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Murrays give Britain edge over Australia in Davis Cup

Britain have a 2-1 advantage over Australia in the Davis Cup semi-final. Andy and Jamie Murray were the heroes for the British. 

Andy Murray teamed up with brother Jamie for the doubles in Britain's Davis Cup tie against Australia.
Andy Murray teamed up with brother Jamie for the doubles in Britain's Davis Cup tie against Australia. DR
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The brothers Murray edged a see-saw five -set thriller against the Australian duo Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt on Saturday night in Glasgow. 

The British pair lost the first set but ultimately won the final set 6-4 after failing to convert a match point during a gripping tiebreak in a dramatic fourth set.

The Murrays had earlier saved three set points while 4-5 down. They eventually held serve and then broke to lead 6-5. But they fluffed their chance to serve out the victory. The Australians won the tie break 8-6.

The Britons surged into a 3-0 lead in the decider before being pegged back to 3-3. The Australians finally faltered during Groth’s serve after nearly four hours of enthralling doubles tennis.

Victory gave the home side a 2-1 lead and it means Andy Murray can clinch the tie for Britain in Sunday's first singles match as they attempt to win the competition for the first time since 1936.

If he overcomes his scheduled opponent, Bernard Tomic, the 28-year-old will secure a place against Belgium or Argentina. The South Americans lead that tie 2-1 going into Sunday’s singles.

"It was an incredible match and we had to come back from the disappointment of losing the fourth set," said Andy Murray. "We stuck together like brothers should and managed to come up with enough good returns. It was as emotionally draining as much as it was physically."

"Davis Cup doubles over five sets can sometimes only rely on one or two points," said Hewitt, who is featuring in his final Davis Cup campaign.

"Doubles is always crucial but there are still two matches to go and we have to come up with the best plan to win those matches and give ourselves an opportunity to go through to the final."

With the tie delicately balanced after Friday's singles, British captain Leon Smith put Andy alongside Jamie instead of Dominic Inglot as he opted for the pairing who secured a four-set victory over Nicolas Mahut and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-final against France.

Australia captain Wally Masur kept faith with 34-year-old Hewitt and Groth after the pair had helped to inspire a comeback from 2-0 down against Kazakhstan in the last eight.

"We had a chance at 6-5 to close it out and then the tie break as well, but they came out with some great shots," said Jamie Murray.

"But we kept fighting hard and didn't panic and we're so pleased to get the win for the team."

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