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Davis Cup squad announced - see inside for LTA press release.
IP: 77.100.101.151
Posted on September 3, 2009 at 07:50:04 AM by Jean

ANDY MURRAY SPEARHEADS DAVIS CUP CAMPAIGN AGAINST POLAND

World No.2 Andy Murray will lead the team when Great Britain takes on Poland in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas. The tie, which will take place in Liverpool for the first time in the event’s history, will be played at the Echo Arena from 18th to 20th September, with the winner retaining a place in Euro/Africa Group I for 2010.

Ross Hutchins, doubles world No.37, Merseysider Ken Skupski, British No.2 James Ward, British No.4 Josh Goodall and British No.5 Dan Evans join Murray on the AEGON GB Davis Cup Squad.

AEGON GB Davis Cup Captain John Lloyd welcomed Murray’s commitment to leading the team.

“It is a huge advantage for us to have a player of Andy’s class in the mix and I am delighted to have him in the team,” said Lloyd. “Everyone is very excited to be playing Davis Cup in Liverpool for the first time. This is a vital tie for us to avoid relegation and the entire squad is committed to keeping Great Britain in Euro/Africa Zone Group I for 2010 and establishing a firm foundation for next year.”

Murray, who achieved his career-high ranking of world No.2 in August, comes into the tie off the back of some impressive 2009 results with five ATP titles to his name. The 2008 US Open runner-up, Murray, continued his hard court run of form on Tuesday winning his opening round US Open match against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 7-5 6-3 7-5.

Britain’s top ranked singles player is joined by Ross Hutchins, the nation’s No.1 doubles player. A finalist at ATP Tour doubles events at San Jose and Marseille in 2009, Hutchins reached his career-high doubles ranking of No.30 in July this year.

Local hero and Britain’s No.2 ranked doubles player, Skupski, is currently at No.108 in the world doubles rankings, and has reached the finals of six ITF Challenger doubles events in 2009, winning two of them.

"It's great that the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is heading to Liverpool for the first time,” said the Liverpool Davis Cup debutant. “I love the sport and to have international tennis in my home town can only benefit it more."

Skupski will be joined by fellow Davis Cup first-timer, Ward, who reached his career-high ranking of No.202 last week and is currently sitting at No.203 in the world and No.2 in Britain.

Middlesex’s Ward has one singles title and one doubles title to his name in 2009 having won a singles Challenger in Sarasota, Florida, in May and a doubles Futures title with Goodall in Mettmann, Germany in January.

Goodall, from Basingstoke, has also enjoyed a solid season having achieved his career-high ranking of No.184 in June. Currently ranked No.249 in the world, Goodall reached the semifinals of the AEGON Trophy in Nottingham and the second round of the AEGON International at Eastbourne this summer.

The British No.5, Dan Evans is the third of the squad’s Davis Cup debutants. He won his first ITF Challenger title in Jersey in March and reached the semifinals of a Challenger in Lexington, USA, and two Futures events in Tipton and Sheffield this season.

Great Britain holds a perfect record over Poland in Davis Cup, having won all seven meetings between the two nations. The most recent victory came in Poland in 1991 with Britain claiming the tie four rubbers to one. The winner of this tie will remain in Euro/Africa Zone Group I in 2010 with the loser relegated to Group II next year.

“This is a difficult tie and we’re expecting a tough test, but I know we can rely on the fans at the Echo Arena to play their part by whipping up an electric atmosphere and urging our boys to victory,” said AEGON GB Davis Cup captain Lloyd.

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