Lloyd backs Murray to return

Davis Cup captain John Lloyd said he believed that Andy Murray was still fully committed to his side even though the British number one is skipping the nation's first World Group tie in four years.
Davis Cup captain John Lloyd said he believed that Andy Murray was still fully committed to his side even though the British number one is skipping the nation's first World Group tie in four years.

"He's played in all the matches that I've been involved in so far, so as far as I'm concerned he is [committed]," Lloyd told the BBC.

"He says he's very disappointed and obviously I take him at his word on that. I don't think he would pull out unless there was an injury, why would he? This is a great occasion for him."

Murray pulled out of the contest against a highly touted Argentine side citing a knee injury that his trainer said has limited his movement.

The world number 12 did not, however, tell Lloyd personally about the decision to skip the tie.

"I think he's very disappointed, he says he is, and we're waiting to hear from him," Lloyd said.

"The team is very disappointed but what can you do? It's one of those things."

The 20-year-old Scot Murray lost in the first-round of the Australian Open to eventual runner-up and unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his most recent competitive match.

With the absence of Britain's only top-100 singles player, Lloyd is forced to field a second-tier team against an Argentina squad that includes two players in the top 25 and four in the top 30.

"It will be Alex Bogdanovic and Jamie Baker in the singles, and Jamie Murray and Ross Hutchins in the doubles," said Lloyd.

"The team picks itself now, no surprises. They know their positions and what they have to do and we'll adjust our practise sessions accordingly, that's all we can do."