Andy Murray left out of Davis Cup quarter-final against France because of elbow injury
INJURED Andy Murray has been left out of Britain’s Davis Cup quarter final.
Murray could still be parachuted in at the last minute for the clash with France in Rouen next week.
Getty Images Andy Murray has been left out of the Davis Cup team to play France[/caption]
PA:Press Association But Murray could be a late inclusion if he recovers from his elbow injury[/caption]
But the world No 1 is very unlikely to recover from his elbow problem in time and, even if he did, would think twice about risking it over five-set matches on indoor clay.
That means Dan Evans and Kyle Edmund, the British No 2 and 3, will be asked to repeat their success of the first round win in Canada – when Murray was also absent – alongside doubles specialists Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot.
But this time Britain will be facing the nation with the greatest strength in depth in tennis.
France have six top 50 players to Britain’s three, and 11 in the top 100 to Britain’s four.
Among them are world No 1 doubles pair Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, although the French duo pulled out of their match in Miami yesterday because of a leg injury to Herbert.
PA:Press Association The victorious Davis Cup team from 2015[/caption]
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The French will be looking to avenge their quarter-final defeat in 2015. On that occasion, Andy Murray pushed himself to the limit physically and mentally to win three rubbers in three days at Queen’s, including the doubles with brother Jamie.
Without him, Britain will be really up against it, despite the fine form shown so far this season by Evans and Edmund.
GB captain Leon Smith said: “In Dan and Kyle we have two Top-50 singles players who are improving all the time on the tour and both with games capable of upsetting higher ranked opponents.
Getty Images I’ts very unlikely the Scot recovers in time for the France clash[/caption]
“Jamie and Dom once again combine as our doubles team and will draw much confidence after performing so well recently to win key rubbers against Serbia and Canada to defeat Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil.
“This is a team with significant Davis Cup experience now and these guys have all stepped up and delivered performances at the very top of the competition.
“Not having Andy in the side is obviously a big loss to our team but most importantly we all wish him well for a speedy recovery back to full health and fitness. I know that he would really want to be here with the rest of the team.
“Facing France in a Davis Cup tie is a tough test for any group of players and this Rouen quarterfinal will be no exception. They have the strongest depth of squad by far, out of any nation in the competition.”
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