GREAT Britain will play host to Slovakia in their opening Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group One tie in February, with Braehead Arena in contention to host its third successive tie.
The venue near Glasgow has hosted the previous two Davis Cup ties, against Luxembourg and Hungary, a partnership which proved successful with the Lawn Tennis Association receiving near sell-out crowds and a large Scottish contingent including world No.4 Andy Murray, doubles specialist Colin Fleming and captain Leon Smith playing their part as Great Britain earned promotion into the second tier of the competition for the first time since 2009.
Yesterday’s draw means Britain will play a fifth successive home tie – with a potential meeting with Belgium in the next round as they endeavour to reach the World Group – but Slovakia represent a definite step up in class.
Their top-ranked player, Karol Beck, has not played Davis Cup since he failed a drugs test during a tie against Argentina six years ago, but Martin Klizan is also ranked in the top 100 while the No.3 Lukas Lacko is an experienced ATP tour player.
With the British No.2 James Ward likely to face a difficult task to win either of his singles rubbers, much will depend upon Murray fitting the event into his busy schedule and whether the doubles pairing Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins can maintain the form which has helped them to reach two grand slam quarter- finals this season.
Should Great Britain make it through, Belgium in April, featuring the likes of Olivier Rochus and Xavier Malisse, would represent a further hike in the standard of opponent.
“The tie against the Slovak Republic will be really tough,” said Smith. “They have two guys inside the world’s top 100 and a third player at 152, so they are strong in singles but it’s doubles where they have some particularly good options with three players inside the top 100. That said, with a home tie, we’ll be able to use the crowd to our advantage which will be really important if we’re to get off to a winning start. We know next year will be a real step up, but that’s exactly what we aimed for.”
Braehead, which was chosen ahead of the likes of Liverpool’s Echo Arena, the Bolton Arena and Eastbourne, was at 98% capacity last weekend, and the LTA were understood to be impressed by the turnout of the Scottish fans.
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