CAPTAIN Leon Smith is targeting another Davis Cup final after his Great Britain team continued their remarkable run in the competition with victory over Serbia.
Next up is a home tie against Argentina in September, and with Andy Murray having said he is planning to take part – after sitting out the tie in Belgrade following his Wimbledon victory – the holders are set to be favourites to advance to the final for a second year.
Glaswegian Smith, whose impressive record improved to 14 wins from 16 matches, said: “We absolutely love Davis Cup, they’re amazing weekends. We love our home ties, we have so much fun together as a team.
“It’s great to showcase our sport again, especially later in the year after our grass season has finished and we’ve got this huge event now.
“The journey keeps going and we’re enjoying it as much as the first tie we had as a team together, and we just want to keep going.”
A venue for the semi-final has yet to be announced, but it is very likely to be Glasgow. Scotland has not staged a tie yet this season and Murray is hosting a charity event at the Hydro three days after the tie on September 16-18. Argentina defeated Italy to book their place in the last four, with a key factor being the return to their team of former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, who was sidelined for two years by wrist problems.
But their highest-ranked player is Federico Delbonis at 43 and, with Kyle Edmund having proved his ability to win key rubbers at World Group level against Serbia and Britain boasting a superb record in doubles, there are few chinks in Smith’s side’s armour.
He said: “Argentina have good depth, a lot of good players. Del Potro coming back is obviously big for them. We’ll see how the rest of the summer goes for him because he’s obviously their most dangerous player.
“It’s going to be difficult but we are also a very good team. We saw what Kyle did at the weekend, Andy when he comes back in, Jamie [Murray] in the doubles, Dom [Inglot] in the doubles, we have good back-up as well when needed.”
At 21, Edmund is one of the leading young players in the world and showed great maturity in taking the number one role in Davis Cup for the first time in only his second tie and delivering for his country.
The Yorkshireman did not drop a set in two matches and, although he wobbled in sight of the finish line in what proved to be the decisive rubber against Dusan Lajovic on Sunday, he regained his composure and dominated with his heavy forehand. There is no rest for Edmund, who heads to Toronto tomorrow to play in qualifying for the Rogers Cup – which Murray looks set to miss – before making his Olympic debut in Rio.
It would be a surprise if his coming-of-age weekend did not have a positive impact, with Edmund saying: “These matches give you confidence. Different situations give you confidence. Knowing that you are able to keep your level in those situations.
“I’ve known that I’ve been improving, but on the match court is where you need it to count. There’s no point playing well in practice and then when you come to matches you don’t quite get it out there. It’s nice to be able to execute that.
“At the same time, there will be stuff I feel I could have done better. You are always trying to find that extra one or two per cent to make you better. It never stops. People don’t stop working. I certainly don’t.
“I will look to improve and take this experience and enjoy it. There are a lot of times you come off court and you’re a bit down on yourself because you feel the other guy played better. So you enjoy it and move on and get better.”
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