adminANDY Murray guided Great Britain back to the Davis Cup World Group for the first time since 2008 with victory in yesterday’s singles for an unassailable 3-1 lead against Croatia.The Wimbledon champion beat Ivan Dodig 6-4 6-2 6-4 to clinch the best-of-five World Group play-off on the Umag clay. Murray was untroubled by the world number 35 and showed no signs of a recent back injury.
World number three Murray, playing his first Davis Cup tie for two years, was instrumental in Britain’s success, winning both his singles matches and combining with Colin Fleming to win Saturday’s doubles rubber.
Britain will now face another of the world’s top 16 nations in the first round of the World Group in February.
“I’m looking forward to playing against some of the biggest countries in the world,” Murray told Eurosport. “It will be exciting and hopefully I can be part of it.”
After breaking Dodig in the first game of the match, Murray dictated play to win the first set in 47 minutes before rattling through the second with a double break.
The match ended amid controversy when a Dodig winner, which would have given him a break point on Murray’s serve, was overruled by the umpire.
The home crowd booed as the Wimbledon champion won the ensuing match point before celebrating on court with his team-mates.
“I thought it was a pretty good match. I gave him very few opportunities on my serve,” added Murray. “The crowd got into it at the end and it was tough to serve out but I got there eventually.
“When you looked at that final disputed call from behind, it was clearly out, but from his end it was difficult to see. I think he accepted it in the end.
“The atmosphere at the end was pretty hostile and you do not have to deal with that in a Grand Slam, but you are playing for you country and you do not want to let your country down.”-BBC.
Online Reporter