Laurence Dollimore
KYLE Edmund will lead Great Britain’s team in their challenging Davis Cup tie against Spain in Marbella.
It comes after the rising star reached the Australian Open semi-finals this week.
Captain Leon Smith confirmed the team today, with Cameron Norrie, Liam Broady, Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot joining Edmund for the three-day World Group first-round tie, which starts on February 2.
Smith, who watched Edmund beat world No 3 Grigor Dimitrov to reach the semis of a slam for the first time, said: “I’ve not got a fixed mindset [about the second singles spot].
“Liam and Cam have played nothing on clay; that’s the bottom line. So you don’t know how they’re going to react to it.
“Whoever goes out to play as a No 2 against what will be a really high-level opponent, it’s about them giving everything they’ve got, learning from it and hopefully leaving a better tennis player.”
Edmund is now the team’s pivotal player, in the absence of Andy Murray, who is recovering from hip surgery.
Rafael Nadal has already made himself unavailable, but Smith said: “It’s the toughest draw. They are the most difficult team – whoever they pick.”
Great Britain last played Spain in 1986, winning 4-1 in Telford.
The winners face Australia or Germany in the quarter-finals from 6-8 April.
The losers drop into the World Group play-offs from 14-16 September.
