Murray's mum steps in to help Davis Cup team

Andy Murray may have made himself unavailable for next week's Davis Cup relegation play-off against Turkey in Eastbourne, but his mother has been helping Leon Smith, Britain's new captain, in his preparations for the tie.

Smith asked Judy Murray to watch Marsel Ilhan, Turkey's leading player, during the grass-court season and she has briefed her fellow Scot on his strengths and weaknesses. "With the input of Judy and the good coaching team we have in place I'm confident we can win," Smith said yesterday.

Smith has named Jamie Baker and James Ward as Britain's two singles players, while Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski will play doubles. Ergun Zorlu (world No 867), Tuna Altuna (934), Haluk Akkoyun (1,174) and Baris Erguden (1,255) are Turkey's other leading men, but Smith admitted that he had only seen Ilhan (118) play. "The others generally don't play outside of their own country, but I have asked a couple of British players in Turkey about them," Smith said.