Smith keen to have Murray on the sidelines for Davis Cup clash
BySportsbeat
Published 15/07/2016 at 11:52 GMT
Andy Murray may not be taking part in Great Britain's Davis Cup quarter-final with Serbia this week but his mere presence would be a real lift to the other players if he does decide to attend, according to captain Leon Smith.
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Murray has not missed a Davis Cup tie for more than three years but will not be competing at the Tasmajdan Stadium in Belgrade as he recovers from his Wimbledon triumph and prepares for his Olympic title defence.
But the 29-year-old is expected to attend and offer his support, with Kyle Edmund and James Ward the singles players for holders Great Britain when the tie gets underway on Friday.
"We would love him to come out and support. We are a really, really close unit," Smith told BBC Sport.
"I fully understand if he doesn't end up coming, but if he does it just gives everyone a boost to see your No.1 player, role model and current Wimbledon champion sitting there.
"We've seen him before – in Glasgow last March [for the tie against USA] – going bananas at the side of the court.”
Dan Evans was initially named in the team and expected to play in the singles alongside Edmund but did not travel to Belgrade because of a shoulder injury and some personal problems.
The world No.73 had an MRI scan on his shoulder following his run to the third round at Wimbledon, which came back negative, but the issue flared up again while practising on clay – meaning world No.240 Ward received the call.
"After five or 10 minutes of hitting it was clear that something wasn't quite right – even though he'd been checked in the morning before playing," said Smith about Evans' injury.
"That started to create some doubt, but then also he had a couple of issues at home that led to me thinking that he was not in the right headspace to travel."
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