Judy Murray says players and fans will “vote with their feet” when it comes to this week’s new-look Davis Cup.
The old system of home and away ties has been done away with in a change led by Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique’s investment company.
Instead, a week-long event is taking place in Madrid.
Both resurgent three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray and his brother Jamie, a doubles specialist, are part of the Great Britain team – one of 18 nations spread across six groups in the Spanish capital.
Britain get under way against the Netherlands tomorrow. Top-10 player Alexander Zverev has decided not to compete for Germany, saying the new format isn’t the Davis Cup.
However, Judy Murray thinks it has to be given a chance, explaining: “It’ll be interesting to see how it’s received by the players and the fans.
“I think the Davis Cup was in need of some kind of revamp, but what I always loved about it was the home and away ties, the atmosphere which was created.
“Especially if it was a home tie – we were fortunate to have a few matches in Glasgow, which created a real buzz around tennis in Scotland.
“I think we’ll really miss that, but you just have to give it a chance and see.
“People vote with their feet, the players and the fans.”
Great Britain won the Davis Cup in 2015, with the partisan Glasgow support a notable part of their run.
The Judy Murray Foundation was in Inverurie yesterday and – in partnership with the Inverurie Youth Sports Foundation and Aberdeenshire Council – put on tennis coaching education sessions at Garioch Sports Centre.
The aim was to educate more than 50 primary and secondary school staff in the basics of teaching tennis to children.
Three indoor tennis courts are set to be built at the centre as part of expansion work which starts next year.
Murray says the aim is to build a “workforce” to deliver tennis coaching and make the most of the new facilities.
She explained: “For tennis to work in Scotland, you really need to be able to play 12 months a year. “In the north, there’s a David Lloyd club and ,pay to play, at Westburn in Aberdeen, but there hasn’t been anything else.”
Murray added: “What we’ve said is we’re looking for anyone with a pair of trainers and enthusiasm to deliver tennis in their local curriculum.
“We’re happy with anyone who comes along.
“Tennis is not a big sport up here for obvious reasons, with the facilities and the weather’s tough in the winter.
“With the indoor courts coming, there’s an opportunity to grow the game in the area.
“Having the workforce is a way to make it sustainable once they’re here.”
