By Niall Clarke
- Andy Murray defeats Bernard Tomic 7-5, 6-3, 6-2
- Great Britain win the tie 3-1
- They will advance to the Davis Cup final to face either Belgium or Argentina
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND- Andy Murray made easy work of Bernard Tomic to secure Great Britain’s place in the Davis Cup final.
The British number one needed one hour and 46 minutes to defeat the top Australian 7-5, 6-3, 6-2. Great Britain will now face either Belgium or Argentina in the final.
It was a momentous doubles tie that put Team GB just one win away from their first Davis Cup final in 37 years. The Murray brothers needed five sets on that occasion to defeat the team of Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt in a four hour thriller.
There were rumours that Andy could be tired after playing back to back days again, but he showed zero signs of fatigue. He earned an early break to put the pressure right on Tomic. It would stay on serve until 5-3, where Murray was serving for the set.
Tomic would fight back and earn break point which was saved by a big serve and forehand combination. Murray would then have set point, but an excellent backhand passing shot took it back to deuce. The Aussie would managed to break back after some wasteful shots by the Brit.
Instead Murray would have to settle for a break to take the first set. The world number three ramped up the pressure at 5-6, and after another two set points went begging, Murray would not be denied any further. A drop shot proved too difficult for Tomic to retrieve and GB were well on their way.
The opening stages of the second set mirrored the first with Murray getting a break in the fourth game. This time, he would make an easier job of serving out the set. The Brit held to love to give himself an unassailable lead.
The wheels were off the Aussie who needed a minor miracle to get back in this. It was an always uphill struggle to defeat a man who previously had beaten him two times in routine fashion, and it became an even more impossible task when Murray broke to love early in the third after s sloppy service game by the Aussie.
A second break would put this tie beyond any doubt, and Murray easily served out the match to send Great Britain through to the Davis Cup final with a 3-1 victory.
Andy had experienced back issues during the week, which gave him more bother than any fatigue picked up from the doubles rubber.
“I wasn’t concerned about how much I had left in the tank, I was more concerned about my back,” The British number one said. (Source: Sky Sports)
“My back had been giving me a lot of trouble this week. That was the thing I was most concerned about.”
However it was an un-related issue to the back injury that required surgery at the end of 2013.
“It is nothing to do with the previous issues I had,” added Murray. “It’s a completely different thing.”
With his help, Great Britain have made their first Davis Cup final in 37 years. However, Murray insists he wasn’t concentrating on history whilst out there.
“Once I was out there, I tried to play each point, fight as hard as I could on his service games, get as many balls back in play as I could and make it difficult for him. Murray said. (Source: Eurosport)
“I don’t think he was reading the serve too well, either and I was trying to concentrate on hitting the right spot on the serve. I wasn’t really thinking about history or anything like that. Just concentrating on the points.”
Tomic was full of praise for his opponent, who he described as ‘amazing’.
“He’s a very good player, an amazing player,” Tomic said of his opponent post-match. Source (Tennis Atlantic)
“Today in the big moments when I had a bit of a chance, he was playing very well. I had a chance in that first set to take it to a tiebreak, but he played a very good game at 6-5 to get the break. He was making amazing shots and it shows why he is one of the best players in the world now, and one of the best defenders out there.”
In the dead rubber, Thanasi Kokkinakis restored a little bit of pride for Australia by defeating Dan Evans in straight sets 7-5, 6-4. The Aussie was always in control of the match, and did not lose his cool despite failing to serve out the set in an epic tenth game. He immediately recovered to break again and seal the set.
An early break in the second set was enough for Kokkinakis to seal victory.
For Australian tennis, this was also the last tie Hewitt will take part in. The two time grand slam champion will hang up the racket after the Australian Open next year. There are lots of rumours circulating that he will be the next Davis Cup captain, but he is not quite sure yet.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” Hewitt said. Source (Tennis Atlantic)
“I tried to do as much as I can playing wise whilst I can still run around and compete with these guys. With Pat and Wally this year we have still felt like I had to play a key role with the team dynamics, and added experience with the boys.
“We will just have to sit down and work all that out.”
Great Britain will face either Belgium or Argentina in the final on the 27th-29th November
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