2016 Davis Cup 'difficult'

GB, who take on Belgium in this weekend's final, have already been drawn to host Japan in March, the tie coming shortly after Murray is due to become a father for the first time.

The Scot expects the Birmingham meeting with Japan, and possibly their star man Kei Nishikori, to be his comeback event after more than a month away from the tour following the Australian Open.

However, next season also sees the defence of Murray's Olympic title, an event which adds to an already packed tennis calendar.

The slots for the quarter-finals and semi-finals are the same as this year - coming straight after Wimbledon and the US Open respectively. The Olympics are sandwiched in between.

As a result, organisers of the Davis Cup are braced for some below-strength sides to be named for those last-eight and last-four ties and Murray, in a question-and-answer session for BBC Sport, suggested he would be unlikely to play if GB get that far.

He said: "The plan is to play the first tie against Japan in March, and then it will be difficult.

"If we win (in round one), the tie after Wimbledon but before the Olympics is not easy timing. Both the Davis Cup and the Olympics events are important, both are for your country, but it's better to prepare properly for one rather than a little bit for both.

"I would rather prepare as best I can for one and give it my best shot. I'll definitely be playing the tie against Japan, that's for sure, and then after that we'll have to see what happens with my schedule."

With Murray having played such a major role in GB's run to the final this year, his comments suggest any successful title defence would prove very difficult, although by next July current world number 45 Aljaz Bedene could be eligible to play.

The Slovenia-born British number two is due to find out in March if he can compete for his adopted country having previously represented the country of his birth.

The good news is that should Murray help the team to victory over Japan, GB would keep their place in the World Group for the 2017 campaign. A loss, however, in March would lead to a relegation play-off to be played in the same week as the semi-finals.
Source :AFP