Andy Murray has not been named in Great Britain’s squad to play Canada in the Davis Cup in Ottawa next week, although there is a chance he might still play.
The team captain, Leon Smith, on Tuesday announced the expected squad – Kyle Edmund, Dan Evans, Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot – but pointed out it could be changed as late as Thursday week. They are due to play the following day in the Arena at TD Place, Lansdowne Park.
“I’m delighted to name the four players travelling for this away tie,” Smith said in Melbourne, where he has been watching Evans’s grand progress to the fourth round.
“We will continue to speak with Andy in the coming days regarding his potential involvement and if he decides he would like to be part of the team then we can of course change the nominations as necessary.
“First rounds are never easy, and this one especially more so with the quick turnaround in conditions and travel from Australia to Canada. British tennis continues to go from strength to strength and the momentum continues to build among our elite players continuing to make inroads up the rankings.
“After Melbourne, for only the second week in the last 39 years, we will have three British men in the ATP world’s Top 50 singles rankings, as well as Jamie who ended 2016 as part of the No1 doubles team.
“We know the challenge the Canadian team poses – they have vast experience in singles and doubles but we also have a strong team with proven track record in Davis Cup. This should make for a really competitive tie. As always our players and team will give their best efforts in representing their country.”
Great Britain have won 14 of 17 ties under Smith’s leadership, and are 4-1 in away ties. The tie with Canada comes 50 years after the only previous encounter, when Great Britain won 4-1 in 1967 at West Hants in Bournemouth.
The winners will play France, away, or Japan in the quarter-finals from 7-9 April, and the losers will go into a play-off to stay in the World Group from 15-17 September.
