with the other team members.
And on Wednesday Edmund, who nursed a minor hip problem through those final rounds in Melbourne, where he lifted himself to 26th in the world rankings, announced his intention to play.
But his name was absent from the singles players listed at yesterday’s draw. Team captain Leon Smith instead named two Davis Cup rookies in Liam Broady and Cameron Norrie, with Andy Murray also out until June following his operation.
Smith said: “When Kyle got here we were thinking it’s going to be difficult for him for a number of reasons – the niggles, aches and pains, the travel, change of surface – but as each day went by he got more and more confident with where he was at.
“But you’ve got to be sensible in this situation. There was just too much of a risk to select him for Friday’s matches but we’ll assess it each day and hopefully he can play a part at some point over the weekend.”
Broady, the world No 165, will face No 21 Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the opening match of the World Group first-round tie to be contested on the clay of Club de Tenis Puente Romano today.
The other Spaniard, Roberto Bautista Agut, is only two places further down the list than his compatriot and will face Britain’s highest-ranked available player, Norrie, the world No114.
Established doubles pairing Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot are then likely to face to Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez tomorrow.
Spain have won 27 of their past 28 Davis Cup ties on clay and Smith admitted: “There aren’t too many more difficult tests.
“Any of the teams in the World Group would struggle here because of the strength in depth and the surface, DECISIONS: Smith and Edmund at practice yesterday but it’s brilliant for Cam and Liam to go out there and play with pride and passion.
“It gives them the chance to get involved in the match and show what they can do and learn from it no matter what the result.”
New Spain captain Sergi Bruguera said: “With Kyle Edmund not playing their possibilities go down a little bit.
“But in Davis Cup we have to have respect for all the players – Cameron Norrie and Liam Broady are good players.
“Broady made the semi-finals at a Challenger event last week so he’s in good shape and in the Davis Cup anything can happen. We have to be focused.”
The two nations have not met in the Davis Cup since 1986, when Britain won 4-1 at the same stage of the competition in Telford.