BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) _ Andy Murray, bothered by a hip injury, will play the opening singles match for Britain against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup on Friday.
Murray was drawn Thursday to play Raemon Sluiter on indoor hardcourts at the NEC Arena. Tim Henman will play Robin Haese in the second singles match. They will swap for Sunday's reverse singles.
On Monday, Murray said he might miss the match because of hip and groin injuries. But he practised for two hours Wednesday and said he was ready to play.
Murray, Britain's top-ranked player at No. 11, was hurt during his quarter-final win over Tommy Haas last month in Indian Wells, Calif. He played last week in Key Biscayne, Fla.
Greg Rusedski and Murray's younger brother Jamie will play Saturday's doubles match against Igor Sijsling and Rogier Wassen.
Britain needs to beat the Netherlands to advance to the playoffs for the 2008 World Group. The best-of-five series runs through Sunday.
