Great Britain was looking for its first win over Argentina since 1928, was looking to reach its 21st final, its seventh consecutive tie victory, but most importantly of all, to defend the title won to such plaudits last year-and only five nations have managed to do that since the World Group was set up in 1981.
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That took the match to a decider and after much speculation about who might play, Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer was chosen to take on Britain’s Dan Evans in a victor takes all clash.
“We get together for Davis Cup two, three, in a great year four times – that’s incredible and it’s a great experience, and it’s an important competition for us, but what the players are doing on the main tour is more important. I’ve played so much tennis this summer”.
“After the tough years I have had, it was an unbelievable match for me and I was delighted when I got the call to be part of the team for the Davis Cup”, a jubilant Mayer said after his ninth consecutive win in Davis Cup play. It means a lot. “Yes, we’ve lost a semi-final so of course it sucks”, he said.
Evans would have expected to play Juan Martin del Potro, but Argentina’s best player was severely compromised physically by his exertions in beating Murray over five hours on Friday.
Argentina, semi-finalists 11 of the past 15 years, will play their fifth final, away against Croatia, who beat France in the other semi-final when Richard Gasquet collapsed like an under-cooked flan in straight sets against Marin Cilic.
GB Captain, Leon Smith, was quick to dispel any negativity around the loss, although he acknowledged that we have been spoiled with the strong performances of the team.
Murray, appearing for the third successive day, got off to a flawless start as he broke the Pella serve in the fourth game and never looked back as cantered to a 6-3 win in the first set.
Murray said: “It’s obviously great”.
Argentina won a nail-biting semi final 3-2 after Leo Mayer defeated Dan Evans in the deciding rubber to send the 9000 sell out crowd home disappointed – but Smith insisted his team had done the country proud and thanked the Murrays for their contribution in a week when they were dealing with the death of their grandfather, whose funeral was held on Friday. 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. The draw for next year’s Davis Cup will be made on Thursday. Then the great Boris Becker played a super match to defeat the equally great Edberg in a one-sided match 6-3, 6-1 and 6-4.
“Leonardo’s match was something we believed could happen but I think it was a great effort on his part”. As well as Federico Delbonis, ranked 41, he had the experienced Leonardo Mayer, a former No21 a year ago before injury knocked him to his present 113.
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“I’ve never really had muscle injuries before”.
