GREAT Britain's next match in the Davis Cup, their first for 13 years in the third tier of the competition, will be against Lithuania next March. The draw makes Andy Murray's participation less likely, as team captain John Lloyd should have a squad capable of winning in the Baltic state without the world No3.
Defeat at the hands of Poland last weekend meant the British were relegated from Euro Africa Zone Group One for the first time in 15 years. As they have never played Lithuania before in the Davis Cup, lots were drawn to decide home advantage for the
tie, which takes place from 5 to 7 March.
The winners will face Ireland or Turkey en route to possible promotion to Group One, while the losers will go into a play-off to avoid relegation to Group Three. Even given their recent lack of success, Britain will be confident of getting the better of Lithuania, whose leading player, 19-year-old Ricardas Berankis, is 432nd in the world rankings.
his compatriots Laurynas Grigelis and Gvidas Sabeckis are 642nd and 672nd respectively, while 17-year-old Dovydas Sakinis is the only other Lithuanian in the ATP rankings.
Compared to that modest roster, Lloyd's resources are enviable even if Murray is taken out of the equation. British No 2 James Ward, who missed the Poland match because of illness, is 189th. Josh Goodall, who was in the squad in Liverpool last week before being sent home with glandular fever, is 235th. Alex Bogdanovic is 247th, Dan Evans, the British No 5 is 303rd and Scotland's Colin Fleming is 384th.
Ross Hutchins partnered Murray in the doubles last Saturday, while Andy's older brother Jamie has been in the team before. On paper at least, Lloyd's task of assembling a squad capable of getting back into Group One without the world No3 does not look too arduous. Although it would be easier if Murray were included, Lloyd believes there is little point using the Scot to help Britain escape Group Two if relegation back to Group Three soon follows.
"Playing in Group Two will give some of our younger players the opportunity to perform on the international stage and gain valuable experience at that level," Lloyd said. "They will learn to play in that environment and they will learn to win. The team are now looking forward to moving up the groups."
