Lloyd looks to future with Davis Cup squad

James Ward, Dan Evans and Jamie Baker will compete for the two singles spots for Britain’s Davis Cup match against Lithuania in March.

World number three Andy Murray recently withdrew from the squad handing the youngsters the opportunity to shine as they look to arrest the slide of British tennis.

British number 2 Alex Bogdanovic was overlooked for the second year running in favour of the youngsters despite them all standing around 100 places below him in the World Rankings.

Doubles specialists Colin Fleming and Ken Shupski are also included in the squad as Britain attempts to win its first Davis Cup match since beating Croatia in their World Group play-off win in 2007. Since then the side has slumped to the third tier of the competition and the selectors are understood to be looking for a fresh start.

World number 288 Baker is the only player in the squad to have won a Davis Cup match. He defeated Argentina’s Agustin Calleri in a dead rubber in 2008.
Evans is currently placed 258th in the world and played in last year’s Davis Cup against Poland, losing both his singles matches. Ward is yet to make his debut for the side.

Davis Cup captain John Lloyd believes the selection represents a brilliant opportunity for the youngsters and will provide invaluable experience for the players.

On February 23rd Lloyd will announce who will compete in the match at the Vitas Gerulaitis Memorial Tennis Centre in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius and he believes that whoever is selected for the tie will take a lot from the match.

Although the online betting suggests Britain will not be making a swift return to the Davis Cup World Group, Lloyd is clearly looking to the future.

He said that this is a “real opportunity” for some of the younger players to gain valuable experience and hopefully raise their game in the absence of Murray.

Meanwhile, Murray might feel he has bigger fish to fry and the tennis betting suggests he could win his first major this year.

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