Murray looks to strike early blow for Britain with a Glasgow Kiss

The temptation to make sport with Sebo Kiss’s name is irresistible, particularly since the Hungarian tennis player is currently in the city where his surname describes a form of physical assault.

There are certainly fears for the 27-year-old’s welfare in the Braehead Arena today, when he takes on Andy Murray in the second of the two singles matches scheduled for the first day of Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie with Hungary. According to Kiss, he has never played anyone with a ranking over 320. However, the identity of his opponent on that occasion means he was given a taste of what it’s like to tangle with a world class performer.

Back in 2004, at a clay-court qualifier for a challenger event in Budapest, a 16-year-old Novak Djokovic was just making his way to the top of the sport. Kiss, who was defeated 7-6, 6-4, was weighing up making a living from tennis or law. He chose law, and hopes to graduate later this year. One wonders whatever became of Djokovic?

Today Kiss will take a break from his studies to play the third best player on the planet in a partisan arena on the banks of the Clyde. As someone whispered yesterday, may his god go with him.

Kiss hasn’t played enough tennis to even qualify for a ranking. He has at least something on his side, and that is the element of surprise. “I know he’s a lefty but I haven’t see him play,” replied Murray, when asked what, if anything, he knew of his opponent in the second singles match today. James Ward will get things underway against Attila Balazs at 3pm. This promises to be a little more interesting in terms of a competitive spectacle.

Murray, however, is preparing to cope with one of the most extreme shifts of focus in sport. Last weekend he was eyeing Rafa Nadal across the net cord, while today it’s a polite law student whose career earnings of $26,254 are less than Murray made for winning just two matches at the US Open. Hungary were dealt a major blow when their top player Adam Kellner withdrew last week. The world number 228 was struck down by a virus while Marton Fucsovics, last year’s junior Wimbledon champion, was left out of the team because of personal problems.

It has forced Hungary captain Miklos Hornok to turn to a combination of callow-looking youths and part-time tennis players. Perhaps they have come to the right place, since Scotland loves an underdog. The contrast in funding says it all. Hornok estimated that Hungary invests between £300-400,000 each year in tennis, with fencing, handball and even water polo deemed more deserving of financial support. The Lawn Tennis Association, meanwhile, has an annual budget of around £60 million. “A new generation is coming,” said Hornok, but this Davis Cup Group II play-off has possibly arrived too soon.

Murray does not expect to breeze through his opening clash with Kiss in the same manner as he did Laurent Bram during the last tie against Luxembourg, also at Braehead Arena. He triumphed with a triple bagel that day but, having only returned from New York on Monday, Murray might well take things a bit easier today. “I wouldn’t expect that score,” he cautioned. He can look forward to a day off tomorrow, having been excused doubles duties. This hadn’t been requested by him, however. “When you sign up to play Davis Cup, if you are asked to play singles one day or doubles and singles both days you just do it,” he stressed.

“You get on with it, and that’s it. You are here to do whatever helps the team win. It’s just not about you as an individual. If it helps [the team] win that’s what matters.”

Then, turning to the man who has made these calls, captain Leon Smith, Murray added, with a smile: “It’s down to Leon, I hope he doesn’t make any mistakes.”

Murray hopes that further tweaks to the tennis schedule will be made to limit the number of scenarios where he is expected to play a Davis Cup tie just days after reaching the business end of a Grand Slam. But he insists that he is always desperate to play for his country, as are Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer.

“I have spoken to all of those guys about it, and everyone just loves playing for their country,” he said. “Time-wise it might sometimes be difficult, and there’s the physical stress you go through at Grand Slams, and also the mental stress. But it doesn’t stop you enjoying playing for your country.”

It also hands more modest players from other countries an opportunity to test themselves against the stars of the game. Hornok expressed his delight that Murray would be lining up against Hungary.

“We are happy,” he said. “We started the year against Cyprus. We were a little bit disappointed and at the same time very happy that Marcos Baghdatis didn’t play against us. Right now we have a chance to meet one of the best players in the world.”

The doubles rubber tomorrow will pit Linlithgow’s Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins against Balazs and Kornel Bardoczky. The British pair are looking to continue their good form after reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Hungary actually beat Britain in the teams’ most recent meeting, in 1993. However, yesterday their priority appeared to be getting a photograph with Murray. If the Hungarians are still in the picture by the end of today, they will be doing well.