From today's Times:

Andy Murray returns to fray for Davis Cup

Neil Harman, Tennis correspondent

The consolation of an autumn home draw in the Davis Cup World Group play-offs and John Lloyd's three-year commitment to the team captaincy were gifts that British tennis was grateful for yesterday after revelations that the sport's long-term place at its spiritual television home is under scrutiny. Great Britain will face Austria - probably at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena - in September, when victory will assure them of a place among the elite 16 nations next year. The 4-1 defeat by Argentina in February necessitated Britain's involvement in such a delicately balanced tie, although the team will be boosted by the news that Andy Murray has pledged his commitment to the match. The Scot, 20, who pulled out of this week's Valencia Open because of a virus and missed the defeat in Buenos Aires, said yesterday: "If I'm fit, I will play."

It will be a welcome boost for Lloyd, who is recuperating at his home in Los Angeles after knee surgery and has agreed to lead the team until 2011. Lloyd has the cushion of a contract with the BBC to fall back on, although how much of the sport there will be to commentate on besides the Wimbledon Championships in years to come is a matter that is occupying minds at the LTA. The Times has learnt that the BBC is "taking a fresh look" at its tennis portfolio.

From next year, the LTA will become the sole owner of the Artois Championships at Queen's Club, in West London, at exactly the moment the BBC contract to cover the event expires. The LTA has announced that, from 2009, it will amalgamate the Eastbourne women's and Nottingham men's events the week before Wimbledon, having lost £600,000 on each last year. The loss of £350,000 on the DFS Classic at Edgbaston Priory, in Birmingham, has led to that week in the calendar being put out to tender.

Although the BBC recently signed a five-year extension to its Wimbledon contract to remain host broadcaster until 2014 and has three years on its Davis Cup deal, it has chosen to drop the BlackRock Masters at the Albert Hall, in London, from its December programming after ten years. Any future deal between the BBC and the LTA - which has hired Sunset+Vine to produce the coverage for the pre-Wimbledon grass-court events - will be outside the contract between the All England Club and the BBC.

What the sport craves are a few more home players worth giving air time to. While Murray will be the domestic focal point this summer, Tim Henman's commentary on him is likely to be as big a draw. Roger Draper, the LTA chief executive, said yesterday: "While we have had some success recently, it is vital we start to identify younger players who are capable of thriving in a Davis Cup environment." When have we heard that before?

* The article actually raises a few issues.  Don't like the sound of the other bits I've placed in bold!