ROS REPORTS TENNIS RESULTS FROM GLASGOW ON THE DAVIS CUP

Written by: Staff on 18th September 2015

ROS REPORTS TENNIS RESULTS FROM GLASGOW ON THE DAVIS CUP

epaselect epa04937032 Andy Murray of Britain celebrates winning against Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia during their Davis Cup singles match Britain vs Australia in Glasgow, Britain, 18 September 2015. EPA/ROBERT PERRY |

LEVEL PEGGING IN GLASGOW BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA

I am not given to emotions lightly. I am rarely moved in films… I did not blub when ET went home. I was more interested in how the Titanic broke up than whether Rose and Jack would make it, yet there is something about the RunRig version of Loch Lomond that gets me any time – along with some good old-fashioned lift-the-roof-off roaring when Team GB took the court.

After the stunning announcement yesterday that World No. 300 Dan Evans would take his place back in the British squad, it is fair to say there is an air of nervous tension. More so than the usual “can I get to the sandwiches before everyone else” kind of vibe.

The fact of the matter is the British side does rely on Murray to win both his singles rubbers, and to be honest if he and older brother Jamie combine this time against Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth, a spot in a Davis Cup final awaits.

He had to win easy today, and from the outset it looked as though Thanasi Kokkinakis had the pace and the will to thwart that. Under pressure especially in the second game where he battled hard to get on the board, Kokkinakis finally succumbed as Murray piled on the pressure at least half as much as the Stirling University Barmy Army cheering chorus.

A single break was enough to edge the first set, but from that point, the young Aussie seemed to drop his head a little as he struggled to find answers. Not that Murray had been slow off the blocks at the start of the match, but he seemed surer of foot than the 19-year-old who tried a few of the cuter drop shots and missed the mark. Murray spun out seven games on the trot, sealing the second set with a bagel, and bringing out the maternal instinct of an esteemed colleague who lamented for the poor wee lad.

Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia in action against Andy Murray of Britain during their Davis Cup singles match Britain vs Australia in Glasgow, Britain, 18 September 2015. EPA/ROBERT PERRY

He at least arrested the trend at the start of the third set, but truly never came back to the races as Murray eased the hosts into the lead 6-3 6-0 6-3.

The Aussie said: “I just got outplayed today, just too good. I guess he knows my game and the court plays nicely for him, he was able to do what he wanted. Just shows where I need to get to. I was already motivated but that gives me more to work on and see where I’m going to get too.”

Murray being perhaps could afford to be a touch more succinct: “At the beginning he had some big serves, and once I got that break at the middle part of the first set I started to just continue to play better and he wasn’t getting as many free points on his serve after that.”

Now came the gamble. Once more, RunRig did their best to get everyone a-hand-clapping and a-foot-stomping but this would be like nothing Evans had ever faced in the early days of the British team’s climb back to global reckoning.

Tomic’s occasional lapses continue to confound and frustrate fans, but he started this rubber very solidly with a early break to hold off for the first set, before Evans’ fight back interrupted Murray in his press conference several times, as he forced a tie-break.

Solid hitting once more from the Aussie put the Brits, and captain Smith on the back foot, while the Evans’ feet got a seeing too from the doc in a medical time out.

It was time for the Aussies to be the ruthless ones, in almost a carbon copy of the first set, but never count Evans out. Perhaps Smith’s choice was a good one after all as he pushed and hustled in the tie-break as Tomic seemed to be more afflicted with nerves, pushing us into a fourth set.

There is nothing like making life hard for yourself… and Evans started the fourth set with yet another break against him, and it is always likely that after such a monumental comeback, his level would dip slightly, and despite a break back after Tomic served for the match at 5-3, it was a tired hold to love that put the Aussies level pegging with their old adversaries 6-3 7-6(2) 6-7(4) 6-4.

Daniel Evans of Britain in action against Bernard Tomic of Australia during their Davis Cup singles match Britain vs Australia in Glasgow, Britain, 18 September 2015. EPA/ROBERT PERRY

Let’s be fair to Evans, it was a plucky effort and it showed a lot of the latent talent in the 25-year-old. Here’s hoping after the weekend it spurs him on to get back up the rankings and play the potential he has long had, but also long resisted.

Smith now faces a tough decision – for Britain to realistically keep their hopes alive, he really has to consider playing the Murray brothers in the doubles. Sometimes the siblings are more of a hindrance to each other than a help, but with Jamie’s recent doubles successes, it is another gamble worth taking if Britain want their shot at history.

Play continues at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow at 1pm BST.

Ros Satar is a regular contributor to 10sballs.com and runs Britwatch Sports (@britwatchsports), because we Brits like watching sport. Occasionally we’re good at it.

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp, Australia, Bernard Tomic, Daniel Evans, Davis Cup, Great Britain, Ros Satar, Sports, Tennis News, Thanasi Kokkinakis

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10sBalls_com says:

September 18, 2015 at 4:41 pm

-@rfsatar REPORTS TENNIS RESULTS FROM GLASGOW ON THE DAVIS CUP- http://t.co/92P392wJeE @DavisCup #Glasgow #tennis #DavisCup