Thursday 8 October 2015 15:47, UK
Following Great Britain's Davis Cup semi-final win over Australia, we picked out five questions from this weekend's matches in Glasgow.
Sky Sports expert Barry Cowan offered his view on Andy Murray's exciting end to the year, the rise of brother Jamie, and the possibility of a final against Belgium on clay.
Can Andy Murray play in the ATP World Tour Finals and the Davis Cup final?
For the Belgians, I think they are better on a medium paced hard court, but they are not going to want to choose a slow hard court, because that is where Andy will come to the fore and it will be an almost identical surface to the ATP World Tour Finals. Clay would be the sensible option because both Murray's are likely to play at the O2 Arena and what a quick turnaround it's going to be for Andy, especially if he does well at the O2, to then play on clay potentially five days later.
Something that Roger Federer did last year, because the Davis Cup final was on clay in France at the end of 2014, Roger identified a week in the middle of October where he actually spent three or four days practicing on the clay.
That would be a really smart move for Andy. It would be very difficult if he hadn't practised on clay to go straight from the O2 and then play his best tennis on a different surface, having not played on it since the French Open. It will be interesting to see his schedule.
Are both Murray's crucial for Great Britain's title bid?
I thought Andy and Jamie Murray played exceptionally well and they complement each other brilliantly. In doubles, Andy is even more dangerous on the return because he takes the ball so early, while Jamie volleys and moves excellently at the net. The fact they are brothers and know each other so well helps you when you are going through difficult moments.
Jamie reached the doubles final at both the US Open and Wimbledon. He's had some tough moments when his ranking has dropped, but he's found a regular partner in John Peers week-in-week-out. He's built up confidence while winning a lot of matches and he's carried that through to the Davis Cup in the last two matches when he's been exceptional.
Could Nick Kyrgios have saved Australia?
Personally, I don't think Nick Kyrgios would have made any difference to the eventual result of the tie. That's how I felt at the start. Whether it had been Kyrgios playing or Lleyton Hewitt, you would back Andy to win both singles.
Kyrgios is capable of coming out in a match, closing his eyes and winning against anyone - as he has shown on a couple of occasions already. But the way that Andy is playing at the moment, I didn't expect Murray to lose a singles match, irrespective of who he played.
I think Australia captain Wally Masur has been fair to Nick. What happened did affect him, he looked jaded. For Australia it wasn't to be, but their time will come, they've got a young and promising team.
Who else will make up the GB team?
I was surprised that Dan Evans was picked. He was selected because he had won a lot of matches, but so had Kyle Edmund. I think he was also picked because he had beaten Bernard Tomic two years ago, but Tomic was terrible that day in the US Open.
If the final is on clay, then I don't think Evans will be picked again. Then it will come down to James Ward and Kyle. Leon will go on form and it's up to them to go out there and impress and there is no better motivation than the prospect of playing in a Davis Cup final. That is their Grand Slam final and this is going to be the most important weekend of their lives. If it was on clay, I would go for Kyle. As it stands, he has shown this year that he's a player that has improved week after week.
Can Great Britain win the Davis Cup?
Yes, definitely. We'll be the favourites, Belgium have snuck through the back door and have been fortunate with their draw. They have beaten Switzerland without Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, Canada without Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil and an Argentina team that is nowhere near the glory days of five and 10 years ago. But the advantage that Belgium do have is they are at home and since Leon has been captain, 10 of our 13 ties have been at home. The fact they get to choose the surface is an advantage, but I still think the players will prevail and win.
