No matter the order, Andy Murray likely will need to win both of his singles ties to give Great Britain its best chance to advance to the Davis Cup Final.
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With Murray’s brother Jamie a certainty for the doubles, any points Great Britain collect may all come from Scots and possibly none from an Englishman. It’s Lleyton’s last chance to win the Davis Cup and he’ll be feeling pressure as well and all the players in their team will be feeling the same way. “They have some young players that won’t have played in an atmosphere like this before either”, he said of the three-day tie, which starts on Friday. “When we play five-a-sides he shines out, but I’m going to say that aren’t I?”
“We’re in a good position and are very fortunate to have one of the best players in the world in Andy Murray, who is definitely the strongest in the two teams”, he said.
“I have a great relationship with Andy, I know that he’s been massive for the sport of tennis right across Great Britain and obviously the support that he gets coming back here to play in Scotland, he’s very proud to be Scottish”.
“It’s not about one individual”.
But while Smith acknowledged that he would be relying heavily on Murray, he also talked up the credentials of the Scot’s brother, Jamie, who reached the US Open final with doubles partner John Peers last Saturday.
“Obviously now we’ve got a great opportunity to reach the final – I’m sure Australia are looking at it that way as well”.
“If Andy is going to play three days that’s part and parcel of Davis Cup“.
Australia’s cause has not been helped by volatile talent Nick Kyrgios being left out after a spate of disciplinary problems, yet they still boast a line-up consisting of world number 23 Bernard Tomic, Thanasi Kokkinakis, big-serving Sam Groth and former world number one Lleyton Hewitt who is bidding for a golden finale to a career that will end in January.
“I was the worst, there’s no doubt about that”, Smith said.
Captain Leon Smith is still to decide on his second singles player with James Ward, Kyle Edmund and late call-up Dan Evans in contention.
“It’s extremely demanding on Murray because all the pressure is on him to win those three matches, and at least two guaranteed”.
But Hewitt said he was still fine with calling the bumper semi-final an Ashes encounter.
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In the second semi-final Belgium take on Argentina in Brussels, with neither country having ever lifted the coveted salad bowl trophy awaiting the victor.
