Murray hints at potential Davis Cup absence

Andy Murray has hinted he might opt not to play for Davis Cup holders Great Britain in their quarter-final in Serbia later this year after it was announced the tie will take place on clay.

Murray led Britain to their first Davis Cup success in 79 years with victory over Belgium in November, but their hopes of retaining the title would be severely damaged if the former Wimbledon champion decided not to play.

The Scot has a hectic schedule with the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open joined on the calendar this year by the Olympic Games in Rio, and both he and Serbia's world number one Novak Djokovic could withdraw from the tie in Belgrade scheduled for July 15 to 17.

Murray will have already converted to the grass-court season with Queen's and Wimbledon high on his agenda, while the Olympics and the US Open take place on hard courts, meaning he could play three consecutive competitions on three different surfaces.

Asked if the decision to play their Davis Cup tie on clay could potentially alter his commitment, Murray replied: "Potentially. I need to see how my body is first.

"I leave now to go away next week to Madrid, it's pretty much full on through until the Olympics for the next few months.

"It is a number of surface changes in a very short space of time, so you never know how the body is going to react or how it's going to pull up after those changes.

"I'll just have to see how my body is. Hopefully I'll be fine, but it's going to be a tough few months and I think all the players are aware of that right now.

"The more surface changes that are put in there makes it that bit more tricky."
Source: AFP