• Davis Cup

Lloyd issues war cry

ESPN staff
March 4, 2010
John Lloyd needs the backing of Andy Murray if he is to remain as Britain's Davis Cup captain © Getty Images
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John Lloyd admits defeat to Lithuania could signal the end of his reign as Great Britain's Davis Cup captain.

Defeat to Poland last September saw them relegated to Group II of the Europe and Africa Zone, and failure to beat Lithuania would hand Lloyd the unenviable record of being the first Great Britain Davis Cup captain in 110 years to lose five successive ties.

With the pressure on to avoid a third relegation in as many seasons, Lloyd is all too aware that defeat would prompt calls for his head. Andy Murray, the only British player ranked in the top 100 has chosen not to compete in the tie, but Lloyd is all too aware that the world No. 4's comments would have a bearing on his future.

"I know that if we lose, there will be calls for me to go, I'm realistic enough to know that," Lloyd told The Times." I don't know if I'll want to carry on. I would have to see if I had the support of the locker room and that would obviously involve Andy [Murray] as well. He may be taking Davis Cup on a match-by-match basis, but he's the superstar and what he says will have an enormous bearing."

But with youngsters Dan Evans and James Ward carrying the nation's expectation on their shoulders, Lloyd has called for his players to step up and make Britain proud.

"I want to see our boys walk on to that court with shoulders back and heads high," he said. "This is a very winnable tie and they have to embrace it in every way."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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