So from a downcast Friday of two singles losses, through a riotous Saturday that saw the Great Britain pull back a rubber in the doubles, and on into a thrilling fourth rubber during which Andy Murray battled with fatigue and injury to level the tie, 2-2, it all came down a fifth and deciding match.
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Great Britain were, however, knocked out of the Davis Cup 6-3 6-2 6-3 but Dan Evans fells to a 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 defeat to Leonardo Mayer, sending Argentina through to the final.
In Glasgow Andy Murray and brother Jamie clinched the doubles rubber on Saturday to keep the reigning champions’ hopes alive after they went 2-0 down on a disastrous first day.
It left the home side still in with a chance going into the final day, but while Andy Murray prepared to defy near exhaustion to play, Argentina were forced to leave del Potro out and risk a decider between Mayer and Dan Evans.
“It is an excellent victory to beat Great Britain here in Glasgow”. But that was something we couldn’t say to the press.
Mayer had not lost a Davis Cup singles rubber for three years and Evans had not won one for the same amount of time.
It gave Britain hope of pulling off a repeat of their win over Russian Federation in Coventry in April 2013 when they came back from 2-0 down to win the tie 3-2.
“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. The draw is on Thursday and we will find out where we are playing and figure it out”.
The Birmingham player, who lost 6-4, 2-6, 3-6, 4-6, said: “It’s pretty raw right now, for everyone”.
“I am very proud of all the players”.
“I’m really proud – when I look at the team sheet now and see the rankings?” Like the end of the match against Japan [earlier this year] when I hadn’t played for a while, I felt physically shattered after that.
“I have played so much tennis in the last few months, I need a break and I need it now”, Murray was quoted as saying by the Times.
“We might not have another run like the one we’ve had in the last couple of years but next year is another opportunity to try to keep building the team and give players the opportunity to play in an awesome event”.
“Leonardo’s match was something we believed could happen but I think it was a great effort on his part”.
“I’ve never really had any muscle injuries before”, said Murray. The reason for leaving the court, he later explained, was that, “I can’t get my nuts out on court”.
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However, Murray will not get too much time to rest as he is scheduled to play the China Open that starts on 3 October and goes through until 9 October at Beijing.
