Andy Murray can 'get over' US Open exit in time for Davis Cup

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Andy MurrayImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Scotland's Andy Murray plays in the Davis Cup team in Glasgow next week

Davis Cup captain Leon Smith has backed Andy Murray to overcome his US Open disappointment and play an integral part in Great Britain's match with Australia.

Murray, who lost in the fourth round, is on the team for the Davis Cup semi-final in Glasgow from 18 September.

"He's going to be obviously very disappointed," Smith told BBC Sport.

"Andy's so professional, he'll have to lick his wounds, get over the disappointment."

Murray's bid to win the US Open for a second time was ended in the fourth round with a four-sets loss to 15th seed Kevin Anderson.

However, Smith is in no doubt that Murray has another Grand Slam win in him.

"He is playing great tennis," said Smith. "He is number three in the world, close to number two spot.

Murray's 2015 Grand Slam record

Tournament

Result

Australian Open

Runner-up

French Open

Semi-finals

Wimbledon

Semi-finals

US Open

Fourth Round

"What more can you say? Semis at Wimbledon, semis in Paris, final of the Australian Open, just a few weeks ago we are singing his praises because he wins in Montreal after beating Novak Djokovic.

"It's an on-going consistency at the highest level of the game. He hasn't won one this year but he's as close as ever and next year will be no different, so of course he can win one."

More immediately, Murray and team-mates Jamie Murray, Dom Inglot, James Ward and Kyle Edmund will bid to reach the final for Great Britain for only the second time since 1937.

"Andy's had a very, very good year," said Smith about Murray, whose fourth-round US Open exit was the first time since 2010 that he had not reached at least the last eight at a Grand Slam.

"It was a tough loss for him against Kevin Anderson, who did play a great match.

"He did it so unbelievably well in our last tie against France, where he (went onto) lose a really tough match to Roger Federer in Cincinnati and that was a tough one for him to take but then a few days later, he's back in the practice court in great spirits enjoying the week and he put in a phenomenal three-day performance to get us the points required to move to the semi-finals.

"He'll have a bit more time now to rest and recover and then join up with the team maybe at the weekend in Scotland. He'll enjoy it like he always does and the Aussies will know he's going to be very, very difficult to beat.

"I think he's in great form this year and he'll take it into the weekend."

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Andy Murray was frustrated as he lost to South Africa's Kevin Anderson in New York

Australia will be without Nick Kyrgios, who Murray defeated in the first round in New York. He has been replaced by Bernard Tomic.

After playing in events in Washington, Montreal, Cincinnati and the US Open, Murray conceded he is tired, but Smith is unconcerned by that admission.

Smith said: "He's played a lot of tennis but the good thing is he's playing great. I'd rather someone playing a lot of matches that's coming with a bit of tiredness than someone that's not winning any matches and is fresh. It's a no-brainer.

"He'll just have some additional days now. Getting an extra four, five days recovery is quite a lot from what they're used to so it will help him prepare for Davis Cup."