By Erik Gudris | Sunday, July 19, 2015
Andy Murray led Great Britain into the Davis Cup semifinals after winning a tough battle against France's Gilles Simon.
Photo Credit: CameraSport/Stephen White
Andy Murray answered his country's call once again and now has given Great Britain an opportunity that last happened when the Scot wasn't even born.
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In the Davis Cup quarterfinal against France, Murray cliched the reverse singles rubber against Gilles Simon after a grueling four set win. That victory put Great Britain into the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time since 1981.
When asked how he pulled off the victory after falling behind early, Murray said he kept to a simple game plan.
"Just chase every ball down and I didn't care how I played I just wanted to win the match today. And that's what I did," Murray said right after to Eurosport's Annabel Croft.
Early on, it appeared Murray might pay a high price for having played singles and then earning a winning result in doubles with his brother Jamie Murray on Saturday. Simon came out looking the fresher and often won the early extended rallies.
Simon took hold of an early break lead in the first set. But Simon's advantage was tested late in the set when he slipped on the slick court at Queen's Club. After taking a medical time out to have his right knee examined, Simon returned to action. The Frenchman fought off Murray's attempts to level the set and soon claimed it 6-4.
Things continued in favor of the Frenchman who earned a quick service break to start the second set. Simon, who jumped out to a 4-2 lead, had opportunities for a double break against an increasingly tired-looking Murray. But fueled by the local crowd, Murray recovered and soon broke back for 4-all.
A tiebreak was needed that proved the pivotal turning point of the match. Though Simon appeared poised to take it and a two sets to love lead, Murray countered later in the breaker. Down 4-5, Murray won a extended rally after Simon sent a shot into the net. Simon hit long in the next point giving Murray a set point. Murray, with a strong serve, then finished off the set 7-6(5) to the delight of the British fans.
From there, the tide quickly turned in favor of Murray who raced out to a 3-0 lead in the third set. Simon threatened to level things in the sixth game but Murray found some much needed first serves to pull ahead for 4-2. Late in the set, an-ill-timed slip by Simon would prove costly.
Serving down 3-5, Simon fell again on the slick grass. That miscue created a set point for Murray who converted with a well-timed lob over the Frenchman's head up at net. Murray took the set 6-3 for a two set to one advantage.
Simon's troubles with the court continued in the fourth set. Murray, upping the pressure on Simon, forced the issue with aggressive play to create a break point. Simon once again slipped giving Murray an easy put away to take the lead.
Simon, after receiving a medical time out this time to have his ankle examined, was never quite the same. Simon returned to the court but could not move as well as he did earlier in the match. Murray took advantage and broke Simon again to extend his lead to 4-0. An easy service hold for Murray put him a game away at 5-0.
The end was a formality despite Simon fighting off several match points in the final game. On his fourth match point, Murray forced a last error from the Frenchman who hit long. With that, Murray celebrated the hard-fought 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-0 victory.
"Obviously it feels unbelievable to get through that. It wasn't looking great in the second set. I just managed to try and find a way and used up all my last ounces of energy," Murray said.
Murray's win now puts Great Britain into the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time since 1981. They will next face Australia at home after Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt completed a 3-2 comeback win for their team over Kazakhstan.