Andy Murray fit for Davis Cup tie

Published on Tuesday 15 September 2009 16:08

ANDY Murray has declared himself fit for this weekend's crucial Davis Cup relegation play-off against Poland in Liverpool.

The Scot had been carrying a wrist injury from the US Open but is confident he will be able to lead Great Britain in their bid to remain in Group 1 of the Europe-Africa Zone for the next year.

"I practised yesterday for the first time since the US Open so I should be okay for the weekend," said Murray, who today slipped a place to world number three after his surprise fourth-round exit to Marin Cilic at Flushing Meadows last week.

That defeat still rankles with Murray, especially after he made the US Open final last year only to lose to Roger Federer and then had to watch as Juan Martin del Potro shocked the Swiss last night to claim his first Grand Slam title.

However, he is trying to focus on the Davis Cup and has not yet taken time out to reflect on the Cilic match.

"I've had a good season and I think I'll come back better from the US Open, I'll learn from it," he said.

"I played a bad match but I haven't sat down with my coach and discussed what I have to work on."

Murray knows he has a key part to play in this weekend's encounter against Poland.

"It is a massive match for us because we have to try to move back up through the groups," added Murray, who together with his Davis Cup team-mates paid a visit to Everton's Finch Farm training ground this afternoon and enjoyed a game of football tennis with manager David Moyes and midfielders Tim Cahill and Leon Osman.

"In singles we should be the favourites but they have got a very good doubles team (they have a world top-10 ranked doubles pair of Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg) and we will have to play well in the doubles.

"We also have to get the crowd into it as much as possible."

GB coach David Lloyd is delighted to have a player of Murray's quality on board after the Scot missed the defeat to Ukraine in March.

"Andy said he was going to play earlier on and we are pleased to have him," said Lloyd, who has named a six-man squad which includes James Ward, Josh Goodall, Dan Evans, Ross Hutchins and Merseysider Ken Skupsi.

"When you have someone who is as good as Andy it is a learning process for the rest of the team.

"It is a good experience for them to watch someone as good as Andy train and play and they will all learn from it."