THE road to Roland Garros and Wimbledon does not run through Coventry for Andy Murray but for the rest of the British team this week's Davis Cup tie offers the opportunity to assess form and fitness against a Russian side who will be strong favourites to progress to the world group play-off in September.
If ultimate victory may prove to be beyond the British players in the Ricoh Arena at the weekend, then there is still much at stake for James Ward, Jamie Baker, Colin Fleming and Jonny Marray.
Marray, of course, has trumped Murray in being a Wimbledon champion and he will pair up with Fleming who has suffered the emotional strain of the illness to his friend and partner Ross Hutchins yet has won two ATP titles this season. This is a top-class pairing that stands a reasonable chance in the doubles rubber.
By picking Baker and Ward, Leon Smith, the Great Britain captain, has rewarded both hard work and a progression up the rankings.
Russia captain Shamil Tarpischev has named two top-100 players, Dmitry Tursunov and Evgeny Donskoy, in his squad with former top-35 player Igor Kunitsyn and 20-year-old Victor Baluda.
Ward, ranked 208, and Baker, ranked 209, should therefore have little chance in the singles rubbers but Smith will assess them closely, mindful of the chance both have to secure wild cards for Wimbledon.
The irrepressible Baker, of course, made the main draw of the first major of the season when he came through three qualifying rounds at the Australian Open. He will arrive in Coventry after an unsuccessful tilt at a Challenger event in Guadeloupe but insistent that he can make an impression both in Coventry and beyond.
At 26, the Scot is determined to make the most of his recovery from a severe blood disorder and stomach surgery. He kept Andy Roddick on court at Wimbledon for more than three hours last year and then joined Murray at the world No 3's training camp in Miami in the winter. Baker, who has been friends with his fellow Scot for more than 20 years, enjoyed the opportunity to watch the US Open champion at close quarters and has been inspired by Murray's dedication to his sport.
Baker is not short of this quality and two matches in Coventry can also provide evidence of his technical improvement.
Murray and Baker will not meet in Coventry. The latter, though, will hope that auld acquaintance can be renewed in Paris and at SW19.
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