Great Britain emerges victorious from a doubles drama in Glasgow and are now very close to a historical Davis Cup final, as the Murray brothers won an incredible five-setter against the Aussies 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-7(6) 6-4.
The Aussies had served well, but the Brits have returned better, and too many missed chances, too many unforced errors at the net by the Australian team made the difference.
The tie started in the best way for the Brits on Friday, with Murray demolishing Kokkinakis in straight sets, including a bagel in set two in under 2 hours. Tomic then squared the tie winning against no.300 Evans (who has won the only previous match between the two at 2013 US Open). As expected, the doubles rubber became a must win match for both teams.
A soccer like sounding crowd – wearing blue “GoTheBrits” T-shirts – at Emirates Arena greeted the Murray brothers (Andy with brother Jamie, a US Open doubles runner-up last week) in their first appearance in Scotland as a doubles team; on the other side of the net a returning machine – Lleyton Hewitt and a serving machine Sam Groth, who has developed into something more than just a big serve. Just for the records, Hewitt’s first appearance in the Davis Cup was in 1999 – when Kokkinakis was 3 years old.
Left hander Jamie Murray served first: it’s break point straight away for the Aussies, but the Brits hold. Australia held their serve with Groth. There is a lot of communication, but also misunderstanding between the Murray brothers, who often play in formation, left open corridors for the Aussies. Hewitt looked very tense but Groth is on fire, with great serves, returns and passing shots. The Aussies break Jamie Murray (Hewitt risking an injury after chest bump with massive Groth) and then comfortably hold. When Groth serves for the set he definitely feels the pressure and commits double fault followed by an easy volley in the net, giving double break point to Great Britain to level up, which he saves with 2 great serves. After saving a third break point, the Aussies get a set point and take the set 6-4.
In the second set both teams easily held serve till 2-2, when Andy holds a tough game, and then obtain a break point on Groth which is converted, thus turning the tide of the match:4-2 followed by a love hold by brother Jamie. The percentage of first serve is lower for both teams, but the difference is in the return, where the Brits do much better. Groth is now visibly in discomfort, the crowd gets louder and louder as the Brits convert the first of the three consecutive set points, taking the second set 6-3 and squaring the match.
The Aussies reacted very well and, after holding a tough serve with Groth, they broke Andy’s serve, and held to love to lead 3-0.The match surges in intensity, with some incredibly long rallies with all players at the net. This is great tennis to watch. At 4-1 Australia, the Murrays turn the set around breaking Hewitt, love holding serve and then breaking again the Aussies with a forehand smash by Jamie Murray after a great return by Andy. The Brits then close the set at the first attempt, with a crosscourt backhand in the net by Hewitt: 6-4 and 2 sets to 1 for the Brits.
The key of the match so far was that the Aussies are not deep enough and cannot not finalize their overheads, let alone their volleys, whereas the Brits return very well, deep with Andy and often lobbing with Jamie.
The fourth set looked like a photocopy of the third with the Australians jumping ahead 2-0; this time the Brits broke back straight away. The Aussies still struggle to convert their volleys (it takes up to 5 overheads by them before converting the point, and often they end up being passed) while Jamie Murray in particular looks much more reactive on the net. His brother Andy shows his world no.3 class and places a number of amazing first serves and great returns, especially crosscourt backhands. It was a point to point set till the 5-4, where the Aussies got 3 consecutive set points, thanks to a great inside-out backhand passing shot by Groth, an amazing backhand return by Hewitt, followed by another backhand return by Groth which dies on Andy Murray’s racquet. Too many missed chances for the Aussies, though, whereas the Brits are good to convert theirs: 6-5 for the Brits and Andy Murray serving for the match and for history. He delivers an ace to start with and a forehand volley by Hewitt in the net brings the Brits to 2 points from the win. It’s not over though: some great returns by the Aussies turn the game around one more time, to take the fourth set to the tie break.
The Brits are playing with Groth, who alternates from great shots to unforced errors. At 4-4 in the tie break Jamie Murray at the net converts a volley which gives a mini break, but then puts out an easy volley in the following point. The Brits get to a match point on 6-5: Hewitt serves on Andy Murray to save the match. Great return by Andy, but Sam Groth impersonates Gandalf and (mentally) shouting “Thou Shalt Not Pass” levels the tie break. Another turn of tide and it’s set point Australia: a cross court backhand by Hewitt makes the Brit racquets clash together and brings Australia to the decider, after 3h 15m.
It was total drama and a battle of the nerves, as the Brits looked more in control. Andy held comfortably, while Groth gives 3 consecutive break points. With a partial score of 12 points to 1, Great Britain flies up 3-0. But this match is far from over and looks like “street-fighter tennis“: nerves are in absolute tatters, and the Australians show their fighting spirit equaling the match at 3 all, after saving 4 break points, with a number of incredible points and questionable shot choices, including a backhand top spin drive volley by Groth: the pressure is as high as the stakes now.
The match is now 5-4 for Great Britain, with Groth serving to keep the Aussies alive. It’s the moment where talent and experience emerge and can be summarised by two points: Groth leaving a return which lands good 10 cm in the court, Andy Murray returning splendidly on the line:15-40 and two match points for Great Britain. The first one is enough, with a volley by Groth landing long. 6-4 and the Davis Cup final is now within toughing distance for Great Britain.
Next scheduled stop for Andy Murray Express is Bernard Tomic on Sunday afternoon.
