One of tennis’ most prestigious trophies, the Davis Cup, continued its UK tour this week as it visited St Andrews.

The Cup is competed for annually and is the best test of a nation’s tennis strength, with fixtures being contested over four singles matches and one doubles contest.

After years of underachievement and struggle, Great Britain returned to the elite level last year and beat the United States, France and Australia on their way to the final, where they beat Belgium 3-1 to win the tournament for the first time since 1936.

Obvious stars of that success were Andy Murray, currently Men’s World No 2, and his brother Jamie Murray, a doubles expert who became World Number One on the doubles tour earlier this year.

Since their victory in November, the Davis Cup has toured the United Kingdom to mark the achievements of those players. However, despite the fact that the Murray brothers are both from Dunblane, Scotland, the Cup had a relatively limited tour of Scotland. That said, Saints Tennis coach Michael Aitken ensured that it would visit the Auld Grey Toon during its circuit.

The Davis Cup trophy is the largest trophy in world sport and required multiple metal cases to help transport and then assemble the trophy in the Sports Centre yesterday morning.

In the early afternoon, 90 children from local primary schools were invited along for a tennis session in the Sports Centre and to have their photos taken with the trophy during the event. Subsequent to that around 100 people, including players from local clubs and University staff, were invited to come and have their photos taken with the trophy along with a reception at the Sports Centre, accompanied by light refreshments. In the evening there was a open session for the rest of St Andrews to come and have their photos taken with the trophy in what was an opportunity that may not be repeated for some time.

The event was a celebration of the success of British tennis in recent years and with the construction of a new elite tennis centre as part of the Sports complex now underway, it certainly appears to be going from strength to strength.

Aritcle courtesy of Andrew Sinclair, Sports Editor, The Saint, April 2016