Murray ends Britain’s 34-year wait to make Davis Cup semis

ANDY MURRAY clinched Great Britain’s first Davis Cup semi-final berth for 34 years as the world number three’s gritty victory against Gilles Simon gave his country an unassailable 3-1 lead yesterday.

Murray defied the aches and pains assailing his body after playing for three successive days at Queen’s Club to grind out a 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-0 quarterfinal success.

The Scot’s 23rd win from 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.

It was a herculean three hour and 26 minute effort from the exhausted Murray and, having ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a homegrown male winner of the Wimbledon singles title in 2013, he now has his sights on another memorable milestone.

After wiping away some tears of joy, 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.”

Britain haven’t won the Davis Cup since 1936 and their last final appearance came in 1978, but they have a golden opportunity to end those barren runs this year.

Britain will host Australia in the last four in September.

France captain Arnaud Clement had hinted he might make a late change to his singles lineup by selecting Richard Gasquet instead of Simon.

But he stuck with the world No. 11, which was good news for Murray, who had won 12 of his previous 14 meetings with Simon.

Simon was in good form on grass however, having made the Queen’s Club semifinals and the Wimbledon quarter-finals before routing James Ward in the opening rubber on Friday.

Having ended Roger Federer’s run of 116 unbroken service games at Wimbledon, Simon had no reason to feel intimidated by the Murray serve and the 30-year-old made a flying start with a break in the third game.

For much of the first two sets, Murray, just a week removed from his run to the Wimbledon semi-finals, looked mentally and physically spent as his recent exertions finally caught up with him against Simon, who had an extra 24 hours rest after being left out of the doubles.

Yet the two-time Grand Slam champion Murray somehow shook off his lethargy to secure a vital break in the eighth game, forcing a tiebreak that he won after a superb fightback from 4-1 down. – AFP