USA vs. Great Britain: Schedule, Live Stream and Davis Cup Predictions
Andy Murray leads Great Britain in their first home World Group Davis Cup tie since 2002 this weekend as they take on the USA in a first-round clash in Glasgow.
In a rematch of last year's first-round encounter—which Great Britain won 3-1 in San Diego—Murray is joined in Leon Smith's team by his brother, Jamie, along with James Ward and Dom Inglot.
US skipper Jim Courier has called up world-beating doubles team Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, as well as Donald Young and world No. 20 John Isner.
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Read on for predictions ahead of what is sure to be a closely-fought clash in Glasgow, as well as scheduling and live streaming information.
| Date | Fixtures |
| March 6 | Andy Murray vs. Donald Young |
| March 6 | James Ward vs. John Isner |
| March 7 | Dom Inglot and Jamie Murray vs. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan |
| March 8 | John Isner vs. Andy Murray |
| March 8 | James Ward vs. Donald Young |
Live streaming is available via Eurosport Player and BBC iPlayer in the UK and The Tennis Channel in the US, with proceedings beginning at 1 p.m. GMT/8 a.m. ET each day.
Home Advantage Set to Favour Great Britain
At the same stage last year, Great Britain overcame the USA at the San Diego Padres baseball stadium in front of what was a somewhat placid crowd.
Such a serene atmosphere is sure not to be repeated this weekend when 7,500 people pack the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, the vast majority of whom will be backing the home side.
This could prove essential in deciding the outcome of what is a very evenly matched tie. Indeed, Smith is planning to use the home crowd to spur his side toward victory, per BBC Sport's Piers Newbury:
"I think when we played the Americans last year they perhaps didn't make the most of home advantage in terms of atmosphere, and we will."
World No. 5 Murray has not competed in his home country since 2011, and he is likely to receive deafening support, along with his brother, Jamie, who returns to the Davis Cup team for the first time since the same year.
It is set to be an emotionally charged occasion if the pair join to take on the world No. 1 Bryan brothers in Saturday's doubles, a potentially galvanising factor for Team GB.
However, despite Andy's obvious quality and his knowledge of Jamie's game, the Bryans should prevail in Saturday's rubber, given their status and quality in world doubles.
Should the Murray brothers not play in the doubles, Inglot's participation alongside Jamie could be key, given his recent record against the Bryans, per BBC Sport's Russell Fuller, but Smith may yet bank on the strength of familial bonds:
Equally, Murray should prevail in both of his singles matches against Isner and Young, his form in 2015 having been improved upon since last season, and the 27-year-old two-time Grand Slam winner is clearly raring to go, per Newbury:
"It's the biggest home tie that I've played. Because tickets sold out quickly, it shows that there's a passion here for the sport. I would expect that they'll get right into it. It looks like a great arena, it's the perfect size. If it's packed I'm sure they'll make a lot of noise and get right behind the team.
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World No. 20 Isner is also expected to see off the challenge of Ward, meaning the British No. 2's clash with Young could be the deciding factor.
The pair met on grass last year and Young won fairly easily in straight sets, but it will be a different scenario altogether at the weekend.
As tennis writer David Law notes, Ward should have a better chance against Young than a number of other US opponents who could have appeared in the first-round tie:
Given the home advantage, Great Britain should just be able to edge the US in one of the two key encounters—either the doubles or Ward's clash with Young—and take a second consecutive victory over the Americans in the Davis Cup.
Predicted Score: Great Britain 3-2 USA
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