Andy Murray's rivers of gold to run as he capitalises on champ status

THE Scotsman's business profile is being embossed .

Andy Murray carried the RBS patch during the Australian Open.

THERE will be something very significant missing from Andy Murray's clothing when he steps out today to lead Britain's attempt to record a first Davis Cup World Group win in 28 years. The Royal Bank of Scotland patch he has worn on his arm for a decade has gone.

As Murray rises to new challenges on the court - Britain has never played a tie staged on the outfield of a baseball stadium - the business profile of the Wimbledon champion and BBC sports personality of the year is being embossed to guarantee the fullest possible return on the talent that has delivered two grand slam tournament titles and an Olympic gold medal.

Murray has been briefed by Lagardere Unlimited, which joined forces with the 26-year-old's own company, 77, two months ago, about possible new sources of income and how it can develop the brand in a way that suits his personality and developing interest in the commercial world.

Once reluctant to devote too much time to his business affairs, the team Murray has engaged is forging ahead on a number of fronts. The Scot recently topped $US30 million ($34.2m) in prizemoney from the ATP Tour and, with five good years left on the circuit, will hope to double that. At the same time, he appreciates the need to make the most of his value both as a champion player and an iconic brand.

"I don't know how long I'm going to be able to play. I work hard and I want to make sure, when I finish, I can have the freedom to decide exactly what I want to do and how I'd like to live the rest of my life," he said. "So I need to make sure the business side is handled in the best way, with people that I trust."

The reshaping of his deal with RBS is a start. The partnership has not ended altogether, but revised arrangements will narrow his liaison with the bank to its retail arm, thus freeing up other financial service partners, possibly from the insurance and asset management world to become involved.

Murray's five-year, Pound10m contract with Adidas ends this year and - although there are discussions over extending the deal - Adidas faces serious competition from Nike and Under Armour, both of whom require a "clean" kit with no advertising and are pressing Murray's representatives to look at what they can offer. Thus, any further patch arrangements will require sensitive handling.

Like the business partnership recently formed between Roger Federer and Tony Godsick, his manager, to embrace player representation, Murray wants to extend 77 into managing future talent across tennis and other sports.

Murray has already invested in bricks and mortar, purchasing Cromlix House, in Kinbuck, Perthshire - not far from his family home in Dunblane - and spending a significant amount on its renovation. The hotel reopens in April and Murray will be present at the unveiling. There are already plans afoot for an exhibition event in Scotland this year, probably in November, in which Andy and his brother, Jamie, will star.

Today (AEDT), at Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres, Murray will take centre stage, having been drawn to play Donald Young in the opening singles. Young is promoted to the US team as John Isner, the nominated No 1 player, has had to withdraw with a recurrence of the ankle problem that forced him out of the Australian Open. Murray has experience of meeting Young before in California and it was not one he will easily forget, a straight-sets defeat at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in 2011.

Leon Smith, the Britain captain, decided to go with experience ahead of raw youth, selecting James Ward rather than the 19-year-old Kyle Edmund.

Murray and Colin Fleming have been nominated as the doubles team to play the world No 1 pair, Bob and Mike Bryan, tomorrow, but that line-up can be changed up to an hour before the match is scheduled to be played. Dominic Inglot is ready and waiting if Murray is involved in a marathon today.

The Times