Lloyd - I'm happy with the draw
Date published :
04 Mar 2010 - 15:08:27
Great Britain Davis Cup captain John Lloyd insists he is happy to send debutant James Ward in at the deep end in this weekend's tie in Lithuania.
Thursday's draw pitched debutant Ward against Lithuanian number two Laurynas Grigelis in the opening match of the Europe/Africa Zone Group Two tie at the Vitas Gerulaitis Tennis Centre in Vilnius. Ward's match will kick off the action on Friday morning, with Dan Evans up against Lithuania's top man Ricardas Berenkis.
"Everybody's feeling good, I'm happy with the draw," Lloyd told the LTA website. "I think it's good for us that Wardy makes his debut and goes off first without having to wait around the locker room. He goes up against their number two, who's a good player, but if he plays the way he's been practising and focuses on his side of the court, he should do well."
He added: "Dan is also hitting the ball well. He's the underdog on paper but if he had to play Berenkis in a Challenger or Futures event, he wouldn't be thinking 'that's a terrible draw'.
"It's just getting in Davis Cup mode, playing another opponent across the net, and not thinking about all the other stuff."
Doubles duo Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski will be in doubles action on Saturday afternoon, with Ward and Evans in their reverse singles on Sunday morning. Ross Hutchins completes Britain's squad.
