Scotland will make every effort to persuade Andy and Jamie Murray to pull on a Scottish vest at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year.
Tennis is making its Games debut and the qualifying period for all sports opens today. Precise tennis details have yet to be thrashed out, but leading Scottish players have been told the dates, with a view to making themselves available.
Pete Nicolson, who has just been appointed tennis team manager, is currently on holiday. "When I return, we're hoping to finalise the criteria," he said last night. "We may not field a full team. The policy should be even across all sports, and the basic standard is top eight at the last Games. So we'd be looking for players able to make the top eight.
"It's too early to say about Andy and Jamie, but they know the event is on. I'd be disappointed if they wouldn't want to fit it into their schedule. If Andy was challenging for No.1 in the world, he wouldn't get any ranking points for the Commonwealth Games. That's the major downside.
"I know the guys would love to play if they possibly can, and it's a fantastic chance to showcase Scottish tennis if at all possible.
"They're waiting for us to go back and give them a lot more detail. Selection won't be an issue for them, but there are others like Colin Fleming, Jamie Baker, and Elena Baltacha who could be in the team, as well.
The Commonwealth event runs from October 4 to 10. This coincides with the China and Japan Opens, but the Shanghai Masters, which would be a must for Andy, starts on October 11. However, he could expect a first-round bye, which would give him two more days.
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