Andy Murray has been restored to Great Britain’s Davis Cup team for the group stage Finals against Australia, France and Switzerland in Manchester next month.
The three-time Grand Slam champion and Wimbledon winner was left out of the squad for their 3-1 win against Colombia in February and has been in and out of the set-up due to injury over recent years.
Murray, 36, helped Britain on their way to their first Davis Cup win in 79 years back in 2015 — the same year he won four different ATP titles — and despite going out in the second round of Wimbledon in July, he is still a huge addition to the squad set to play right here in Manchester next month.
Kicking off on 12 September, Team GB will compete against the other three teams in Group B to qualify for a place in the finals which will be played in Malaga in November.
Andy Murray rounds off Great Britain’s 2023 Davis Cup squad
British no.1 Cam Norrie leads the squad alongside Wimbledon-winning double specialist, Neal Skupski, world no. 28 Dan Evans and Murray as Britain hopes to lift their 11th Davis Cup.
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Although they were eliminated in the group stages last year, Team Captain Leon Smith has insisted that having Murray back in the squad should give a real boost to their chances.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said, “Having Andy in the team is great. He’s the senior statesman, the one who has been there and done it, but we’re also fortunate we’ve got Cam who is top 15 in the world, and who has been top 10 recently and reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year.”
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“Dan has had a tough year but he won the Washington title recently – an ATP 500 event – that is the first time he has won at that level”, he continued, “and our fourth player is Neal who has just picked up the Wimbledon doubles title and is number one in the world.” Not a bad little lineup at all.
As for playing here in Manchester, Smith told the LTA: “It’s been a long time since we played in the North West and I’m sure we are going to feel and hear a lot of energy from the fans.” You know we’ll do our bit to put in a good performance, don’t worry about that mate.
If you fancy our chances of success in the 2023 Davis Cup, you can catch all the games from 12-17 September at the AO Arena in Manchester and, better yet, adult tickets start from just a tenner.
Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Danny Jones -
15th August 2023 
