Leon Smith Admits the Pressure Will Be On Andy Murray

Lleyton Hewitt has applied the blow torch to Andy Murray on the eve of Australia’s Davis Cup semi-final with Great Britain in Glasgow.

Speaking of his “great relationship” with the Dunblance ace, Hewitt said: “I think a lot of the pressure is on, obviously, Andy so whoever gets the opportunity to take him on on day one has got nothing to lose, you can go out free swinging and play your game”.

The Aussies can boast the likes of Leyton Hewitt, Bernard Tomic and Sam Groth in the ranks, all of which should be no match for Murray if he is firing on all cylinders.

Saturday’s play will take the primetime mid-afternoon BBC One slot, starting at 1pm.

Instead, while the No55-ranked Bedene prepares for his next eligibility appeal in front of an worldwide Tennis Federation panel in Paris in mid-November, Smith must choose between his next-best options, both of whom who are carrying bruises of a different kind, the world No141 James Ward and Kyle Edmund (100).

“I’d like to think that we’re not going in with that attitude that he’s absolutely unbeatable”, Masur told AAP.

Having played three matches in three days in GB’s win over France in July, Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt said the pressure was on two-time major victor Murray.

Masur has until an hour before Thursday’s draw in Glasgow to formalise his line-up, and Kokkinakis is hungry for another chance after losing his opening match against the Kazakhs on grass in Darwin.

Tara McGregor-Woodhams, Head of Brand & Sponsorship, Aegon United Kingdom said: “I’m extremely proud of the work that Aegon does to help children in the communities around us”.

“I don’t know what’s going on yet, as far as who’s playing”.

Such is the size of the prize that lies so tantalisingly within reach, Smith admitted his players are grateful for any distractions they can find in the Scottish capital.

“It’d be insane, an unbelievable experience for me and hopefully I get the call up”.

But Hewitt cheekily said he was still okay with calling the bumper semi-final an Ashes-like contest. We got into this position by everyone in the team playing their part.