Cash backing for local ace

Daniel Smethurst

TENNIS: FORMER Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has urged Great Britain’s Davis Cup captain John Lloyd to take a punt on rising Failsworth tennis ace Dan Smethurst in the not too distant future.

Despite Andy Murray’s absence, Smethurst missed out on selection for the upcoming Europe/Africa Zone Group Two match against Lithuania, although he is the current British No.7.

Smethurst (pictured) has enjoyed a successful start to his 2010 season reaching the final of a Spanish Futures event and taking his world ranking to a career-best of 425.

Although not turning 20 until October, Cash - who became the youngest Davis Cup finalist in 1983 – believes the Oldham teenager should be thrown in at the deep end sooner rather than later.

“If a youngster like Dan is thrown in and he is annihilated then that can destroy his confidence, and even his career,” said 1987 Wimbledon winner, Cash, who is supporting the Barclays Ball Kids initiative.

“But at the same time you need all the help you can get to reach the next level and if he can cope with a few knocks then I think he should be given the opportunity.

“There is a fair chance he would lose early on, but that is part of the education process.

“What you don’t want is someone to be beaten all ends up and for them to be filled with fear.

“A defeat that you can learn from is not the worst thing a young player can suffer. But at 19 it is more a question of personality rather than anything else.

“It very much depends on the situation because different youngsters have very different personalities.”

Smethurst’s future participation in the Davis Cup was given a boost last month when British No.1 Murray revealed that he would be relinquishing his role within the team.

Britain were relegated from Europe/Africa Zone Group One after losing 3-2 to Poland six months, despite the presence of Murray who claimed both victories.

And Cash admitted Murray’s absence has paved a way for Smethurst to make his Davis Cup debut before too long.

“The door isn’t shut on anyone but Andy’s absence is a great chance for people to put their hands up and be a leader in British tennis,” added Cash.

“There are two places up for grabs now and Britain have been on the slide for so long that I think if you get the chance and you show you can win matches then they’ll gladly keep you in there.

“The Davis Cup is a great competition with a superb atmosphere and one of the greatest moments of my career was playing in it.”




PAT CASH is supporting the Barclays Ball Kids initiative, a national search to find 30 youngsters to be Ball Kids at the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November.



For more info visit www.barclaysballkids.com