20 July,2015 08:32 AM IST | | AFP
With his wife Kim cheering on, Murray gets emotional after beating Gilles Simon to take Great Britain into semis for first time in 34 years
An emotional Andy Murray of Great Britain hugs wife Kim Sears after beating France's Gilles Simon in a Davis Cup world group quarter-final single match at the Queen's Club in London yesterday
London: Andy Murray clinched Great Britain's first Davis Cup semi-final berth in 34 years with a gritty victory against Gilles Simon to give his country an unassailable 3-1 lead yesterday.
An emotional Andy Murray of Great Britain hugs wife Kim Sears after beating France's Gilles Simon in a Davis Cup world group quarter-final single match at the Queen's Club in London yesterday. Pic/AFP
World No 3 Murray defied the aches and pains assailing his body after playing for three successive days at Queen's Club to grind out a 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-0 quarter-final success.
The Scot's 23rd win from 25 Davis Cup singles matches secured a first victory over old rivals France since 1978 and took Britain back to the last four for the first time since 1981. It was a herculean threehour-26-minute effort from the exhausted Murray.
After wiping away some tears of joy, Murray, who won both singles matches and the doubles with brother Jamie, said: "It feels unbelievable to get through. I used up my last ounces of energy.
It wasn't looking good in the second set. I was making too many mistakes but I didn't care how I played. I just wanted to win." Britain host Australia in the semis in September, with a final possibly against Belgium or Argentina.
Hewitt on fire
Lleyton Hewitt yesterday ensured Australia clinched a comeback from 0-2 down to beat Kazakhstan 3-2 and enter the Davis Cup semis. It was the first time in 76 years that 28-times champions Australia clawed back from 0-2 down to win a Davis Cup tie.
Australia were also the opposition when Britain last won a semi-final in 1978. Britain haven't won the Davis Cup since 1936 and their last final appearance came in 1978.
Simon however slammed the court conditions after his defeat. "I've played 10 years on grass and this court is the most slippery I've felt. I fell four-five times. I had to pay attention on every shot. Andy had to fight to stay on his legs too," Simon said.
