Great Britain lose Davis Cup tie to Ukraine

IGNOMINY is not exactly a new emotion to the British Davis Cup team. Embarrassments have been too frequent in recent years for the team supposedly buoyed by the economic profits from Wimbledon.
But John Lloyd now admits the factor that will determine whether his lineup slips to its lowest level in nearly 15 years is the involvement of Andy Murray.
With the world No 4, Lloyd insists Britain has a chance of avoiding the drop to the third tier of Euro/Africa Zone Group Two and potential encounters with Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro and Ireland.
Without the younger of the two Murray brothers, Lloyd can promise nothing and the paucity of other talent at his disposal was again brought starkly into focus as Britain suffered defeat within two days against Ukraine.
Glasgow’s Braehead Arena was meant to showcase Murray’s talent. As he finally returned tentatively to a practice court 400 miles south at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, reportedly almost a stone lighter after falling ill in Dubai, his supposed doubles partner Ross Hutchins and fellow Scot Colin Fleming battled nobly but were ultimately unable to turn the tide set a day earlier.
Britain have now lost three ties in succession and a September date against Poland, with relegation for the loser, now looms. At least Britain will have home advantage in that tie, meaning Lloyd can at least furnish a court surface that will appeal to Murray after he has played the US Open on a fast hard court.
“With Andy in the team we are a potential World Group side and good enough to be well established in the Euro African Group One,” said Lloyd, insisting his mood was boosted by the showings of Hutchins and particularly Fleming in the 6-4 3-6 6-3 5-7 6-4 defeat by the Ukrainian duo of Sergiy Stakhovsky and Sergei Bubka Jr. “Without him it’s always going to be tough.”
Stakhovsky, successful in the opening day singles against Chris Eaton, said elation spread through the Ukraine team at the news of Murray’s incapacity and saw them through the tie. “It was a great relief for us when we heard he wasn’t going to be in the team and Josh Goodall would be the British lead player instead,” said the 23-year-old, whom Murray beat just before falling ill. “Playing Andy is a pain in the butt.”
Source:the times