Successful Attack to Defend the Title

The Davis Cup. One of the most important tennis trophies in the world – the only one where nation and teamwork means something. Great Britain is on a good way to defend the title this year.

Yesterday, they won against Japan 3:1 after Andy Murray’s triumph over Kei Nishikori. The Scotsman won 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 4-6 6-3 after four hours and 54 minutes. It was his third win in the last three days and the first competition being back after the birth of his daughter Sophia. “The five o’clock country” will now play against Serbia in the quarter finals.

“I am lost for words at this stage; he is a man of steel, isn’t he?” captain Leon Smith said of Murray. “What Andy managed to do was astonishing since he hasn’t played since the Australian Open final”.

The Murray game with Nishikori has been the best in the competition so far. In fact, what can be better than 5 hours of tennis – a game of 5 sets between two of the best players in the world?

Nishikori, 26, who is ranked sixth in the world, was close to become only the second man to recover from being two sets down against Murray.

“Last year was incredible every time I played in the Davis Cup. This team did something special and I would like to do the same again this year. Obviously the next match will be extremely tough and if we stick together and fight we have a chance” – Murray said after the game.

It will now be very difficult to win for GB. In the Davis Cup, two teams compete in two singles and one double. This means that if a team has one great single player, it will become very hard to beat. GB has Andy Murray, but Serbian Novak Djokovic is playing probably the best tennis in history at the moment.

“The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I’ll never be as good as a wall” – American comedian Mitch Hedberg once said.

He was wrong, but only because he hasn’t seen Djokovic in action. Will Murray destroy this wall?