Great Britain still has a chance of defending their Davis Cup title after Andy and Jamie Murray battled their way past Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro and Leonardo Mayer 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
After the British team endured a duo of disappointing losses to Argentina on Friday, the Murray brothers began their must win doubles match in style with an impressive first set display. World No.2 Andy showed no indication of fatigue from his five-hour marathon yesterday as he and his brother Jamie dismantled the Argentine duo of Del Potro and Mayer to race to a 5-0 lead in under 20 minutes. The brothers were displaying some of their best defensive play against their somewhat sluggish rivals. Mayer was struggling to keep his error count down and Del Potro was the lacking the fire he had from the previous day. The only trouble experienced by the British pair was when Andy served for the set. Recovering from a 15-30 deficit, the Wimbledon champion sealed the opening set when a serve out wide from him was unsuccessfully returned.
The Murray bros closes out the first set and #GBR have been absolutely superb so far against Argentina… #DavisCup https://t.co/zWx8wGNLc4
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) 17 September 2016
It could by forgiven judging by the first set that Britain’s opponents was no match for them, but in reality it was the opposite. Del Potro has defeated a series of top players on the men’s tour this summer and Mayer was on a 11-match winning streak in Davis Cup matches. Overcoming their tentative start to the match, the two revived Argentina’s hopes as a duo of errors from Andy handed them the early break at the start of the second set. It was a crucial break as once again the away team battled back from behind. Failing to convert two set points against Jamie’s serve, it was Del Potro chance to level the match at a set apiece. It was third time lucky after a 113 mph serve down the line from the US Open champion was returned out.
Following Argentina’s resurgence, chances came and went for both teams. The Murray brothers had four chances to grab an early stronghold in the third set, but failed to capitalise on any of them. Argentina was more fortunate when a Del Potro forehand winner secured the break before they were pegged back immediately in the following game due to costly errors from Mayer. The break back from the British team inspired world No.2 Andy as he orchestrated the animated crowd to cheer him and his brother on. Spurred on by the home support, a blistering return down the line restored Britain’s lead, moving them to six games away from the victory.
Clenched fists everywhere as Great Britain take the third set against Argentina… #DavisCup https://t.co/UdqJ1BI7M9
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) 17 September 2016
In what was an all too familiar theme in their Davis Cup tie, Britain still couldn’t shake off their opponents. Nine games went by with both teams refusing to be broken before Mayer was faced with the task of serving to keep Argentina in the match. As the noise inside the Emirates Arena intensified, a forehand volley by Jamie at the net elevated the brothers to three match points. The victory was then secured by Andy, who out-hit Del Potro at the net.
“To come out and get the win with Jamie was great, he played unbelievably well throughout the whole match.” A delighted world No.2 said following his win.
Regardless of the British triumph, they still trail 1-2 to Argentina in the tie as they bid to come back from 0-2 down for only the third time in Davis Cup history.
“It’s a tough position to be in, but we are closer and I think we can come back.” Andy said about the upcoming challenge.
