An energy-sapping summer of tennis isn’t quite over for Andy Murray.
His last task is potentially playing three matches – two singles and a doubles – for Britain in a Davis Cup semifinal against Argentina, starting on Friday, to keep his country on course for a second straight title.
“I’ll try and fight as hard as I can this weekend and help the team as much as possible,” Murray said on Thursday, “and then I’ve got a break after that, which I need.”
Since May, Murray has won Wimbledon, the Olympic tournament, the Italian Open, and Queen’s, as well as losing in three finals, including at the French Open.
The Davis Cup is a big deal to Murray, though, and he is back for the semifinals after missing the last-eight win over Serbia straight after Wimbledon.
Murray will open the semifinal in Glasgow with a singles against Juan Martin del Potro, in a replay of the Olympic final won by Murray in four sets last month. Kyle Edmund takes on Guido Pella in the second singles.
On Saturday, Murray will partner his brother, Jamie, in the doubles against Federico Delbonis and Leonardo Mayer.
In reverse singles on Sunday, Andy Murray plays Pella, and Del Potro takes on Edmund.
“He’s a very robust guy, both physically and mentally,” Britain captain Leon Smith said of Murray’s potential workload, “so don’t be surprised to see him do it.”
Murray will miss his grandfather’s funeral on Friday to play in the Davis Cup.
Britain is attempting to retain the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936, having won the tournament for the first time in 79 years in November.
“This is going to be a very, very tough weekend for us to win this one but all the players want to get through it and it’s a big goal for all of us,” Murray said. “Trying to reach another Davis Cup final would be a fantastic achievement.
“There have been so many big events in the last few months and it’s been difficult to sort of prioritize every single one, but at the end of a long summer, if we get through this one, you know, we’ve got an opportunity to win again so we’ll give it everything this weekend.”
Murray and Del Potro are the countries’ top players, so would usually expect to play each other on Sunday. However, Del Potro is ranked a lowly No. 64 as he works his way back from a long absence during which he underwent three operations on his wrist.
“His comeback is good for the world of tennis,” Argentina captain Daniel Orsanic said, “so you can imagine what it means for us Argentinians.”
It’s Croatia vs. France in the other semifinal.
