Murray swaps racquet for football boots in Davis Cup warm-up

Andy Murray and his Great Britain team-mates swapped tennis racquets for football boots on Monday as they warmed up for their Davis Cup semi-final against Australia by taking on Scottish champions Celtic in a crossbar challenge.

Murray and company are in Glasgow preparing for the start of the Davis Cup tie on Friday, but they took their minds off that crunch clash when they travelled to Celtic Park for a team-bonding exercise.

Each player had to try and hit the crossbar with a shot from just outside the penalty area, with former Wimbledon champion Murray, his brother Jamie, James Ward, Dom Inglot, Kyle Edmund and team captain Leon Smith all trying their luck for Britain.

They were up against Celtic players including Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay Steven and manager Ronny Deila.

After a series of near misses, Celtic coach John Kennedy won the challenge with his second shot in "sudden death".

Smith jokingly said he hopes the defeat isn't a bad omen as Britain look to reach the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1978.

"When you've got such a big match coming up at the weekend it's good to try and do some other things just to alleviate some of the pressure and stress," he said.

"It was brilliant and the guys had a great time.

"I was the worst, there's no doubt about that, I completely shanked my first shot.

"I would say Andy Murray is the best (football) player. When we play five-a-sides he shines out, but I'm going to say that aren't I?"
Source: AFP