SCOTS CAN POWER BRITS TO GLORY

A SCOTTISH crowd and passion for Team GB will lift Andy Murray out of his post-US Open gloom — and inspire Britain’s greatest ever tennis player to another heroic Davis Cup performance. Captain Leon Smith, who said he and the players had pushed for this week’s semi-final against Australia to be returned to Glasgow, has no doubts over his fellow Scot’s ability to bounce back from his shock fourth-round loss to America’s Kevin Anderson at Flushing Meadows. Glasgow-born Smith believes the atmosphere back at the Emirates Arena, venue for Britain’s spectacular win over the USA earlier this year, will have an energising effect on arguably the best sportsman in Scottish history. ‘I don’t think Andy needs any extra edge,’ the skipper told Sportsmail. ‘In all the ties we’ve played, leading up to this semi-final, he’s been so motivated, so passionate about playing for Great Britain. ‘The last one in Glasgow was always going to be special, the first time he’d played in Scotland since winning Wimbledon. The reception he got that day, I remember it vividly. ‘That Friday at the opening ceremony, when he was announced, I’ve never heard noise like it on a tennis court. And I don’t think he had, either. ‘So yes he’ll be disappointed to have lost in New York. But I know he is unbelievably motivated to win this tie. And the fact that it’s back in Scotland makes it extra special. ‘We were involved in the decision over where to play this tie and, yes, we were pushing for Glasgow again. ‘South of the Border gets so much tennis, not just the London area but the Midlands with the Tour event before Wimbledon, while in Scotland we’re starved of it — despite having Britain’s best ever player. ‘So, as much as possible during my time as captain, we’ve tried to bring it to Scotland as often as possible, while being fair to the rest of Great Britain. When it came to the opportunity of being back in Glasgow we jumped at it.’