Davis Cup 2016: Andy Murray will help Great Britain defend title but busy schedule could pose problems

Murray mint: British No1 ready to do his bit to defend Davis Cup
(DIRK WAEM/AFP/Getty Images)
Chris Jones30 November 2015

Andy Murray will help Great Britain launch their defence of the Davis Cup — but the pressure of chasing a third Grand Slam and defending his Olympic title in Rio could restrict his availability next year.

Murray described securing the point against Belgium in Ghent yesterday to end Britain’s 79-year wait for the trophy as his “most emotional” win. But for all the joy this competition has brought him this year, winning an incredible 11 points across four ties, the world No2 sees problems ahead.

Although the opening World Group tie against Japan in March is not an issue, the quarter-final is listed as the week after Wimbledon, while there is an identical gap between the end of the US Open and the semi-finals. Given the toll that Grand Slams take on the players, Murray thinks Davis Cup organisers should look again at the timing of the rounds.

Scheduling aside, Murray stresses he does not want to see the competition’s format change, although there are those who support making it a bi-annual event. American television executives have regularly raised questions about the Cup as they struggle to sell the competition to their viewers when the champions have to begin their defence of the trophy barely four months after lifting it. They argue that by holding it every other season, the champions have a year to enjoy their success without the danger of losing in the first round of the next World Group matches.

That is a distinct possibility for Britain, as Japan will be led by world No8 Kei Nishikori, which makes the presence of Murray to the holders’ cause even more vital.

History-makers: Great Britain's Davis Cup team celebrate their 3-1 victory over Belgium
(Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The Scot said: “I don’t mind the format — I think it’s good — I just think the timing is what is difficult. Obviously, immediately after the Grand Slams is tough, which is after Wimbledon this year, and also after the US Open. Also now, you’re the last ones to finish in the year.

“For me, it isn’t so much the format, because if you look at the ties we played this year the atmosphere in every one of them has been exceptional. If you change the format, you lose that a little bit.

“But I think that the timing is really the issue because the players put so much effort into the Grand Slams. The Davis Cup comes immediately after them and you’re pretty tired at the end of the Slams. Most of the top players are going right through to the end of the majors. Grand Slams are stressful, physically and mentally. I think that’s where the issue is.”

Murray is Britain’s most successful men’s player since Fred Perry, winning two Grand Slam titles — Wimbledon and the US Open — and Olympic gold but he stressed that winning a team tournament in a game that is predominately a solo effort was extra special.

“It is great to have a Davis Cup next to our name,” he said. “We will all remember this year for the rest of our lives, regardless of what happens in our careers. Nothing may ever top this. Hopefully, we can win it again next year or we can go on to win Grand Slams and Wimbledon or Olympics and stuff.

“This will definitely be one of the highlights of our careers, so we have to make sure we enjoy it because I know how much hard work and effort goes into moments like this. You don’t want to let it pass by without enjoying it.”

Captain Leon Smith is rightly receiving praise for his work and the LTA need to ensure he remains at the forefront of any bid to build on this achievement.

Smith, who has expressed an interest in taking up a major role in tennis in his native Scotland, has guided Britain to become the No1-ranked Davis Cup team. With just Murray and 20-year-old Kyle Edmund in the world’s top 100, that is some achievement and makes it essential that he stays at the helm.

The challenge now for the LTA, which receives an annual cheque for more than £30million from the Wimbledon Championships surplus, is to put in place plans to ensure the legacy of 2015 is not lost amid confused leadership and a lack of succession planning.

Murray is the best British player of his generation but the fear is that when the 28-year-old retires, British Grand Slam titles and Davis Cup triumphs will again become a thing of distant memories. With Smith involved, at least British tennis would have a man at the top who knows about world-class success.

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