MURRAY TO PLAY IN BATTLE OF THE BRITS

ANDY MURRAY and Dan Evans will be among those taking part in a last-minute, pre-Christmas ‘Battle of the Brits’ event next week. Most of the top GB players have signed up for the four-day tournament starting on Sunday, which will operate on a table system to guarantee matches at Roehampton’s National Tennis Centre. Jamie Murray has again been the main driving force, in conjunction with the Lawn Tennis Association, and will have no shortage of those wanting competitive practice amid the current lull ahead of next month’s tour restart. The event follows on from the successful tournaments staged in the summer, although this will be a pared-down version. There will be less ambitious production values, and the matches will only be screened on YouTube and the LTA’s social media channels. For Andy Murray it will be the first time he has played since wrapping up his season in midOctober after his hip flared up again following the US Open. Conspicuously not listed on the entries was GB No1 Jo Konta, who was unhappy with some of the arrangements for the BOTB team event, with disputes about how many matches she was meant to play, and against whom. Tennis has been waiting for the details of the opening part of next season, which are now imminent. Everything will centre around the Australian Open being postponed three weeks until February 8. It is expected to be confirmed that the qualifying tournament will take place in Dubai.