Andy and Jamie Murray, who came into the tie having won the US Open men’s doubles title with Brazilian partner Bruno Soares, started brightly and managed to keep their composure, despite dropping the second set on their way to sealing a vital win.
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“The atmosphere was brilliant”, Jamie said.
His brother Jamie said: “It was brilliant, from the first point to the last – the crowd was something else”.
Andy Murray sealed the tie on the first of three match points with an overhead victor at the feet of Del Potro. “I want to play for more years, not just for more match”. Those guys were playing really well too.
Tomorrow sees two singles matches as Andy Murray takes on Pella, while Edmund faces world number 64 Del Potro.
“I still remember the Olympics but this is important for me and the team and we are looking forward to reaching another final in the Davis Cup”. “I’m feeling good and excited to be here”.
Nishikori sat out Friday’s opening singles following his exertions over the summer as Taro Daniel and Yoshihito Nishioka put Japan in firm control of the tie. Del Potro wasn’t far behind him in Rio and he won’t be fazed by the faster court.
“I did great today”, said Murray.
The former US Open champion, who won a five-set match for the first time since 2010, said: ” I’m so exhausted. “At the end of last year, Davis Cup for all of us was a priority but I don’t think at the beginning of the year we expected to win the event”.
Sunday sees Andy Murray face Pella and Edmund take on Del Potro to decide the ultimate victor, but tonight’s victory was the first step required in order to provide a chance of progressing.
Croatia have the advantage in the second semi-final thanks to Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig, the duo beating France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 in Zadar.
It was fantastic for us. But we also served very well while I also felt very comfortable on the net. Del Potro netted on set point and Britain had made the first step of their recovery.
In Sunday’s reverse singles, 2014 US Open champion Cilic faces Richard Gasquet while Borna Coric will tackle Lucas Pouille.
He added: “We did a good job of getting out there and performing well and fighting as hard as we could”.
“It’s a wonderful thing to watch them play in Scotland in front of a great crowd”.
Murray complained about the ruling right away, gave away the next three points to lose the game, then brought it up again with Cicak at the ensuing changeover, saying something similar had happened earlier without a re-do of the point.
He started brightly enough leaping out to a 3-0 lead before being swiftly pegged back, and despite starting the resulting first set tie-break slowly, he soon started to wind up the pace, proving what a weapon his forehand is becoming, and picking off the first set at a canter.
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Australia, who lost to the United States in this year’s first round, will now extend their stay in the World Group to four years.
