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Home , Bunny Austin, Sam Groth, Steve Darcis, Thiemo de Bakker

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 201516 19

US tears turn to joy as Europe stumble Page 18 Tomic backs Murray to end 79-year wait

PARIS: backed got progressively worse the next couple of to steer Great Britain to a first days. “Sometimes after you have played a lot crown in 79 years after the world number of , when you take a break the muscles three defied a back injury to inspire his coun- stiffen up and when you come back you can try to a semi-final win over . Britain, have some issues.” who won the last of their nine Davis Cup Murray celebrated his 25th win from 27 titles in 1936, made their first final since 1978 Davis Cup singles matches as Britain secured a with victory over Australia in Glasgow thanks first victory over old rivals Australia since 1978. to Murray’s 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 win over Tomic in When Britain last won the Davis Cup in Sunday’s first reverse singles. 1936, and Bunny Austin sealed a 3-2 They now go to Belgium for the November victory over Australia at Wimbledon. 27-29 final. Belgium reached their first title It is a remarkable turnaround for a British match in 111 years with a tense 3-2 win over team that have risen from being on the verge Argentina in Brussels with , the of relegation to Europe/Africa Group III in 2010. world number 64, needing a fourth match In Brussels, world number 15 point to defeat 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, kept Belgium afloat against Argentina with a 7-6 (7/3). routine 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 win over Diego Australia’s Tomic believes Murray will go on Schwartzman to level their semi-final at 2-2. to inspire Britain to the trophy. “I think whoev- Darcis, 31, then sealed victory for a Belgian er won the doubles was the (Davis Cup) win- side which had knocked out defending cham- ner,” said Tomic, reflecting on Saturday’s dou- pions Switzerland in the first round. bles rubber win by Andy Murray and brother “It’s one of the biggest moments of my Jamie over and career. The atmosphere was unbelievable. which gave the home side a 2-1 lead in the tie. Inside it was so hard to stay calm,” said Darcis “You are not just playing against Andy who famously dumped out of Murray here, it feels like you are playing Wimbledon in 2013. against the whole of Britain. His motivation, In the play-offs, where the winners will fea- his presence changes every point. He’s an ture in the elite World Group in 2016, Roger amazing player.” Federer defeated Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-2, 6- Australia captain Wally Masur added: “Andy 4 as Switzerland wrapped up victory over the was like a locomotive all weekend.” Murray, in Geneva. But Federer, 34, who 28, played all three days in Glasgow despite led Switzerland to a first Davis Cup title in 2014, feeling the effects of a back injury although then hinted that he was rethinking his future in he calmed fears that the issue was connected the tournament after a 16-year career. to the same problem which required surgery “My idea was never to win it twice, the idea in 2013. was always to win it once,” the world number “I wasn’t concerned about how much I had two and 17-time major winner told www.davis- left in the tank, I was more concerned about cup.com. my back. My back has been giving me a lot of “I see this tie in isolation. Next year is an trouble this week,” he said. “It was fine during Olympic year. The summer will be very long the US Open, then I took five days off, started and packed with highlights. It’s all a question practising again on Sunday I practised Sunday, of priorities. I can’t play everything and of Monday and Tuesday and felt fine and then on course if I do play Davis Cup other things have GLASGOW: Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates after winning his match against Australia’s Bernard Tomic at the end of his semifi- Tuesday night my back was extremely sore and to drop out.” — AFP nal tennis match of the Davis Cup between Britain and Australia. —AP