- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Australia will chase its first Davis Cup final since 2003 when they take on Great Britain in Glasgow this weekend in the Davis Cup semi-final.
After defeating the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan in the opening two rounds the green and gold now face a team including the world number three in Andy Murray.
It could also be a final stand for Lleyton Hewitt who plans to retire at the end of the Australian open next year. Along with the other members of the teak, he has shown he wants to end the Davis Cup year with a title.
Key Information
Venue: Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Great Britain
Court: Indoor Hard Court
Head to Head: Australia 8, Great Britain 4
Last meeting: 2003 – Australia won 4-1 on clay in Sydney
First meeting: 1907 – Australasia defeated British Isles 3-2 at Wimbledon
Players for each team
Great Britain: Andy Murray, Daniel Evans, Jamie Murray, Dominic Inglot
Australia: Bernard Tomic, Samuel Groth, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Lleyton Hewitt
TV Schedule
Channel Seven have the live and exclusive right to broadcast all matches involving Australia in the Davis Cup. The semi-final against Great Britain will be broadcast live on 7TWO and also on the Seven Tennis app, at the following times:
Friday: 10:00pm – 3:00am
Saturday: 10:00pm – 1:00am
Sunday: 10:00pm – 3:00am
All time are AEST. Finishing times may change depending on the length of matches.
The Roar will live blog all five matches so you won’t miss a thing.
Can any Aussie stop Andy Murray?
If Australia are any chance to beat Great Britain, they need to at least beat Andy Murray once in singles or doubles.
With the world number three expected to play all three days, despite Dominic Inglot being named, Australia need at least one win, to make sure they progress to the final.
That looks an imposing task with Murray having a great record against Aussies. In singles, he has won 18 matches, out of the 20 he has played against Australian players.
At ATP level though, he is undefeated, with 14 straight wins against the green and gold. In doubles the record is seven wins and five losses against combinations featuring Australian players.
The singles record is imposing for Bernard Tomic and Thanasi Kokkinakis, who face him this weekend. Kokkinakis will be the first to face him and his task will be to make the match last as long as possible.
Three matches in three days is taxing, no matter how good you are. Putting Murray through a five set epic, and potentially defeating him, will be exactly what Australia would like on Day 1.
This allows Australia to attack the doubles combination, featuring Murray, on Day 2 which could allow them to defeat him once. It could also allow Tomic to defeat him on Day 3 if the Scottish player has a huge two days of action.
The key is the doubles, and beating the Murray brothers in that match, if they play. That will be the difference between winning and losing. Don’t be surprised though if Kokkinakis gives him a massive fright on Day 1 and makes him tired.
Australia and Great Britain, head to head
This weekend is the 13th meeting between these two powerhouses of tennis. It is just the second time this millennium though with the only other meeting in 2003 in Sydney.
Australia won that match 4-1 with Lleyton Hewitt winning in singles and doubles at the event.
The first ever meeting between the two was in 1907 as Australia and New Zealand defeated the British Isles 3 rubbers to 2.
Between 1907 and 1936 these teams faced each other eight times with Australia winning five of them. Recently, Australia has dominated, with the last three contests going their way.
Amazingly, this is the first contest on hard courts, with the other matches on clay and grass. It is also the first tie held outside of England, USA, and Australia.
Australia hold the head to head advantage but Great Britain start as favourites.
This promises to be a fascinating contest if previous contests are anything to go by. Six contests have been won 3-2 with seven heading to the last day of the contest. This contest has all the hallmarks of doing the same.
Can Australia win?
Of course they can! The key though will be winning the doubles and the singles not featuring Andy Murray. If they do that then they progress to the final for the first time since 2003.
With Great Britain not as strong as Australia in their second choice player, the Aussies need to make those matches count, if they want to win.
Beating Dan Evans, who replaced Kyle Edmund in the last minute, in both matches is huge.
Of course, a win against Andy Murray would be incredible as well.
In all likelihood though, Australia will struggle, and not win a match against Murray in singles. He seems to thrive on facing them. Therefore they need to win the doubles, which may involve Murray, and the reverse singles.
Australia will also need to play better than how they did against Kazakhstan. A poor day like their opening one against Kazakhstan would end their quest for the title. They need to play as a team, have everyone give it everything they’ve got, and not give up.
The green and gold can win the contest against Great Britain but will need to play at their best to do so. It may also take all four players, like in the quarter final, to play a huge part in the match.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.