Andy Murray to play in Russia’s Davis Cup finals

Roger Federer set to play ‘special’ final match of career on Friday with Rafael Nadal expected to retire today

Andy Murray confirmed on Wednesday he will come out of retirement to play in Russia’s Davis Cup finals against Canada, after missing the last 13 months with a long injury lay-off.

The former world number one – who announced on Tuesday he had given up tennis in September – said he had had no contact with his coach and would not be playing if he was fit to play.

Murray, who made his Davis Cup debut in 2002 after a one-year break from the sport, will become the 13th man in the tie following Andy Roddick’s withdrawal, with former world number one Maria Sharapova’s last two matches in the competition due to be against the US team from Cincinnati.

Murray will meet Canadian doubles star John Millman and Nick Kyrgios in the second semi-final on Friday, and then face Millman and Stan Wawrinka in the final, with the outcome to be decided on Saturday night.

The last man to have played in a Davis Cup final was Czech player Jose Rui Vitier, who defeated the Americans in the 1995 Davis Cup quarter-final.

In his first major final match for five years, Nadal said he would retire from the sport on his birthday, which takes place on 15th June, the same day as the Wimbledon final.

The four-time major champion had been given until June 30 to decide whether or not to take on the final stage of the game, but said on Tuesday he had decided instead that he did not want to play in the final.

“I thought I made a big mistake not competing anymore. But if I do make a mistake, I would like to make it,” Nadal said.

“I think it’s the right decision. Last year I thought I had to play some matches, but now I know I have to retire, so I’m going to retire.”

Nadal, who became

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