The moment that Andy Murray first suggested that Davis Cup may become a hindrance to his personal ambitions, the British game had to accept it would have to become used to the kind of rude awakening that befell it at the Estadio Parque Roca in Buenos Aires this afternoon. When a crowd in Argentina cannot even get involved in a tennis match, we are in trouble. The straight sets defeats for Jamie Baker and Alex Bogdanovic were unpalatable in one respect but absolutely understandable in another.
Baker is ranked 235 in the world; Bogdanovic is 188, so to lose to players who are currently No.9 and No.41 is no surprise at all. David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri did exactly what was expected of them, to despatch the British foe with a minimum of fuss so that bread could be broken in the Argentine capital before it was too late in the day.
Whatever gloss people want to put on the outcome of day one - and Britain has to win the three remaining rubbers to move into the quarter finals of the world group - it was a humbling experience. The British side returned to the elite16 of the championship on the back of a victory last autumn at Wimbledon granted by Murray and Tim Henman against what was Croatia’s second team. Calleri would not have played singles for Argentina yesterday had the best players been fit - and yet he dropped five games to Bogdanovic.
Brad Gilbert, who was sacked by Murray in November, was supposed to have been retained by the LTA to work with Bogdanovic over the course of 12 tournaments this year. Yet where was he in Buenos Aires when the player needed him most? Ought not his paymasters have stipulated that he should be at his man’s side at this most imperative time for the national game?
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These results are not anyone’s fault. Everyone there in Argentina wearing British colours is trying as hard as they can. We are simply not good enough and no glossy PR brochures or implausible target setting or world-class sports science facilities at national tennis centres are going to make any difference whatsoever until we find kids who have the thirst to be as good as the very best, and the right people to help them on that journey, inspired to work together for the good of the game.