Australia vs Great Britain Day 1: Davis Cup highlights, scores, blog

Match Result: Australia and Great Britain are level after day 1 with both teams winning a rubber in the semi-final tie between the two.

After Andy Murray defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis in straight sets, Bernard Tomic won his 15th singles match for Australia with a four set win over Dan Evans.

In the opening match, Murray was dominant, as he didn’t give Kokkinakis an inch in a commanding performance.  

He lost just six games, six points on serve, and hit 42 winners in the rout.

In comparison, Kokkinakis hit 16 winners, as he tried to stay in the match for as long as possible.

Unfortunately though, he struggled on serve, and won just 7 points out of 33 on the 2nd serve.

Murray showed why he was the world number 3 as he gave Great Britain the perfect start.

In the 2nd tie, Australia started well, as Tomic took the opening set 6-3 against Evans.

He dominated the contest early, and took a 2-0 lead in the second set, with an early break.

Great Britain would fight back though, through grit and determination, as Evans broke back in the 6th game and force the 2nd set to a tiebreaker.

Tomic composed, played better tennis in the crucial points of the breaker, and won it 7 points to 2.

Evans then had medical treatment for a calf injury, as his hopes for an upset win began to fade.

It got worse as Tomic broke to race to a 3-0 lead.

At 5-4, Tomic served for the match, and looked likely to level the day at 1-1.

Evans had other ideas and – like a certain player on the opposition for Australia – fought back to break.

Now spurred on by the home crowd, the British player lifted, as he took the 3rd set in a tiebreaker.

As his calf problems continued, Tomic pounced in the fourth set, and raced to another lead.

Evans tried to come back again, and had multiple break points to do it.

Tomic though responded and broke again to lead 5-2 and serve for the match.

Once again Evans came back, as he broke again, to make it 5-4.

Tomic at this stage was also tiring and starting to cramp up like he did against Lleyton Hewitt at the US Open.

He needed to finish the match off at the third time of trying to avoid Evans over running him.

The Aussie was able to do just that and take the first match point on offer to him to level the tie up.

Tomic, who should have won the match earlier, had a break lead in each of the four sets.

This match, which almost went for 3 hours, could have big consequences for Great Britain.

Evans is now fatigued for the reverse singles, with only doubles players available for them.

Australia, on the other hand, have Kokkinakis, Hewitt, and Sam Groth capable of taking him on and winning.

A doubles win tomorrow, with Hewitt and Groth, could hand Australia the tie if Evans can’t get fit enough for the 4th rubber.

That match, which could be the biggest in Hewitt’s career, will be blogged later today for the Roar.

Match Preview: Australia’s quest for a first Davis Cup final since 2003 begins tonight when they take on Great Britain at the Emirates Arena in Scotland. Join The Roar for a live blog of the action from 10:00pm AEST.

It looks to be a tough task for Australia with the inclusion of world number three Andy Murray. He is 14-0 in singles matches against the green and gold and will look to make that 16-0 by the end of the weekend.

Australia’s charge in singles is led – at the moment – by Bernard Tomic and Thanasi Kokkinakis. Coach Wally Masur has opted to leave Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt for the last two days, replicating Day 1 against Kazakhstan.

Australia will be hoping they can at least win one match today, unlike that day against Kazakhstan. If they do go down 2-0 against GB, they won’t be coming back to win this match. They need to win the reverse singles, with no Andy Murray, and win the doubles to win.

The draw for all three days was made yesterday:
Day 1: Andy Murray v Thanasi Kokkinakis, Dan Evans v Bernard Tomic
Day 2: Andy & Jamie Murray v Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt
Day 3: Andy Murray v Bernard Tomic, Thanasi Kokkinakis v Dan Evans

Here is a look at both matches tonight.

Andy Murray v Thanasi Kokkinakis
This an imposing task for the young South Australian, with Murray losing just twice in singles at the Davis Cup. Only Stan Wawrinka and Fabio Fognini, on clay, have defeated the world number three at DC level.

It is a tough challenge for Kokkinakis, but he does know a fair bit about Murray’s game. They have played doubles together and Kokkinakis practiced with Murray before they each played their first matches at the recent US Open.

Kokkinakis is an outsider for this match, but he can tire Murray, which will be the aim tonight. Playing five sets will make Murray tired for his other two matches this weekend.

You never know, Kokkinakis might steal the match as well, if it gets close.

The key to the contest will be Kokkinakis serving well, and attacking the Murray second serve. Winning multiple points from it, and holding is own serve is vital. Playing well from the baseline, and matching Murray, will also be crucial.

I expect this match to be closer than the bookies suggest. The slower courts will help Kokkinakis. Murray will win but Kokkinakis will win a set or two.

Prediction: Murray 3-1

Bernard Tomic v Dan Evans
This is a match Australia need to win. With Murray expected to win his singles contests, the Aussies must win the others.

This contest, between Tomic and Evans, promises to have plenty in it after what happened a couple of years ago.

In the second round of the US Open, Evans upset the Aussie with a four set win. He was fired up after the Tomic team refused to train with him when he signed up for practice with them. The Tomic camp said he wasn’t good enough, so he exacted revenge by showing how good he is.

Now they face again two years later, in different circumstances. Evans has had an injury riddled 12-18 months while Tomic is at a career high ranking. He also thrives at Davis Cup tennis.

Criticise Tomic all you want, but he is 14-2 in this format. This includes two wins against the Czech Republic earlier this year.

The key to this match is the baseline battle. Tomic needs to control it, and hit plenty of winners.

I expect Tomic to come out with all guns blazing, intent on playing well for Australia, and gaining revenge for what happened at the US Open.

With Evans only playing Challenger matches, and no real pressure contests, he may struggle with expectation as well. Tomic will win comfortably.

Prediction: Tomic 3-0

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