Weather Afternoon: 9°c Sunny spells Tonight: 5°c Partly Cloudy Night

Sport

Andy Murray
Future in doubt: Andy Murray did his bit by winning both singles matches but felt he was let down by the rest of the British team as they lost to Austria

Lloyd battling to keep Murray on board as Britain crash to defeat

Chris Jones, Evening Standard
22 Sep 2008


Captain John Lloyd will make the most important telephone call of his long Davis Cup career tomorrow when he tries to convince Andy Murray not to turn his back on the Great Britain team.

If Murray goes, there will be calls for Lloyd's head, with Tim Henman the obvious candidate to take over after Britain were relegated from the World Group after yesterday's 3-2 defeat by Austria at Wimbledon.

They will find out in Madrid tomorrow who they will face next year in Euro/Africa Group One but there must be doubts about world No4 Murray's participation, given that his main priority is to break into the world's top three.

On the evidence of the Scot's departure from Wimbledon last night - his two singles victories were the only success - there will have to be a huge change for Murray to make himself available.

His wide-ranging rebuke for team-mates and those running the GB side included an insistence that players such as Alex Bogdanovic, Ross Hutchins and his own brother Jamie had to start showing the kind of on-court emotion he brings to every contest.

Murray defeated Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 but Britain were killed off by Bogdanovic's ninth successive failure on grass at Wimbledon. He went down 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to Alexander Peya, ranked two places below him at No164.

Significantly, Murray disappeared from court side at the start of the third set and brother Jamie was also missing from the team bench in the final set of Bogdanovic's match.

Murray said: "Alex (Bogdanovic) was in a position to win the match today and you have to seize those opportunities. I played well and showed a lot of emotion but in other matches there weren't any fist pumps or "c'mons" and I want to see the crowd getting involved. Even if it means breaking at racket on court, I want to see they really, really care.

"It is tough for me in the Davis Cup, but I showed by the way I played that I love to take part.

However, if I am going to sacrifice myself to play I want every single person in the team making that same sacrifice and giving everything they have got. I want everyone to do that so I know they want to win as badly as I do.

"If that happens then it will drive me to play but if not, then it will demotivate me.

"Just because I am the best player in the team doesn't mean I should have to say these things.

That's not right. Jamie and Ross will be disappointed with the way they played in the doubles and we need a second singles player.

"I don't know when someone else is going to come through to play singles, but a lot of money is being invested in British tennis at the moment."

Lloyd admits he will have to work hard to keep Murray on board and said: "I pick the team and I want Andy in it.

"Obviously, I hope he wants to play for his country and if he doesn't, then we may have to take a view that this is the right time to try some of the youngsters coming through. We would have to rebuild."

Reader views (0)

 Add your view

No comments have so far been submitted.


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

 

  • Andre Villas-Boas: Roman Abramovich's still backing me even if players aren't Andre Villas-Boas Andre Villas-Boas is confident he still has the support of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and insists he is not worried if the players back...
  • There's no way back as bemused Arsene Wenger wrestles with Euro crisis Zlatan Ibrahimovic Manager's unswerving faith in his stumbling players is designed to foster team spirit but it seemed complacency was the only consequence...
  • Ryan Giggs could learn the job at Jose Mourinho's side Ryan Giggs Patrick Barclay: The argument for Giggs as Mourinho's Old Trafford assistant is attractive. Jose often has a link with the...
  • Harry Redknapp drops England hint but agonises over Spurs Harry Redknapp Harry Redknapp has suggested it would be possible to combine the role of Premier League manager and England boss until after Euro 2012 but...
  • Chelsea want Petr Cech and Daniel Sturridge to stay at Stamford Bridge Daniel Sturridge Chelsea insist Petr Cech and Daniel Sturridge are part of their long-term plans and will not be leaving Stamford Bridge
  • Money is only thing that finally brought barking Carlos Tevez to heel Carlos Tevez Dan Jones: Carlos Tevez's absurd reaction to that night in Munich last September has been to undertake a one-man strike...
  • Andrei Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky must leave Arsenal, says Emmanuel Petit Andrei Arshavin Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has warned the club need to get rid of a host of their big names and sign six established players...
  • Gunners bring out the devil in a lazy mime artist Zlatan Ibrahimovic Dan Jones: The man wielding the cane on Arsenal at the San Siro was football's most enigmatic, quicksilver galoot: Zlatan...
  • The battle for Warren Farm Tony Fernandes QPR have targeted a site for new £6m training ground but could lose out to non-League Southall
  • Sir Alex Ferguson will play his stars in Europa League Sir Alex Ferguson Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded he got it wrong in the Champions League this season as Manchester United prepare to make their debut in the...
  •