DJs, strobe lights, brass bands and a hologrammatic Sir Andy Murray all dazzle as Manchester hosts the Davis Cup

Elite tennis has returned to our city and despite the traditional strawberries and cream being on the menu Manchester has enjoyed doing things a little differently.

The city’s AO Arena has been hosting the group stages of the Davis Cup all this week. Great Britain, France, Switzerland and Australia are the nations competing in the event- set to conclude on Sunday, September 17.

This weekend’s closing day of action, which will see Great Britain take on France, has already sold out with fans in Manchester desperate to see (fitness and selection permitting) legendary Wimbledon champion Sir Andy Murray take to the court.

Read more: 12 brilliant things to do in Manchester this September

It is hoped he will play some part in the coming days with Sunday set to be the biggest crowd of all-time for a Davis Cup match in Britain. Perhaps in no small part due to the fact the last time Manchester hosted the ‘World Cup of tennis’ was all the way back in 1994 when the aforementioned Sir Andy was just seven-years-old.

It is fair to say there’s been a wide demographic of tennis fan coming through the arena’s gates this week - from the hardcore devotee to school trips giving little ones their first taste of the elegant sport. Nearly all have had to double take bumping into a hologrammatic version of Sir Andy in the venue's concourse.

While Wimbledon is, of course, rather prim and proper, the AO’s festivities don’t stand on ceremony in quite the same way. Each player arrives, ahead of their match, in a sea of colourful strobe lights, DJs blare out tracks between each extended break in play and there was even a bit of Daniel Bedingfield - it is questionable how well such things would be received at SW19.

But, up here in Manchester,