Andy and Jamie Murray kept alive Great Britain's Davis Cup hopes with doubles victory
Saturday 17 September 2016 20:15, UK
Andy and Jamie Murray kept alive Great Britain's hopes of winning their Davis Cup semi-final against Argentina with a thrilling doubles rubber success in Glasgow on Saturday.
The Murray brothers again proved a winning combination as they completed a 6-1 3-6 6-4 6-4 win over Juan Martin Del Potro and Leonardo Mayer, cutting Argentina's lead to 2-1 ahead of Sunday's two singles matches.
Andy Murray had suffered a marathon five-set singles defeat to Del Potro on Sunday and would face his conqueror again after Argentina drafted the former US Open winner into their line-up instead of Federico Delbonis.
But the Scottish duo exposed tentative early play from their opponents, pulling into a 4-0 lead with two breaks of serve, and the Argentinians would be allowed just one game before the Brits secured the set in under half an hour.
Andy Murray appeared to show the lingering after effects of that epic loss against Del Potro when he was broken at the start of the second set and the South Americans stubbornly preserved their own serve while levelling the match.
Another break of Andy Murray's serve gave Argentina control of the rubber and the tie, although their joy would be shortlived as the Murrays responded instantly by breaking Mayer's next service game.
Del Potro had expertly held his nerve 24 hours earlier, but even his steely resolve would crumble amidst constant calls for action from an expectant home support and Andy gleefully converted set point to leave Britain one set from victory.
Neither doubles pairing wanted to give ground during a tense fourth set, with Mayer fending off an early break point, but he would wilt again at 5-4 down, allowing the Murrays to set up an exciting final day of singles.
