Afternoon:
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Andy Murray begins Great Britain's Davis Cup tie tomorrow against a player who is No678 in the rankings but the Polish opponent insists he has not given up hope of pulling off one of the biggest shocks in tennis.
Today's draw for the Euro/Africa Zone Group One relegation tie in Liverpool pitted Michal Przysiezny against the world No3. While Murray has won 13 titles and been runner-up at the US Open, Przysiezny has played just one match at a grand slam — losing in the first round in New York in 2007.
But the 25-year-old said: “It is not hopeless because I was in the top 200 two years ago. My ranking has slipped but anything can happen in a Davis Cup match.”
Murray today admitted he knows nothing about Przysiezny and has never seen him play — even on tape.
Despite the huge gulf in rankings, the Briton is taking nothing for granted. He said: “If you don't prepare properly and the opponent starts playing well then you can panic and so my aim is to win as comfortably as possible.”
Murray revealed he had a MRI scan on his injured left wrist before losing in the fourth round of the US Open but is adamant he will be able to handle two singles matches and Saturday's doubles rubber alongside Ross Hutchins.
In tomorrow's second singles match world No302 Dan Evans will face Jerzy Janowicz, who at 6ft 6in is almost a foot taller than the Briton.
Evans is making his Cup debut against a player ranked No261 and said: “I am really looking forward to the tie. I am comfortable with the challenge I am facing.”
Poland have been seriously undermined by the decision of Lukasz Kubot, their top singles player and ranked world No112, to concentrate on his own career and refuse to play for his country.
“We don't need him,” snapped Marcin Matkowski, a member of Poland's doubles team that is ranked No11 in the world.
Matches: Tomorrow — Murray v Przysiezny, Evans v Janowicz; Saturday Murray and Hutchins v Matkowski and Fyrstenberg; Sunday Murray v Janowicz, Evans v Przysiezny
