This archive report was first published on 19 November 2019.
Britain's Davis Cup team has been bolstered by the return of Andy Murray, but team captain Leon Smith has warned that there are no guarantees the former world number one will play in the singles.
Speaking to reporters, Smith acknowledged that Murray's addition to the team is a significant boost, but emphasized that the 32-year-old is still working his way back to his best form after undergoing hip surgery in January.
“Any time you can bring Andy into the team is going to make your team better,” Smith said. “He’s still working his way back to the level he wants to get to, so people have to keep the expectations of the right level of where he’s at just now.”
Smith pointed out that Murray's recent win at the European Open in Antwerp was a significant step forward, but cautioned that it's still early days in his comeback.
“What he did in Antwerp was much talked about and a brilliant step forwards but you do have to remember this is early days in him coming back,” Smith said.
With Murray, Dan Evans, and Kyle Edmund all competing for singles spots, Smith has a wealth of options at his disposal. He also praised the team's doubles pairings, citing Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski as strong contenders.
The revamped Davis Cup format features group stage ties with two singles matches and one doubles match, with Britain set to face Kazakhstan and the Netherlands in the inaugural competition.
