Pressure is on Murray, admits Davis Cup captain

Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt says the pressure is all on Andy Murray as he attempts to lead his Great Britain side to Davis Cup glory.

I would say Andy Murray is the best [football] player. “We got into this position by everyone in the team playing their part”, he said.

“For my last Australian Open I think it’s great preparation”, Hewitt said.

Murray and company are in Glasgow preparing for the start of the Davis Cup tie on Friday, but they took their minds off that crunch clash when they travelled to Celtic Park for a team-bonding exercise.

It would mark a supreme effort from Murray, who was not born the last time Britain reached a Davis Cup semi-final and is eager to add the historic title to his Olympic gold medal and two grand slam titles.

The world No.3 will once again spearhead the Great Britain team when they take on the Aussies in Glasgow this weekend with the two-time major champion set to play in the doubles and two singles matches.

Murray did accept that “the pressure is on us as well because everyone views this as a good opportunity”. “Regardless of whether or not I win or lose my match on the first day, if I play for four-and-a-half or five hours, it’s tough, clearly, to play the following day and then back it up on Sunday”.

Leading Britain to Davis Cup glory would rank as high as winning Wimbledon in Andy Murray’s list of achievements, according to former British number one Greg Rusedski.

A marathon defeat against Kevin Anderson on the hard courts of the US Open left his body feeling more battered than usual.

Around 20 children from Clovenstone Primary School in Edinburgh tucked into the brunch with the British team who are aiming to reach a first Davis Cup final since 1978 and start the three-day tie with Australia on Friday.

But he will need help, from brother Jamie, and either Kyle Edmund or James Ward who are vying for the second singles spot.

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

Organisers also announced that Lleyton Hewitt will link up with Casey Dellacqua to make up the Gold Australia team.

In the second semi-final Belgium take on Argentina in Brussels, with neither country having ever lifted the coveted salad bowl trophy awaiting the victor.

“The thing I like most about it from a preparation standpoint is that the conditions are extremely hot there… and also you’re guaranteed matches”.