Murray to skip Davis Cup match

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON -- Andy Murray will miss Britain's Davis Cup match against Slovakia next month after sustaining "a few injuries" during his run to the Australian Open semifinals.

The fourth-ranked Murray, who lost to eventual winner Novak Djokovic in a five-set match in Melbourne, says it is "probably a sensible decision" to pull out of the zonal group matches ahead of a busy year that also includes the London Olympics.

With Britain's leading player missing, captain Leon Smith selected James Ward, Dan Evans, Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins for the Feb. 10-12 match in the first round of Euro/Africa Zone Group I.

The match will be played in Glasgow.

Britain beat Hungary in September to gain promotion from Group II and Smith says "we go into the tie knowing Slovakia will be favourites."