MURRAY, NISHIKORI AMONG TWO-MATCH DAVIS CUP SINGLES WINNERS IN WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 9th March 2015

MURRAY, NISHIKORI AMONG TWO-MATCH DAVIS CUP SINGLES WINNERS IN WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND BY RICKY DIMON

epa04651217 Japan's Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Vasek Pospisil of Canada during their Davis Cup world group first-round singles match Canada vs Japan, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 06 March 2015. EPA/BEN NELMS |

The Davis Cup may be a team competition but it is never short on individual heroics. The first round of 2015 World Group action was certainly no exception. Four players won a pair of live singles rubbers in their respective ties–three of the four en route to team victories.

British Andy Murray in action against Vasek Pospisil of Canada during their second round match of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 12 February 2015. EPA/KOEN SUYK

In Glasgow, Scotland, Andy Murray went six for seven in total sets during defeats of Donald Young and John Isner. Sunday’s clincher against Isner saw Murray saved all seven of the break points he faced (all seven in the first set, including two set points) on the way to a 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4) triumph.

“It feels great,” the Scot assured. “This is a real team effort and everyone has played their part. It is a pleasure to be a part of this team. To be in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year is incredible. This is one of the most special atmospheres I’ve ever played in.”

Special scenes took place in Kazakhstan, as well. Aleksandr Nedovyesov won the deciding match in five sets over Fabio Fognini, but it was Mikhail Kukushkin who put the host nation in position to win. Kukushkin beat Simone Bolelli 7-6(6), 6-1, 6-2 on Friday before keeping the tie alive with a 7-6(8), 6-0, 6-4 upset of Andreas Seppi on the final day.

“I played aggressively today and I think it was important to do this today and make a lot of winners,” Kukushkin explained. “I am in good shape and in good form and when I have a lot of confidence like I do now, I can play aggressively.”

Next up for the Kazakhs is Australia, which went into Ostrava and ousted the Czech Republic 3-1. Like Kukushkin, Bernard Tomic won both of his singles matches and all six of his sets. The 22-year-old got the best of Jiri Vesely 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(5) then clinched the tie via a 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4) decision at the expense of Lukas Rosol.

“I was playing confident and consistent and that was the key in today’s match,” Tomic said after beating Rosol. “Everybody’s got something different about them and I suppose with me it’s composure and I think I know how to use it. I’ve played as well as I am now before but not as consistently.”

Kei Nishikori also won two matches over the weekend, first against Vasek Pospisil and then in five sets over Milos Raonic. Still, it was not enough for Japan to take down the host Canadians. Following Nishikori’s heroics, Pospisil cruised past Go Soeda in the all-important fifth rubber.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, Davis Cup, Kei Nishikori, Ricky Dimon, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

March 9, 2015 at 8:25 pm

-@andy_murray, @keinishikori AMONG TWO-MATCH @DavisCup SINGLES WINNERS IN WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/01uylIQKRv
Dimonator says:

March 9, 2015 at 9:48 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@andy_murray, @keinishikori AMONG TWO-MATCH @DavisCup SINGLES WINNERS IN WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND BY @Dimonator- http://t…