Davis Cup: Kyle Edmund in pole position for final spot in team

The unknown factor in the selection equation is Aljaz Bedene

Kyle Edmund won on clay in Buenos Aires at the weekend (Getty)

After his team won their Davis Cup semi-final against Australia in September, Britain’s captain, Leon Smith, urged Kyle Edmund, James Ward and Dan Evans to “fight like hell” over the ensuing two months to win a place in his team to face Belgium in the final.

As he prepares to name his four-man line-up on Tuesday afternoon for next week’s showdown in Ghent, Smith could hardly be more pleased with the efforts made by the three main contenders to fill Britain’s second singles slot behind Andy Murray. In recent weeks all three have won tournaments on the Challenger circuit, which may be one tier down from the main men’s tour but are nevertheless hugely competitive.

Ward’s results have dipped a little since he won the Bangalore Challenger last month, but Evans and Edmund peaked with perfect timing by winning titles on hard courts and clay in Tennessee and Buenos Aires respectively on Sunday. Evans could be the least likely of the three to be picked as he has not played on clay – the surface the Belgians have chosen for Ghent – since May but Edmund has put himself in pole position by winning his first clay-court Challenger title.

Evans and Ward, nevertheless, are experienced Davis Cup campaigners with big wins under their belts, whereas 20-year-old Edmund has yet to play for the team. Indeed, Britain would probably not be in the final but for Ward’s remarkable victory over John Isner against the United States in March.

The unknown factor in the selection equation is Aljaz Bedene, whose appeal against the International Tennis Federation’s decision to declare him ineligible to play for Britain – because he has already represented Slovenia – will be heard in Prague today.

Although Smith has to name a four-man team today, he can make up to two changes before the draw in nine days’ time. Andy and Jamie Murray are certain to be picked and Dominic Inglot is likely to be given a place as a doubles specialist, which just leaves the second singles spot to be decided.

Edmund, who climbed back yesterday to his career-best position at No 99 in the world rankings, said in the wake of his Buenos Aires victory that he would not be daunted by the prospect of making his Davis Cup debut in the final.

“It’s a special environment, a different atmosphere, but having been to matches before as a hitter and sat on the sidelines won’t have done me any harm,” Edmund said. “I’ve experienced that atmosphere, and if I’m picked I won’t be going out there thinking: “Oh, I haven’t played before.’ Even top players get nervous in the Davis Cup and it’s just about how you deal with it.”

He added: “The whole point of coming to South America was to prepare for the Davis Cup. Otherwise I would have stayed on hard courts. But I was very happy with this plan anyway because I like clay and I feel like I play well on it. It’s turned out well, I’ve beaten some decent players and it doesn’t do me any harm. But the team comes first, and I’ll do whatever the team and the management feel they need from me.

“Getting on the clay has actually felt like a fresh start and a nice change. It suits my game pretty well and it was good to have a new look at things, a new way of playing.”

This week Edmund is playing in a Challenger tournament on clay in Uruguay. If he has another good run he might be the last of the British team to arrive in Ghent next week. “It’s a 12-hour flight, but the time difference is only three hours so it’s not too bad,” he said. “We’ll just try to manage it.”