Great Britain and Japan are deadlocked at 1-1 in the Davis Cup first-round
tie in Birmingham after Andy Murray
and Kei Nishikori won opening-day
rubbers. The reigning champions used Murray to kick-start their defence with a
6-1 6-3 6-1 victory over Japan's No 2 Daniel
but Nishikori, Japan's top player, earned retribution with a 6-3 7-5
7-6 win against Dan Evans ahead of
Saturday's third rubber.
The initial advantage never looked in doubt for Great Britain as Murray
comprehensively outplayed Daniel, the world No 87, who struggled to adjust to
the high-pressure environment with a crowd fully behind the home player. It
took Daniel six service efforts to finally get the ball on the court, gifting
Murray a 4-0 lead that he scarcely worked for. The British No 1 almost won the
first set with a clean sweep, until Daniel finally found his feet and held his
last service game.
There were signs of rustiness for Murray in his first match since the birth
of his first child but Daniel never possessed the firepower to make him pay.
Although the American-born 23-year-old was able to hold his first three service
games of the second set, it always seemed like a matter of time until Murray
broke through. Murray capitalised on a double-fault to go 4-3 ahead and two
sensational winners directly off Daniel's serve confirmed the set. Murray broke
early in the third set and then crucially to go 5-1 ahead - coming back from a
40-15 deficit with a thunderous smash and a backhand winner before serving his
way to the win.
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