Sports Then and Now

Alex Bogdanovic is competing for a spot on the English Davis Cup team.

British number six Alex Bogdanovic will compete for one of two singles spots in the Great British Davis Cup team  for the match against Tunisia next month. The Great Britain squad are slight tennis betting favorites after winning their last tie.

Bogdanovic has been absent from the team since 2008, but with Andy Murray declaring himself unavailable for the tie, he will compete against James Ward and Jamie Baker for a spot on the squad. The doubles specialists Colin Fleming and Jamie Murray complete the five-man squad for the tie in Bolton, which starts on the 4th March.

Having been dropped from the team at the start of 2009 after not winning a singles rubber since 2003, he declared himself unavailable later that year to concentrate on improving his world ranking. The world number 378 has seemingly had a change of heart as he contends for a spot on the team for the Europe/Africa zone group II.

He will come up against World number 212 Ward and Jamie Baker, ranked 401, both who helped Great Britain halt a run of five consecutive defeats by beating Turkey in a relegation play-off last year. With the highest ranking, Ward is being backed by the majority of tennis bets to secure a spot.

Captain Leon Smith is looking forward to working with the squad and believes Great Britain have all the elements required to be successful in the competition. “This is a team with the experience, ability and passion to win this tie,” Smith said. “Hard work and a good team spirit will also be key to a successful start to our 2011 campaign.

“I’m really looking forward to the match and I am sure the home fans will get behind the team to ensure a good result,” he added.

The winner of the tie against Tunisia will go forward to face the victor in the game between Ireland and Luxembourg in the second round.