Disappointment as Murray misses home tie

A decision to withdraw from the Davis Cup by Andy Murray has naturally led to great disappointment all over the country.

However, this is nowhere more so than in Glasgow, where the tournament is due to be held for the second time. A decision made by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to host the tournament at the Braehaead Arena in Renfrewshire back in 2006, was done primarily to allow the Murray brothers the opportunity to play in front of their home crowd. With Andy’s older brother Jamie failing in the selection process, all Scottish Davis Cup hopes rested on the shoulders of the number four seed.

Unable to shake off a virus that has plagued him since the Australian Open where he was beaten in the fourth round by Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, Murray has been advised by medical staff to take the next seven days off to rest.

Although he had hoped to be fit enough, having pulled out of the Dubai Masters at the end of last week, The LTA has subsequently confirmed that he will not have recovered sufficiently in time to play.

In their report earlier this week they confirmed: “Andy is greatly disappointed that he has to pull out of the upcoming Davis Cup tie as he was looking forward to playing for Great Britain in front of his home crowd.”

Reaffirming this on his official website Murray announced: “Missing out on a home tie is tough for me but, more than anything, I'm sorry for all the people making the journey who had hoped to see me play in the team. The support we get is always amazing, and I know people have to make sacrifices to give us that.”

Emphasising that the “Davis Cup is a team game,” he stressed that, “the fans still have a massive role to play.”

With both Murray and the LTA calling for an “amazing” and “vocal home crowd” to get behind these more inexperience individuals, they believe that the team still “have a good chance of winning.”

Andy Murray’s spokesman later confirmed that “Andy will be right behind John Lloyd and the team when they compete against Ukraine this Friday.”

Speaking personally to the head tennis coach of the Scottish tennis academy, Marcel du Coudray, he underlined the inspirational role that Murray has played in encouraging young tennis hopefuls, and the obvious disappointment felt in not seeing Murray participate.

“Andy Murray is such a massive role model to Scottish and British players alike. As a coach to a number of top-ranked British juniors who'll be looking to follow in Andy's footsteps, I know seeing him play at home would've been a massive boost to them –however things have turned out this way and they may see him play in the future.

“I am sure he'll be as disappointed as all his fans and supporters that he can't turn out for his country.”

With some of the 12–14 year-old players at the Tennis Academy taking part in ball-boy duties as well as going over to watch the match, du Coudray confirmed that “they were looking forward to being a part of the festival of tennis put on by Tennis Scotland - it will still be a special event for them.”

The news of Andy’s withdrawal confirmed that Britain will yet again play a tie in Scotland without the star member of the Murray family present.

This is in fact the second occasion that Murray has been ill when the Lawn Tennis Association have decided to stage the tie in Scotland. Three years ago he was restricted to only appearing in the doubles rubber, and a match in which he was warned for swearing.

It is also the second season in succession that Murray has not represented his country in the competition, as last year he controversially withdrew from the tie against Argentina in Buenos Aires to avoid the possibility of aggravating a knee injury.

This time, there is no controversy about his withdrawal, as he awaits the medical results from a number of tests taken earlier this week.

Former British number one, Andrew Castle, has pointed out that Murray cannot afford to jeopardise the rest of his season: “He must play the long game and think about the majors. To go out on court with what is possibly a virus is not a good thing.

“It's bad news for Murray and bad news for the spectators. It's a winnable tie but it'll be hard.” Castle told BBC Radio 5 Live in an interview.

Without Murray Britain will be fielding their most inexperienced team in the history of the Davis Cup.

Britain's leading singles player Josh Goodall, (the world No. 192), Chris Eaton, (ranked 383), and either James Ward, (the world No. 293), or Colin Fleming, (ranked 580), will make up the trio to face the Ukraine on Friday.

As amateurs, the pressure will be riding on them more so than ever before, with Britain requiring a win if they are to be involved in September's World Group play-offs.