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Andy Murray loves his boxing so much that when you throw the name into the conversation, one of the most obscure British sportsmen of recent years, he can immediately tell you that he's the journeyman from Birmingham who retired recently with a memorable record of 32 wins and 256 losses.

He reads his and knows his British champions, world champions, great fights, the lot.

Murray also knows that if you get the chance to visit the legendary , you don't pass up the chance.

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He is in a hazardous place, Andy Murray, and he doesn't need reminding of that.

No confidence, no explanation. These slumps emphasise fallibility, weaken locker room reputation and raise more questions about his ability to mix it with the very best when it really matters.

He knows how badly he's been playing ("I've messed up," was just one of his quotes following defeat by Alex Bogomolov on Friday), so what is important now is the future. What is he going to do about it?

He has an "advisor" and a "traveling companion" but can either or legitimately claim to be his coach? Corretja wasn't in Australia or Miami. Vallverdu has no experience.

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When Stefan Edberg pulled out, they brought in Mark Philippoussis, and when John McEnroe called in sick, Ivan Lendl answered the call.

The which culminates at the Royal Albert Hall in December, is clearly a tournament with friends in high places and - judging by the profusion of magnums in the champagne bar, the first thing to greet you when you walk through the gates - no shortage of Swiss Francs.

First thing to say,. Ever been? When the sun shines, as it did during my whistle-stop trip, I struggle to think of a more pleasing European city.

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Way down the international agenda on a tennis weekend with no shortage of talking points, serve to , Great Britain earned another crumb of Davis Cup respectability.

However, their tie with Tunisia - - was undoubtedly closer than many had expected.

Full credit for that goes to , the visitors' number one, who excelled himself on all three days as he beat Jamie Baker in the opening singles, made an unexpected contest of the doubles with partner Slim Hamza, and come within three points of beating James Ward and taking us all the way to a nerve-shredding decider.

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