Murray taking nothing for granted

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:48

Murray, the world number three, will spearhead Great Britain’s attempts to retain their place in Group I of the Euro/Africa Zone over the next three days in Liverpool. The Scot will open the contest on Friday with a singles rubber against Michal Przysiezny before 19-year-old debutant Dan Evans plays Jerzy Janowicz.

“We need to prepare for a tough match,” said Murray. “If you prepare for an easy match and it ends up being tough you can start to panic a little. I am ready for it to be difficult, guys can raise their game in Davis Cup and play well.”

Murray recently returned from the US Open with a wrist injury but is confident he will be fit enough to play three matches.

The 22-year-old said: “It is going to be tough. I plan on playing the three days but I will take it one day at a time and see how I am feeling.

“I will just concentrate on Friday for now. I have got a match against a guy I don’t know a whole lot about – that is normally tricky at the start of the match.

“Hopefully we can get ourselves 2-0 up at the end of the first day, that takes a bit of the pressure off.”

Evans gets his chance having been preferred to James Ward and will make his bow against a player in Janowicz who, at 261, is ranked 41 places above him. The newcomer hopes a buoyant crowd at the Echo Arena can give Britain the edge.

“We are playing at home so there should be more support in favour of us,” he said. “It will be good if they help us along.”

Murray is due to team up with good friend Ross Hutchins in Saturday’s doubles rubber. That would leave local boy Ken Skupski and Colin Fleming, along with Ward, watching from the sidelines.

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