Davis Cup: Andy Murray ready to lead the charge as Britain bids to overcome Argentina in semi-final clash

Ten months after leading Britain to their first Davis Cup triumph for 79 years, the world No 2 is once again spearheading his team’s attempt to defend the title

Andy Murray with his British teammates ahead of the Davis Cup semi-final clash against Argentina (Getty)

Andy Murray has scaled more peaks than ever this summer but the world No 2’s horizons are still dominated by mountainous challenges. Having already reached his first French Open final, won his second Wimbledon title and successfully defended his Olympic crown, Murray’s focus is now on another double victory.

Ten months after leading Britain to their first Davis Cup triumph for 79 years, the world No 2 is spearheading his team’s attempt to defend the title. Murray and his colleagues will have home advantage as they take on Argentina in the semi-finals here at the Emirates Arena this weekend, with the winners to take on France or Croatia in the final in November.

“This is going to be a very tough weekend for us to win this one but all the players want to get through it,” Murray said. “It’s a big goal for all of us. Trying to reach another Davis Cup final would be a fantastic achievement.

“There have been so many big events in the last few months and it’s been difficult to prioritise every single one, but at the end of a long summer if we get through this one we’ve got an opportunity to win again, so we’ll give it everything.”

The size of Murray’s task grew significantly with the announcement of the two teams. Leon Smith, Britain’s captain, selected only one doubles specialist, Jamie Murray, meaning that his main man is set to play alongside his brother on Saturday in between his two singles rubbers on Friday and Sunday. Kyle Edmund was chosen as Britain’s No 2 singles player ahead of Dan Evans.

Meanwhile Argentina named Guido Pella (world No 49) and Juan Martin del Potro (world No 64) as their two singles players. Even though Argentina’s captain, Daniel Orsanic, agreed that Del Potro was, “without a doubt”, his country’s best player, the world rankings dictate that Pella is the nominal No 1 and will therefore meet his British counterpart, Andy Murray, in the first of the reverse singles on Sunday.

That in turn means the tie will open on Friday afternoon with a true clash of the giants between Murray and Del Potro. They last met less than five weeks ago in the Olympic final in Rio, where Murray won in four gruelling hours.

Del Potro has had an excellent summer following his return from wrist surgery. He beat Stan Wawrinka to reach the third round at Wimbledon and made the quarter-finals at the US Open.

Andy Murray in action against Paolo Lorenzi in the US Open third round (Getty)

“I will try to do a different match to what I did in Rio,” the former world No 4 and US Open champion said. “It’s going to be really tough, a tough moment for me against Andy. It’s never easy here but I am looking forward to doing a surprise. I will be fresh tomorrow and I know how my level is at this moment. I will try to be aggressive all the time.”

Murray expects another demanding match. “We obviously had a great battle in Rio,” he said. “Four hours, lots of ups and downs, a lot of momentum shifts. That was mentally and physically a very draining match. I think both of us were pretty tired afterwards - and emotional. It will be another intense atmosphere here and I'm looking forward to it.”

Smith admitted that it was “always a big ask” to expect anyone to play in two singles rubbers and the doubles, but pointed out that Murray had come through a similar challenge in last year’s semi-final here against Australia.

“You could see that Andy was fatigued, actually maybe more physically than mentally, and he still found a way to do it,” Smith said. “He’s a very, very robust guy, both physically and mentally. So as much as it’s very, very difficult, don’t be surprised to see him do it.”

Nevertheless, Smith will need to make a careful assessment throughout this weekend of his leading man’s condition from a physical, mental and emotional point of view. Murray, who admits that he needs a break from tennis, was excused from most of his media commitments on Thursday in the light of the death of his paternal grandfather, whose funeral will be held on Friday, with Jamie Murray in attendance.

Pella is ranked six places above Edmund, his opponent in the opening day’s second rubber, but has won only one match since the French Open. Edmund, meanwhile, followed up his two victories in Britain’s quarter-final victory over Serbia two months ago by reaching the fourth round at the US Open, where he beat John Isner and Richard Gasquet.


 Murray will once again go head-to-head with Juan Martin del Potro 
 (Getty)

Britain have met Argentina four times in the Davis Cup but have beaten them only once, on clay in Torquay in 1928, when the visiting team comprised Guillermo Robson and Ronald Boyd, who, as their names suggest, had British forebears. Britain’s long-time influence on Argentinian tennis was reflected in the fact that Robson played at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club and Boyd at the Belgrano Athletic Club. The Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club still stages the annual Argentina Open men’s event, while the Hurlingham Club has the capital’s best grass courts.

Argentina have won their last three meetings with Britain, in 1981, 1989 and 2008. Jamie Murray is the sole survivor from the latter tie, which was played on clay in Buenos Aires.

Murray, who arrived here fresh from his triumph in the US Open doubles final, hopes that the atmosphere in the 8,000-capacity Emirates Arena will be a telling factor in the home team’s favour, as it was when Britain beat the United States and Australia at the same venue last year.

Murray has reached the last eight in 22 out of his last 23 grand slams (Getty)

“From a personal point of view, it’s super-exciting for me to be playing here in Scotland, to play in front of a packed-out house with the incredible atmosphere that I’m sure will be the same as last year,” he said. “That has some really strong memories for us.”

Murray dismissed any idea that the British team might not be quite as hungry for success compared with last year. “We’re here to win it again this year and I don’t think we’re any the less hungry for that because we’ve managed to win the trophy,” Murray said.

SCHEDULE (GB names first): Friday (1pm start): A Murray v J M del Potro; K Edmund v G Pella. Saturday (2pm start): A Murray and J Murray v F Delbonis and L Mayer. Sunday (1pm start): A Murray v Pella; Edmund v Del Potro.