General / Ralph Ellis / 31 January 2012 /

Andy Murray's performance in defeat against Novak Djokovic was a superb one but in the aftermath of it, there's talk of him missing a Davis Cup tie and taking an extended break. Has anything changed or is this the same old Murray, asks Ralph Ellis.

Well that didn't take long. There was everybody talking about all the differences Ivan Lendl might make to Andy Murray, and he's already missed out at the first, and possibly most crucial, hurdle.

Britain's number one tennis player, it seems, will in the next day or so announce that he will be once again dipping out on the chance to be Britain's number one in the Davis Cup tie next week in Glasgow. The event is being staged in Scotland principally to cash in on local fervour for Murray, but he won't be there.

Instead when the match against the might of Slovakia in the Euro/Africa zone starts next week in the Braehead Arena, he'll be "resting" before going to Florida to start work with Lendl. And it means that instead of Leon Smith's promoted side having a guaranteed two points in the tie with one more to find, they'll be battling to avoid getting shoved back down the world rankings again. Slovakia's two top players Lukas Lacko and Karol Beck, ranked 97 and 100 respectively, would be meat and drink to Murray, even with a niggling injury. But you have to look down another 55 places to find Jamie Ward who will now be leading the way.

There was much said in Australia about how Lendl's influence had helped keep Murray more calm on court. And maybe so. But what he really needs is to be got into a proper work ethic and out of the idea that he can pick and choose his tournaments and focus on the "big ones". Until Murray wins a Grand Slam, then every contest is a big one for him, just as it once was for Lendl.

I can remember cowering through a thunderstorm in a big tent in Beckenham one year on the build-up to Wimbledon with Lendl, who was burning with desire to win the one major that always eluded him. We sat and watched the rain pour down together, and he was taking the weather as a personal slight that was stopping him getting his game to perfection, even if it would have been in front of a crowd that consisted of about six middle aged ladies.

It's that desire to compete and perform every week of the year that Murray's new coach needs to transmit. He's been employed to make the difference from nearly there to getting there. The aim is to give some profit to anybody brave enough to back a Murray Grand Slam event win at anything up to [4.90] on the specials market.

I worry that instead he's already allowed his charge to take the soft option of a week or two off after his epic defeat to Novak Djokovic. There was no disgrace in that performance, but the acid test is what comes next. The last two years Murray has done heroic things in Melbourne, then nursed his wounds and lost his fitness and focus for a month or two.

If Murray goes through with his threat not to play in Glasgow, then there's no doubt he'll be letting his country down. He'll also be letting down the Scots who have already bought tickets expecting to cheer him on. But what's worse, he'll be letting his own ambitions down too.

Five things you might not know about Karol Beck

1. Born April 1982 in the central Slovakian town of Zvolen, where he still lives. His dad has managed his tennis career.

2. He rose to number 36 in the world before failing a drugs test in 2006 when he tested positive for Clenbuterol. He claimed his drinks were spiked in a nightclub, but was banned for two years.

3. On his return he got into Wimbledon as a lucky loser because Rafa Nadal withdrew on the eve of the tournament through injury. He won a five-set match before going out in the second round.

4.He is coached by former Slovak Davis Cup player Jan Kroslak - and has an ex ice hockey pro Michal Kovarcik as his fitness trainer.

5. He's involved in promoting snooker in Slovakia and names Ronnie O'Sullivan as his favourite player - although he says his own best break is two reds and one colour.

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