Murray quits as GB's Fed Cup skipper

  • Posted: Mar 15, 2016

Judy Murray has stepped down as Great Britain’s Fed Cup captain after five years in the role.

BBC Sport understands she has decided the promotion play-off loss to Belgium in February was her last in charge.

The Scot, 56, has spoken about spending more time as a grandmother after son Andy became a father in February.

There is no obvious replacement, though former British number one Anne Keothavong, who played 39 Fed Cup ties, would be a strong candidate.

The 32-year-old retired three years ago to pursue a career in broadcasting.

Britain has been stuck in the second tier of the Fed Cup for 12 years.

In 2012 and 2013, they qualified for World Group play-off ties in Sweden and Argentina but lost both and had to return to the round robin stage the following year.

In 2014 and 2015, a wrist injury deprived the team of Laura Robson, while Johanna Konta withdrew this year to avoid “jeopardising an ongoing intestinal issue”.

Konta’s decision, which was made just a few days after she reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, is said to have dismayed the captain.

It is clear the format of the Fed Cup has proved a great frustration for Murray, along with the politics of the Lawn Tennis Association.

Her ideas often seem at odds with the direction the governing body has taken.

It has also become apparent she feels more should have been done to build on the success of both of her sons and a generation of talented Scottish players.

It remains to be seen how involved Murray will want to be in the future of British tennis.

Her contract with the LTA allowed her to spend time mentoring some of Britain’s most promising female coaches.

Murray’s Tennis on the Road programme, which promises to “bring tennis to a whole new generation of kids” in Scotland, is now supported by the LTA, too.

Her Miss-Hits scheme, which targets girls between the age of five and eight, was launched in partnership with the LTA in the summer of 2014.

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