THE BRITISH DAVIS CUP TEAM BEAT FRANCE TO NOW FACE AUSTRALIA IN SEPTEMBER, REPORTING FROM THE QUEENS CLUB BY ROS SATAR

Written by: Global Chick on 19th July 2015

THE BRITISH DAVIS CUP TEAM BEAT FRANCE TO NOW FACE AUSTRALIA IN SEPTEMBER, REPORTING FROM THE QUEENS CLUB BY ROS SATAR

Britain's Andy Murray celebrates after beating Giles Simon of France during the Davis Cup quarter final match at the Queens Club in London, Britain, 19 July 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Maybe disturbingly, even before a ball was struck on Saturday, debate was raging about how this would be Britain’s best chance of winning the Davis Cup. Not just the tie, mind… the cup itself.

With Serbia out, Australia battling valiantly for the privilege of a European tie with the winner this this tow between Great Britain and France, it did seem perhaps chicks (global or otherwise) were being counted before being hatched.

There was of course the small matter of the vital fourth rubber to be won. Other doom and gloom discussions had raged about the weather, and if it was rained off, would be hang on for a Monday finish. There were no worries of that either – the weather was sparkling, so would the play match it?

Early signs were not good for the hosts. Murray, who is downbeat at the best of times, struggled to stay on terms with a fresher, bouncier Simon and was broken before the first change of ends. Try as he might, he could not get a look in at the Frenchman’s serve, until the very end of the first set. Two chances came, and allez-ed themselves away, until Simon made good on his second set point, the French contingent bowing to him.

On the subject of the crowd – it really is not that the Brits are getting behind their man. Yesterday Mama Murray must have had good-bumps at the rousing reception the brothers got. Jamie held the partnership solid and they both worked the crowd marvelously.

But the sheer volume and organized choral stylings of Les Bleus rang out on a Sunday, drowning out church bells and no doubt waking slumbering bairns from their naps as France broke straight away at the start of the second set. This was vital for Murray if he wanted to give Britain even half a chance.

A brief moment of clarity his serving as the exhausted looking Brit got his first break points since the end of the first set, but was too fatigued at that point to even celebrate.

As they slugged it out to a tie-break, the writing looked to be on the wall for Team GB as Murray slumped to a 1-4 deficit, yet somehow after a couple of mini-breaks it was Murray on top as he clinched the leveler, and finally had the energy to celebrate.

It was Murray’s turn to strike, watched by Judy and wife Kim, building up a 3-0 lead. Simon wasn’t about to let him run away with it though, just reminding him the French were not quite away over the channel, but moreover the other side of the net.

Was the French resolve about to crumble like a stale baguette? Murray certainly had his second wind, and was playing with a lot more purpose, but he would still have to earn this from Simon, who was working hard to keep him at bay, but once that third set crossed La Manche, you had a sense it would soon be over.

Gilles Simon of France returns to Britain’s Andy Murray during the Davis Cup quarter final match at the Queens Club in London, Britain, 19 July 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN

However no-one likes to see a player hit the turf, and there has been a lot of that on the rapidly rejuvenated court, and once more Simon hit the deck, staying down rather worryingly. It was enough to have Arnaud Clement on his feet and Murray at the net in concern. Even when he rose, to applause from all sections of the crowd, he was limping and shaking his head with a worrying look of finality.

He would continue, and as if to add insult to injury, France received a time violation warning straight afterwards for being somewhat tardy to come out. It was all to no avail. After putting us through the customary rollercoaster of emotions, nail-biting and anxiety enough to make us comfort eat through all the concession stands, Murray made good on fourth match point.

After that initial euphoria, came the emotions after a tremendously long run, since getting wed at the start of the clay court season, winning his two first titles on clay, winning his fourth Queen’s title and making the semi-finals in Wimbledon, it ended on a sunny Sunday afternoon with him head in hands sobbing in the chair being comforted by an equally emotional Leon Smith.

Trying to buy Murray as much time as he could, with his own voice cracking in his on-court interview, this team has come a long way since facing Turkey in Eastbourne.

French team captain Arnaud Clement said: “It was every time a little push from the British team, a little bit more solid. A lot of sets during this weekend, just can see one or two points are missing and maybe can change but it was always in the same for the British team. So it’s just the British was a little bit more solid than us, and deserve this win.”

It must also have felt at times like it was France against La Famille Murray. Clement added: “It was a great weekend for the Murray brothers and they did a great doubles yesterday and it’s a great performance fro Andy to play three days in a row and play this level during three days. You saw at the end still moving great and still fit physically. He deserved to win this match.”

Looking back, it seems fitting to leave it to Murray to sum up what this means, as they look ahead to where to put on the semi-final, at home to Australia.

He said: “The memories that you have from those matches, like playing Glasgow earlier in the year, I mean I’m sure the whole team would agree the atmosphere was absolutely unbelievable there. You don’t get that in any other event, so you have a lot of memories from the Davis Cup and that’s one of the reasons you’re passionate to play.”

The curtain comes down on the Davis Cup now until September, where once more herculean efforts will be required if Great Britain want to reach their first final since 1936.

Britain’s Davis Cup team celebrates after beating France 3-1 during the Davis Cup quarter final match at the Queens Club in London, Britain, 19 July 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp, Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, France, Gilles Simon, global chick, Great Britain, Ros Satar, Tennis News