“Davis Cup is just two, three – in a great campaign, four – times a year”.
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“Those who clamoured for me to play the fifth point are surely thinking that I’m fit, but I’m not as in-form as Murray and can’t recuperate my form as quickly as a top-ten”. It means a lot. It went perfectly for us”, added the 27 year old on his arrival back in Buenos Aires, saying that “I have enough time to prepare (for the final).
The fact they took it to the final rubber was encouraging as the Murray brothers won the doubles and then Andy took care of Guido Pella in Sunday’s reverse singles. “I produced a great performance for all the crowd”.
Russian Federation is also returning to the top level of the Davis Cup for the first time since 2012 after beating Kazakhstan 3-1. However Forget played stunning tennis to defeat Pistol Pete and lift their first Davis Cup in nearly 60 years. “That is why we brought him in for this crucial match”.
The visitors’ best player, who was exhausted after beating Andy Murray in five hours and seven minutes on day one and losing against him and his brother Jamie in almost three hours in the doubles on day two, surprised everyone by declining to play the match that broke the 2-2 deadlock on Sunday afternoon.
The 2014 US Open champion won 6-3 6-2 7-5 to give Croatia an unassailable 3-1 lead with one singles rubber left to play.
“It was so long and so demanding and Juan Martin gave more than he has in that match”.
“I am very emotional”, said Mayer.
There was the customary Davis Cup guts from Andy Murray at the Emirates Arena, but on this occasion no Davis Cup glory.
Peering into the future – with Britain’s next tie to be played over the first weekend in February – shouldn’t be terrifying for Leon Smith, the captain, or anyone else who cares about the fortunes of one of the founding nations of this competition. “That is why we asked him to play the doubles to see if his quality could help Argentina claim an early victory but that didn’t happen”.
It is the fifth time Argentina have reached the final as they attempt to win the title for the first time.
This is Great Britain’s first defeat since the 2014 quarterfinals against Italy in April 2014.
But this time the hero was the Argentinian, who produced a superb display of serving to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4.
Evans had been expected to come in for Kyle Edmund, who was named in the original line-up on Friday, and fresh from a superb run at the US Open he had every reason to be optimistic. Our team is in much better shape than it was a few years ago and we’ll continue to enjoy the weekends.
There is a certain irony that Smith suffered only his third defeat in six years in the role when he finally had a team fully worthy of its place in the World Group.
After a busy summer, Andy Murray is finally ready for a break, he said yesterday in Scotland.
In the process, the 29-year old British ace has won the Wimbledon Trophy and has defended his Olympic gold as well.
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The captain said: “All I know is here he is again this weekend having played all three days again, put his body right on the line, put his body before his own individual schedule. Because I accepted how I was going to feel [here] I handled it OK”. He said: “After the tough years I have had, it was an fantastic match for me and I was delighted when I got the call to be part of the team for the Davis Cup”.
