• Davis Cup

Murray 'should be desperate to play in Davis Cup'

ESPN staff
September 19, 2011
Great Britain's Davis Cup team have recorded four successive wins © Getty Images
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Leon Smith, Great Britain's Davis Cup captain, claims relegation to Europe/Africa Zone Group II was of benefit to his team.

Great Britain returned to Group I after completing a 5-0 whitewash of Hungary over the weekend - their fourth Davis Cup victory in a row.

And with Great Britain now one promotion away from a place in the coveted World Group, Smith says players should be queuing up to play for the team.

"[Relegation] told us where we were at," Smith said. "It wasn't good enough. Even now, we're still not where we want to be in men's tennis, but it's the start of something. At least we've got some great ties to look forward to, and the players should now be desperate to be part of that team."

Meanwhile, Switzerland earned a place in the World Group when Stanislas Wawrinka beat Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 4-6 6-4 7-6(7) 4-6 6-3, giving the Swiss a 3-2 triumph.

In the world rankings, Mardy Fish has climbed up to a career-high No. 7, while Juan Martin Del Potro is up to No. 13 after inspiring Argentina to a Davis Cup victory over Serbia.

Men's rankings: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB), 2. Rafael Nadal (SPA), 3. Roger Federer (SUI), 4. Andy Murray (GBR), 5. David Ferrer (SPA), 6. Robin Soderling (SWE), 7. Mardy Fish (USA), 8. Gael Monfils (FRA), 9. Tomas Berdych (CZE), 10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA).

Women's: 1. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN), 2. Maria Sharapova (RUS), 3. Victoria Azarenka (BLR), 4. Vera Zvonareva (RUS), 5. Li Na (CHN), 6. Petra Kvitova (CZE), 7. Sam Stosur (AUS), 8. Francesca Schiavone (ITA), 9. Kim Clijsters (BEL), 10. Marion Bartoli (FRA).

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