Murray downs Nishikori, sets up clash with Serbia
Scot wins five-setter as Britain join Italy, France, Czech, Croatia, US and Argentina in quarters
BIRMINGHAM: Britain’s Andy Murray won a gripping fiveset match against Japan’s Kei Nishikori to secure a 3-1 Davis Cup win for the champions and a quarter-final with Novak Djokovic’s Serbia.
Murray, whose heroics helped clinch the title against Belgium last year, was pegged back after taking the first two sets, but eventually prevailed against the world number six 7-5, 7-6(6), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 in four hours and 54 minutes.
It was Murray’s first event back on court since the birth of his daughter, but any doubts over his fitness were dispelled as he once again carried Britain’s hopes almost single-handedly, winning three matches, including the doubles, in three days.
“I am lost for words at this stage; he (Murray) is a man of steel, isn’t he?” Britain’s captain Leon Smith said. “What Andy managed to do was astonishing since he hasn’t played since the Australian Open final.”
After his exertions, Murray said he was keen to get back to his family. “It’s (wife) Kim’s first Mother’s Day, so it will be nice to get to see her this evening. I’ll try to get back for bath time and to put her to sleep — the baby, not Kim.”
Just like Murray, Novak Djokovic too spent nearly five hours on court on Sunday to steer Serbia into a blockbuster Davis Cup quarterfinal showdown with Great Britain.
World number one Djokovic took five sets to defeat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to pull Serbia level at 2-2 with Kazakhstan in Belgrade.
Viktor Troicki then beat world number 200 Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to put 2010 champions Serbia into a July 15-17 quarter-final.