By Chris Oddo | Sunday, February 2, 2014

Andy Murray fought off a spirited effort from American Sam Querrey on Sunday at San Diego’s Petco Park, sending his nation to the World Group quarterfinals for the first time since 1986 with a 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3 victory.

Murray, who is no stranger to the long-sought-after British milestone, became the first British winner of Wimbledon in 77 years in 2013. That particular episode will be forever chronicled as one of the greatest moments in British tennis history.

On Sunday in San Diego the pressure on Murray wasn’t quite as menacing, nor were the stakes quite as high, but it was the same opportunistic, fine-tuned Murray who patrolled the backcourt like a legend, taking every punch that the powerful Querrey could offer, and sending many back with more interest than the American could afford.

"You want to try and contribute as much as possible in these weeks," said Murray. "James [Ward] had a great win against Sam on the first day to put us in this position and it was up to me and try and close it out. Thankfully, I managed to do it."

After splitting the first two sets with Querrey, Murray took over in the third, breaking serve three times and taking the air out of the relatively sparse but energetic crowd.

Murray would continue his push in the fourth, breaking Querrey in his first service game of the set, and saving all four break points he faced to close the match in two hours and fifty-four minutes.

Querrey, who had dropped a heartbreaking decision to James Ward in Friday’s second rubber, appeared eager to wash the taste of that defeat out of his mouth in the early going. He attacked Murray with big, booming groundstrokes, and even mixed in a few tasty drop shots, too. But by the third set, Murray seemed ready to kick it up another notch while Querrey couldn’t help but dropping his level.

The victory marks the first time that Great Britain has won a Davis Cup tie on American soil since 1903, and the first time that the Brits have defeated the Americans at any venue since 1935.

On the flip side, the Americans lost for only the third time in 20 Davis Cup ties held in the state of California.

Murray and his teammates will next travel to Italy to face an Italian squad that defeated Argentina in Mar del Plata this weekend.

"This is the first time I've been involved in Davis Cup where we've had a chance of winning the competition," said Murray. "Hopefully we can keep it going."