TENNIS NEWS – ANOTHER THRILLER AGAINST ANDY MURRAY GOES DEL POTRO’S WAY AS ARGENTINA TAKES 2-0 DAVIS CUP LEAD OVER GREAT BRITAIN IN SCOTLAND

Written by: Staff on 16th September 2016

TENNIS NEWS - ANOTHER THRILLER AGAINST ANDY MURRAY GOES DEL POTRO'S WAY AS ARGENTINA TAKES 2-0 DAVIS CUP LEAD OVER GREAT BRITAIN IN SCOTLAND

epa05542675 Andy Murray of Britain in action against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina during the Tennis Davis Cup semi final between Britain and Argentina in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, 16 September 2016. EPA/ROBERT PERRY |

By Ricky Dimon

This summer had already witnessed one energy-sapping thriller between Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro. But in terms of grueling efforts, the Rio Olympics gold-medal match proved to be nothing more than the appetizer to the main course.

Almost exactly one month ago, Murray outlasted Del Potro 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 after four hours and two minutes to capture the gold medal in Rio. Even though the Scot had home-court advantage in Glasgow on Friday, Del Potro managed to turn the tide in another epic contest that required a whole extra hour and one additional set. The Argentine put his country in the lead against Great Britain in the Davis Cup semifinals by upsetting Murray 6-4, 5-7, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 in five hours and seven minutes.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in action against Andy Murray of Britain during the Tennis Davis Cup semi final between Britain and Argentina in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, 16 September 2016. EPA/ROBERT PERRY

“It was the longest match of my career and I won it against Andy playing here (in Glasgow),” Del Potro said. “It’s very special for me…. I think we both played for five hours at a very high level. I think the crowd enjoyed that and of course when you win these kind of matches, it’s great.”

For a while it looked like the 2009 U.S. Open champion would once again come up on the short end. He served for the third set at 5-4 and even had a set point, but Murray saved it with an on-the-run forehand lob winner. The world No. 2 played his way into a tiebreaker and got the job done with a big first serve at 6-5.

In what has to be considered his gutsiest performance since his latest comeback from wrist problems began back in February, Del Potro had enough left in his tank to get through two more sets. The 27-year-old needed just one break to take the fourth before a decisive moment came with Murray serving at 3-3 in the fifth. On break point, the three-time major winner got a look at a sitting volley but could not put it away into the deuce corner and Del Potro answered with a running forehand pass.

Two clutch holds later, Del Potro was the last one standing.

“It’s very fine margins,” Murray noted. “That happens in tennis; happens in sport sometimes. It could have gone either way. He just played a little bit better in the fifth set. But there wasn’t much difference in the match, really.

“I did great today. I’m very proud of how I played. I thought I did fantastic. I fought for every point; tried as best as I could. That’s all you can do.”

The Brits have a huge fight ahead of them because the deficit extended to 2-0 when Kyle Edmund lost to Guido Pella 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Despite dropping the first set, Pella dominated the rest of the way to prevail after three hours and one minute. The world No. 49 took control by reeling off four straight set games to steal the third set and it was all but over when he broke for a 1-0 advantage right away in the fourth.

Kyle Edmund of Britain in action against Guido Pella of Argentina during the Tennis Davis Cup semi final between Britain and Argentina in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, 16 September 2016. EPA/ROBERT PERRY

“To be 2-0 up after Friday of course is an ideal beginning, but it’s just that–it’s a beginning,” Argentine captain Daniel Orsanic explained. “I think there is still a long way to go. I think today we’ve seen two very good matches as we expected, but Del Potro and Murray’s was an epic match. It was a very high level.”

“We are still in it,” British captain Leon Smith assured. “We have to keep fighting. That’s the most important thing. We’re very proud as team of what we’ve achieved so far. You’ve got to keep fighting.

“It hurts now but you fight tomorrow; it keeps the excitement going into Sunday (if we win the doubles rubber). Nobody is going to want a 3-0 (margin) going into Sunday. Hopefully we can win tomorrow.”