Juan Martin Del Potro led Argentina to an opening day lead over Great Britain in the semi-final of the Davis Cup after beating Andy Murray in a five set epic.
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At Glasgow: Great Britain trails Argentina 0-1 [Andy Murray lost to Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4].
Del Potro hasn’t played a singles rubber in the Davis Cup for four years following three wrist operations that nearly saw him quit the game.
Kyle Edmund looks likely to face Del Potro in the decisive rubber as Great Britain attempt to defend the competition they won in Ghent a year ago, with Andy Murray favourite to defeat Guido Pella in the first reverse singles on Sunday.
The problem for captain Leon Smith is he left doubles back-up Dom Inglot out of the team and would have to turn to Dan Evans.
Normally the big singles matches take place on Sunday but Guido Pella was given the nod to be Argentina’s number one ahead of the higher-ranked Federico Delbonis and will play Kyle Edmund on Friday.
After a pulsating five hours and five minutes it was the Argentine, with his towering serve and sledgehammer forehand, who finally prevailed 6-4 5-7 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4 in a gripping contest. One strangely unconvincing service game from Andy which contained two double faults and couple of mis-steps at the net handed Argentina the early service break which saw them level matters, and the visitors were a break to the good in the third set too, the Tannoy man slipping on “Bad Moon Rising”.
The initial signs were good as Murray curled three sublime lobs over the head of 6ft 6in Del Potro to lead 2-0 but the Argentinian hit back quickly and began to take control.
After sharing the first two sets, four break points were spurned by a British pair seemingly enjoying a second wind but Argentina clinically polished off only their second to swing the match for the first time in their favour.
“It’s been a tough week for us but we just had to try to park it for the afternoon and focus on what we needed to do”, said Jamie. If he fails Borna Coric will battle Lucas Pouille for a spot in the Davis Cup finals.
But it was the world number two’s brilliance that helped him escape.
After suffering a shock loss to world No.115 Aleksandr Nedovyesov in Darwin, then-Australian captain Wally Masur replaced the temperamental youngster with Sam Groth for the must-win reverse singles. However, Dan Evans was also in good form in NY as he succumbed to eventual champion Stan Wawrinka following a five-set battle in the third round. It’s going to be really tough but I’m looking forward to do the surprise. But in that match I was exhausted before the final.
Guido Pella beat Edmund 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-3 6-2 to ensure Argentina made the ideal start on Friday against the defending champions.
The result means New Zealand remain in the Asia/Oceania Group 1 next year while Pakistan are relegated to Group 2 next year.
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In the other semi-final, France and Croatia are locked at 1-1 after victories for Richard Gasquet and Marin Cilic.
