Read on for a recap of Sunday’s scores, as reigning champions Great Britain now see their 2016 Davis Cup title hopes hanging on a knife’s edge.
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Andy Murray had given the team hope of staging an unlikely comeback after beating Guido Pella 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in a heroic performance earlier on Sunday afternoon.
Belgium, last year’s runner-up, also secured their World Group status thanks to a 3-0 victory over Brazil in Belgium. On this occasion, Harry Houdini couldn’t slip out of the straight-jacket.
“It never feels good losing, of course it doesn’t, but no regrets”, said Smith.
Mayer, who in June previous year was ranked 21 in the world, showed his experience in the third set as he immediately broke in the first game.
Mayer had been a last minute replacement for Juan Martin Del Potro who had played the first singles but was not able to play in the reverse.
The former US Open victor clinched the victory as he thrashed Richard Gasquet of France 6-3 6-2 7-5, hammering 14 aces and producing 21 winners. This was, without equivocation, the biggest occasion in his tennis life. Hawk-Eye was malfunctioning when a ridiculous Tweener lob from Evans was called narrowly out, meaning the original call stood.
That meant the tie came down to a clash between Dan Evans and Leonardo Mayer, and it was the Argentinian who prevailed 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4.
It all came down to a fifth and deciding rubber, and in the end another of Davis Cup’s litany of unlikely heroes rose to the challenge. They had lost to Germany in the first round of the World Group in 2014. All I know is here he is again committing himself this weekend, playing all three games again, put his body right on the line, put us before his own individual schedule.
Only adding to the din was Murray, who after going through his warm-down routine, and fulfilling his post-match media commitments, joined this late in the opening set.
The next year too they went on to retain the Davis Cup by winning against the same opponents, but at home.
But Orsanic was reading the tea leaves and protecting Del Potro’s health. Or from his absences from the Argentine bench when Murray was closing in for the kill against Pella? He is a former No.21 and had an unbeaten run of eight singles wins, which may have led his captain to place his trust in him instead of Del Potro, who had already played several hours of singles and doubles.
The scoreline finished 6-4 5-7 6-7 6-3 6-4 in favour of the Argentine. “I will take a few days to think what happened through”, he said.
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 reason I had to go off is because I can’t get my nuts out on court”. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.
