Andy Murray expresses his delight to BBC Scotland’s Kheredine Idessane as the world number two opens Great Britain’s Davis Cup defence with a singles victory over Japan’s Taro Daniel.
Britain’s Naomi Broady will play her second WTA Tour semi-final after beating Germany’s Sabine Lisicki at the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.
The British number three, 26, prevailed 7-6 (7-4) 1-6 7-5 in a match which lasted two hours and 16 minutes.
Broady saved three break points in the third set to make the last four.
After beating the world number 31, she will now face Eugenie Bouchard, the Canadian sixth seed who breezed past Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay 6-1 6-4.
Broady posted on social media afterwards: “Had to fight hard again to get the win today and make it through to the semi-final here in Kuala Lumpur #keeprolling.”
The Briton, now ranked 96 in the world, also reached the semi-finals of last September’s WTA event in Quebec.
She moved into the top 100 for the first time in February after winning an ITF tournament in the United States.
That came a month after she beat former world number one Ana Ivanovic in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland, her first victory over a top-20 ranked opponent.
| Davis Cup World Group first round: Great Britain v Japan |
|---|
| Date: 4-6 March Venue: Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham Coverage: Live on BBC TV, Radio 5 live sports extra and BBC Sport website |
Andy Murray returned to action with a comfortable win over Taro Daniel to give holders Britain an early lead against Japan in the Davis Cup.
Murray, playing for the first time since becoming a father last month, beat the world number 87 6-1 6-3 6-1.
Victory in the best-of-five tie in Birmingham will secure a quarter-final place and World Group status in 2017.
British number three Dan Evans plays world number six Kei Nishikori in Friday’s second singles match.
The home side are defending the title they regained for the first time in 79 years with victory against Belgium last November.
“It was amazing,” Murray said of the reception he received after needing only one hour 30 minutes to see off Daniel.
There were signs of rustiness – four double faults and 25 unforced errors slowing his progress at times – but the Scot broke serve six times and saved both break points he faced in a one-sided win.
Murray, 28, won the opening 11 points in his first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final 33 days ago.
He wrapped up the first set in 28 minutes and took hold of a more competitive second after a double fault at 3-3 from Daniel, the US-born 23-year-old with just five ATP wins to his name.
Two blistering returns gave Murray the decisive break at the start of the third and he wrapped up the 28th Davis Cup singles win of his career in style.
“The last few weeks have been the best of my life, really special,” Murray said of becoming a father to Sophia.
“It has been tough the last few days being away from her for the first time but it had to happen to some stage, and it is a pleasure to represent my country and be with team-mates that we won with last year.
“The second set was tough – a lot of close games and some tough points, which was good for me.
“I was getting a little out of breath but I played a good match, served well, missed a few second serves but the first serve went extremely well, so it was a nice start.”
Friday
Andy Murray beats Taro Daniel 6-1 6-3 6-1
Dan Evans v Kei Nishikori
Saturday doubles
Dominic Inglot & Jamie Murray v Yoshihito Nishioka & Yasutaka Uchiyama
Sunday
Andy Murray v Kei Nishikori
Dan Evans v Taro Daniel
Listen to State of the British Game – a 5 live sport special
ATPWorldTour.com reviews Friday’s play in Davis Cup World Group first-round ties
AUSTRALIA 1, UNITED STATES 1
Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, Kooyong, AUS (grass – outdoor)
Australia, the 28-time champion, is level at 1-1 with 32-time winner United States on Friday.
World No. 11 John Isner secured the opening rubber for the United States by hitting 20 aces to beat Sam Groth 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 50 minutes. “It was a very, very good performance for me and certainly I’ve played in a lot of matches in my career where I’ve struggled on return, but I think today I was pretty solid.”
Later, Bernard Tomic improved to 16-3 in singles rubbers for Australia by breaking a three-match losing streak against Jack Sock, competing in his second Davis Cup, 7-6(2), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in two hours and 24 minutes. “I hadn’t beaten Sock before so I knew that it was going to be tough,” said Tomic.
Lleyton Hewitt, who is making his debut as Australia’s Davis Cup captain, said, “Bernie did really well. Right from the start he came out serving great, hitting his spots really well.”
Australia’s Groth and John Peers are scheduled to play Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in Saturday’s doubles rubber. “Bob and Mike Bryan seem to be at an advantage in the historical count of doubles in Davis Cup, but every day is a different day,” said US captain Jim Courier. “They’ve played awfully well. We feel confident in them, but… we don’t take anything for granted, we’ll be ready to go.”
Hewitt added, “The Bryans obviously are the favourites tomorrow in the doubles. But I still think our guys have got a good shot at it, and then on the last day anything can happen.”
Στο Tallinn της Εσθονίας βρίσκεται η Εθνική ομάδα τένις για τους αγώνες του Group III της Ευρωπαϊκής ζώνης στο Davis Cup.
Στη διοργάνωση συμμετέχουν 15 χώρες που έχουν χωριστεί σε 4 γκρούπ (Pool).
Η Ελλάδα βρίσκεται στο Pool D, μαζί με την Εσθονία, το Κόσοβο και το Λιχτενστάιν. Η νικήτρια ομάδα απο κάθε Pool θα παίξει με τις νικήτριες των άλλων Pool.
Οι δυο καλύτερες ομάδες της διοργάνωσης, θα ανέβουν στο Group II της Ευρω-Αφρικανικής Ζώνης.
Το αντιπροσωπευτικό μας συγκρότημα νίκησε με 3-0 το Kόσοβο και με 3-0 το Λιχτενστάιν. Σήμερα η Ελλάδα θα αντιμετωπίσει τη διοργανώτρια Εσθονία με στόχο να βγει πρώτη στο Pool D. Είναι ένα δύσκολο εγχείρημα και οι αθλητές μας θα δώσουν τον καλύτερο τους εαυτό.
Argentine to continue comeback at BNP Paribas Open
Juan Martin del Potro will continue his comeback at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells next week after being award a wild card into the main draw along with several fast-rising young Amercians.
The Argentine, who missed most of 2015 due to left wrist surgery, made a successful return to the ATP World Tour in Delray Beach in February, losing in the semi-finals to eventual champion Sam Querrey.
“This week I won more than a tournament,” del Potro said after the loss. “I am so glad to play tennis again.”
The 2013 finalist (l. to Nadal) will take part in his second tournament of the year. The former No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings is 16-5 at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.
Joining del Potro in the Indian Wells as main draw wild cards will be American youngsters Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Mackenzie McDonald and in-form veteran Rajeev Ram, who has battled – and fallen – in the qualifying rounds in four of the past five years in the desert. He is seeking his first main-draw win at the event.
Fritz is having a breakout 2016 season, moving into the Top 100 Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time after making the final of Memphis and the quarter-finals of Acapulco. The 18 year old, ranked No. 81, will make his main draw debut at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.
Receiving a wild card into the qualifying draw is American Brian Baker. Baker had been out of action due to injury since 2013 before making his return to competition at the 2016 Australian Open (l. to Bolelli in the first round). It remains his only appearance of the year.
Aussie legend makes debut as captain
As a five year old, Lleyton Hewitt fell in love with tennis watching countryman Pat Cash’s heroic 1986 Davis Cup final performance against Sweden on the grass of Kooyong. 30 years on, the former World No. 1 will make his debut at the helm of the Australian Davis Cup team on the same court.
“There’s a lot of preparation going into a Davis Cup tie, especially at home,” noted Hewitt, who penciled his own name into the team’s four-player lineup after Nick Kyrgios was unable to play due to illness. “I’ve tried to enjoy the process as much as possible. Now it’s just about putting the best players out there and trying to get the three match wins.
“It won’t be easy but we believe we have a really good shot.”
Hewitt, who announced his retirement as a player at the 2016 Australian Open, is not planning on taking to the court over the weekend. Instead, he has named big-serving Sam Groth as Kyrgios’ replacement.
“He can back up singles or doubles, which is great,” said Hewitt of Groth, who is slated to face John Isner on Friday and Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan on Saturday (partnering John Peers). “He has so much passion and so much pride. His results on a grass court in Darwin against Kazakhstan last year gave him a lot of confidence. On this surface, he’s a great person to have on your team.”
Australia’s other singles player will be Bernard Tomic. The country’s top player in the Emirates ATP Rankings did not have much time to adjust to the quick playing surface in Kooyong after a successful hard court run last week, but Hewitt believes that the quick turnaround will not pose a problem for the World No. 20.
“Bernard is coming off a final in Acapulco. It’s hard to beat confidence coming in. I am not worried about his limited preparation.”
Business As Usual For Djokovic
Novak Djokovic, recovered from an eye ailment which forced him out of Dubai last week, will assume his usual role of top singles player for Team Serbia. The World No. 1 will face 200th-ranked Aleksandr Nedovyesov in the opening match of the Serbia-Kazakhstan World Tour first-round tie. Djokovic has not lost a Davis Cup rubber since 2011, when he retired in a singles match against Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro.
Murray At The Ready For Team GB
World No. 2 Andy Murray returns from paternity leave to help his country defend its Davis Cup title against a Japanese squad led by Kei Nishikori. Murray, who has not played since losing the final of the Australian Open against Djokovic, will face No. 87 Taro Daniel in the first rubber. Daniel Evans is a late substitute in the Great Britain lineup, taking the place of the injured Kyle Edmund against Nishikori in the second singles match on Friday.
Zverev’s Big Chance In Hannover
Sascha Zverev will make his Davis Cup debut for Germany against Tomas Berdych in the second singles rubber on Friday. The 18 year old is ranked No. 58 in the Emirates ATP Rankings to the Czech’s No. 7, but the youngster nearly pulled off the upset in the pair’s latest meeting three weeks ago in Marseille. Berdych prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.