Andy Murray set up a potentially epic Davis Cup semi-final against Lleyton Hewitt’s Australia on Sunday when he spearheaded Britain’s 3-1 quarter-final win over France.
World No. 3 Murray clinched his nation’s first semi-final berth for 34 years with a 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-0 win over Gilles Simon, sealing the tie 3-1 after playing three days in succession at Queen’s Club in London.
The 28-year-old’s 23rd win in 25 Davis Cup singles matches secured a first victory over old rivals France since 1978 and took Britain back to the last four for the first time since 1981.
Photo: AFP
Murray, who won both singles matches and the doubles with brother Jamie, said: “It feels unbelievable to get through. I used up my last ounces of energy.”
“It wasn’t looking good in the second set. I was making too many mistakes, but I didn’t care how I played. I just wanted to win,” he said. “The whole weekend has been fantastic. This team has done amazing things. We are punching above our weight.”
Britain have not won the Davis Cup since 1936 and their last final appearance came in 1978.
They host Australia in the last four in September, while Belgium and Argentina meet in the other semi-final.
Both sides sealed their last-four spots on Saturday with wins over Canada and Serbia respectively.
Both Belgium and Argentina benefited from facing weakened rivals in their quarter-finals.
Canada were without world No. 8 Milos Raonic and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Vasek Pospisil, while world No. 1 Novak Djokovic sat out Serbia’s trip to Argentina.
Belgium will be playing in their first semi-final since 1999, while four-time runners-up Argentina are into their 10th semi-final in 13 years.
Meanwhile, five-time champions Spain were condemned to another season in Euro-Africa Group I after letting a 2-0 first-day lead slip in a 3-2 loss to Russia in Vladivostok.
Spain were without top 10 players Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer, and Russia took full advantage by booking a place in September’s World Group playoffs.
Teenager Andrey Rublev, ranked at 194, clinched the winning point by defeating world No. 32 Pablo Andujar 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
Earlier on Sunday, world No. 178 Evgeny Donskoy stunned Tommy Robredo, ranked at 21st in the world, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) to level the tie.
Spain captain Conchita Martinez, the former Wimbledon women’s singles champion, bemoaned the team having to make a 27,000km round trip to Russia’s Pacific coast to play the match.
“It was so far from our homeland and was of course very inconvenient for us,” Martinez said. “Nevertheless, we tried to do everything for the win, but in sport there are no guarantees.”
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