US Open 2016: Men’s success gives Great Britain’s Davis Cup skipper Leon Smith a nice headache

In action: Andy Murray faces Marcel Granollers this evening
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Paul Newman1 September 2016

It is the sort of problem that most Davis Cup captains would love to face. Given the continuing success of his best players, Leon Smith might soon start to wonder how much this US Open will take out of his men before next month’s semi-final against Argentina, which starts just five days after competition ends here.

Andy Murray and the two contenders for the second singles spot in Britain’s team for Glasgow, Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans, are all still going strong in the year’s concluding Grand Slam.

Edmund, a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 winner last night over American wildcard Ernesto Escobedo, became the first Briton to reach the third round, in which he will face the big-serving John Isner, while Murray and Evans have the chance this evening to join him in the last 32.

While Evans faces the rapidly improving German teenager Alexander Zverev late in the day on Court 5, Murray takes on the world No45, Marcel Granollers in the second match in Arthur Ashe Stadium, starting no earlier than 6pm UK time.

Edmund was the hero in Britain’s quarter-final victory over Serbia in Belgrade in July, while Evans has often risen to the occasion when playing for his country. Evans, the world No64, is currently ranked 20 places higher than Edmund, who could nevertheless bridge that gap at the end of this tournament.

Choosing between the pair could be a tricky choice for Smith, who could decide instead to select three singles players plus Jamie Murray, with a view to pairing the Murray brothers together rather than selecting another doubles specialist in Dominic Inglot.

“The more players and options you have, the better,” Andy Murray said. “Sometimes it’s easy when your team picks itself, but for the opposition it is a little bit harder to prepare if you don’t know exactly who you are going to play against.

“I’ve practised with Dan and Kyle in the last week or so and they’ve both been playing extremely well. Hopefully they can keep it going.”

Murray is encouraged by Britain’s strength in depth, adding: “A lot of different players over the last five, six years have had big results. Any time anyone has had to step in, they’ve done great.

“James Ward had a big win last year. Jamie has always done well in the doubles. Jamie and Dom had a great win in Serbia and last year, when we played America, they almost beat the Bryans and only lost a tight five-setter.

“Even a few years ago, Dan won big Davis Cup matches. Kyle in the final against Belgium in his first Davis Cup match played great against [David] Goffin, so really everyone has played their part.”

Murray has known his next opponent here since they were juniors. He has beaten the 30-year-old Spaniard in six of their seven meetings.

“He’s a tricky opponent and plays well on all surfaces,” Murray said. “No one plays like him really. He comes forward a lot and has great hands and a really good feel. He moves really well. Although he doesn’t have a lot of power from the back of the court, he uses a lot of spin on his forehand and then hits his backhand extremely flat, so he’s a tricky character to play against.”

Evans has never played Zverev but is aware of the threat the 6ft 6in German poses. “He hits a big ball and has a good serve,” Evans said. “He can take the racket out of my hand if the serve is working. I’ll have to be patient and take care of my own serve.”

US Open Tennis 2016 - In pictures

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The top half of the draw opened up when Ryan Harrison beat Milos Raonic 6-7, 7-5, 7-5, 6-1. Raonic was the third favourite to win the title behind Novak Djokovic and Murray, but suffered severe cramping in both arms to the point where he could not hold his racket properly, the latest in a succession of injuries which have scuppered the 25-year-old Canadian’s chances at the biggest events.

Harrison, 24, was hailed as a future American champion when he broke into the world’s top 100 five years ago, but the current world No120 struggled in the spotlight and had not won a Grand Slam match for three years until he beat Adrian Mannarino in the first round here on Monday.

Former world No1 Rafael Nadal secured his place in the last 32 when he beat Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-0, 7-5, 6-1.

The match saw the new retractable roof closed for the first time as rain started to fall in the second set.

Djokovic was handed a free passage into the third round and more time to recover from his recent wrist problem when the Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely withdrew because of an arm injury. Djokovic next meets the veteran Russian, Mikhail Youzhny.

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