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Yesterday, it was the turn of the 21-year-old Kyle Edmund, whose brilliant performance in winning the first of the reverse singles against Serbia sent Britain through to the semi-finals of the Davis Cup.
Britain’s Kyle Edmund reacts after his victory over Dusan Lajovic, of Serbia, yesterday.
On Saturday, Jamie Murray/Dominic Inglot defeated Nenad Zimonjic/Filip Krajinovic in the doubles match after Lajovic overcame Ward 3-0 earlier in the day and Edmund beat Tipsarevic 3-0 on Friday.
For Inglot meanwhile it was a first victory on court for the team after being part of the victorious Davis Cup squad past year.
“Serving out was a little nerve-wracking but with Jamie at net you know he will help you out, he deserves a lot of credit”.
“It’s always a team effort, just so happy that I won today, won for the team, Friday was my first win for the country and that was a nice milestone but now today, knowing what was on the line – coming here and knowing if I win we are through to the semi-finals”.
Team captain Leon Smith picked out the Inglot serve as a key in the match. It won its only Davis Cup title in 2005.
“We have a new generation that came into the locker room”.
Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was again in attendance amid the Serbian storm as Edmund’s serve backed up his break in the sixth game of the opening set and he closed it out with two huge aces.
Lajovic is a solid player and a very good mover on clay but the 26-year-old does not have a shot to rival Edmund’s forehand – he hit 27 winners off that wing alone.
“It definitely doesn’t suit my game”.
“I was disappointed the way we lost that but I was still confident and calm that we would prevail over four or five sets”.
Serbia edged a tiebreaker in the second, prompting Murray and Inglot to move through the gears to win the third, 6-3. Inglot wasn’t returning that well but they came together when it mattered.
But the Britons saved it, then the Serbs saved one match point when Krajinovic played a great lob.
The Brits were favourites to power past their opponents, but the home side played at a high level throughout Rubber 3.
Serbia will believe they have this match in their hands, and despite Tipsarevic experiencing a recent fall in fortunes, he will have too much in the tank for the British player. You could see he wasn’t sure what to do on the court.
Britain will now host Argentina in September for a place in the final.
Lajovic then led 4-2 in the third set tie-break but Edmund again used his forehand to fight back and brought up his first match point at 5-6.
France sealed the other place in the semifinal Sunday as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Jiri Vesely in four sets to give his country an unassailable 3-1 lead over the Czech Republic.
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Cilic cruised past John Isner 7-6 (11-9) 6-3 6-4 before 19-year-old Borna Coric beat Jack Sock 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4.
