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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tumaini Carayol

Davis Cup 2019: Great Britain beat Germany in quarter-final – as it happened!

Dan Evans reacts after beating Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
Dan Evans reacts after beating Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for LTA

Here is Kevin Mitchell on another crazy day of Davis Cup action.

Great Britain will not contest the doubles dead rubber. Over on Centre Court, Rafael Nadal eased past Schwartzman to set up a final doubles rubber that will decide Great Britain’s opponent tomorrow.

Dan Evans after the big win:

It’s great. I lost some tough matches lately and I felt like I’d let the team down in the last two days. To come back today and get it like that? It’s amazing. They support me the last two days through everything and I’m just happy today that I’m through.

I thought I was playing good the last two days but I couldn’t get over the line. It was tough before the match. I didn’t feel great... Everyone in the team has been great, positive so it’s great to get [the win].

Daniel Evans defeats Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(2)! GBR 2-0 GER.

An incredible win for Dan Evans. After leading by a set in each of his previous two rubbers this week and losing both, supreme resilience from the Brit to edge over the line. In the middle of the set he had lost 5 games in a row and was in danger of being bulldozed by a far more powerful opponent but Evans responded with some of his very best serving. He finished with 10 aces, including 6 in the final set alone. This sport is such a test of character and he showed a lot today. Great Britain move on to the semi-final, where they will face the winner of Spain vs Argentina.

Dan Evans celebrates after Great Britain reach the semi-finals.
Dan Evans celebrates after Great Britain reach the semi-finals. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images

Updated

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 6-6 (5-2) Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Inspired play from Dan Evans early on. He crushed a backhand down the line to move up 2-0 before slamming a serve to consolidate the opening mini-break. Struff made no mistake with his following service points, finding two huge serves to narrow the gap, but at 3-2 Evans pummelled a series of inside out forehands and then moved forwards as he forced a backhand error. A great serve and forehand 1-2 moves him to within two points of victory.

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 6-6 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): We’re off to a final set tiebreak! Evans found a big first serve at 15-15, then an ace out wide at 30-15. He dismounted with a stunning backhand down the line passing shot to seal the game. He has served incredibly well in the second half of this set. The question is whether he can continue in the coming tiebreak.

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6
*5-6 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Struff responds with another rapid hold of his own, closed off to 15 with a great serve and volley. He has done his bit, now Evans must serve to stay in the match for a second time.

Updated

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 5-5* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Evans has impressively wrestled himself back into the set and now he is arguably the better player. After pressuring the Struff serve, he holds to love, sealed with a great forehand down the line at 30-0 and then a big serve. A tiebreak is looming.

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 *4-5 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Evans is facing more second serves and he is finding a lot more joy so far. But after Evans pushed Struff to deuce with a brilliant crosscourt forehand to force an error, Struff responded by finding a big first serve down the T and then sweeping up the following forehand. He held with a great serve and volley. Evans will now serve to stay in the match.

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 4-4* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Evans continues to serve incredibly well, digging out a quick hold to 15 with an unreturned serve out wide. The perfect outcome. Pressure straight back on the German’s broad shoulders

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 *3-4 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Struff digs out another hold but they are getting more complicated for both with each attempt. Evans felt hope rising after Struff missed a couple of serves early in the game, but down 15-30 the German found an ace out wide. At 30-30, Evans had the point perfectly set up on his racquet, but his attempt at a short slice winner slipped into the net. Evans did well to push him back to deuce, but Struff keeps on finding big serves whenever he needs them.

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 3-3* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Another good hold from Evans to bring himself level once more. Struff opened the game with the most sublime point of the day - moving forward to the net as Evans set up for an easy forehand, anticipating correctly and nailing the reflex volley for a clean winner. But Evans responded impressively, finding his first serve and moving the German around with his forehand. Struff fired another backhand return long to bring us even again.

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 *2-3 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Struff keeps himself one step ahead with another hold. This time, he was leading 40-0 before being pegged back to 40-30 by an eager Evans. On his third and final break point, he shrugged off a pressure and buried a forehand down-the-line and into the corner. Confidence is flowing through his veins right now. Who will buckle first?

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 2-2* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): That was incredible. Struff was returning incredibly well to lead 0-30, then he brought up double break point with a flat backhand winner down the line. How did Evans respond? He slammed down two aces on each of the break points then sealed with a third ace in four points. Impressive.

Meanwhile on Centre Court, the man everyone came to see is getting to work.

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 *1-2 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Struff edges ahead again, but this time Evans was able to put some pressure on the German’s serve in a tight deuce game. Particularly impressive work from Evans at 40-30 with a beautiful angled inside out forehand passing shot to bring up deuce. But each time he pushed, Struff found a big serve. After Evans scuppered a third game point, Struff landed a brilliant wide second serve ace before holding with a slick serve and volley.

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 1-1* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): A huge hold from Evans, who stems the flow of games with aplomb. Struff’s returning has improved dramatically and he continues to threaten, but at 30-30, Evans found an ace. When Struff scuppered the game point with a lovely angled forehand volley winner, Evans found another unreturned first serve. Struff brushed aside the game point with a forehand down the line, but the Brit continued to find great serves under pressure to finally nab his first game in six.

Third set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 *0-1 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): That’s 5 games in a row from Struff, who is just serving out of the skies right now. An easy hold to 15 to start the set. Can Evans halt his momentum?

Dan Evans attempts a return to Struff.
Dan Evans attempts a return to Struff. Photograph: Dave Shopland/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

Second set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-6 Jan-Lennard Struff

That was very quick! After holding serve, Struff had a free game to just swing for the fences and see where his shots landed. He did and then he watched as they mostly landed in. He took the set with a bullet of a backhand return winner, which Evans could only watch fly past him

Second set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) *3-5 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Struff easily consolidates the break with a brilliant, lightning fast hold. After dropping the first point, he breezed through four in a row to move within a break of the set. Enormous serving.

Second set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-4* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Just as Evans seemed to be pressuring Struff, it’s the German who breaks first in the second set. Evans was leading 30-15 and looking good, but then he sent a wayward slice wide and then snatched at a forehand down the line which failed to clear the net. Evans attempted to change things up with a serve and volley on break point, but Struff buried his backhand return and then easily passed a helpless Evans at the net.

Second set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) *3-3 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Now, that was a tough hold for Struff. Evans continued to red-line early on, moving up 15-30 and pushing hard for a first break of the set. How did Struff respond? He found his eighth and ninth aces in succession to scupper the danger. After a bad blocked backhand return into the net from Evans, he survives.

Second set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 3-2* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Another good hold for Evans, this time to 30. The Brit easily flitted to a 40-0 lead, only for the German to connect with a couple of huge forehands and chase him back to 40-30. But on the third game point, Evans slipped in a brilliant crosscourt forehand winner while on the back foot. Still ahead.

Second set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) *2-2 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): These opening games are moving fast. Struff slams down another quick hold to level the set again. Big serving, huge forehands. Not much else necessary so far.

Second set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 2-1* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Evans is easing through his service games early in set two. He opens with a brilliant running forehand crosscourt winner before Struff ends with a wide backhand. More great serving from the Brit who looks extremely confident.

Second set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) *1-1 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Struff blunts the Brit’s momentum with a quick hold to 15. More big serving and a loud ‘c’mon’ to finish. So far, no lull from either player after a long first set.

Second set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) 1-0* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): A quality hold for Evans to open the second set to 15. He is pumped up and running with the momentum here. Can he keep this up?

Meanwhile.

First set: Daniel Evans 7-6(6) Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER)

Evans takes the first set and Great Britain is a set away from the semis!

Dan Evans celebrates on his way to taking the first set.
Dan Evans celebrates on his way to taking the first set. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Updated

First set: Daniel Evans 6-6 (*7-6) Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): This is so tight. Evans brought up the first set point with a slick serve and volley. How did Struff respond? A serve and volley of his own. But Evans finds a magnificent forehand crosscourt passing shot to bring up a set point on his own serve.

First set: Daniel Evans 6-6 (3-4*) Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Five points against the serve in this tiebreak so far. Struff took the first mini-break with a great foray to the net, but then he overhit a routine forehand well long.

At 2-2, Evans finally found a short forehand and buried it down the line to move ahead. It didn’t last long as Struff dug out an incredible defensive forehand crosscourt, then a backhand down the line passing shot to move up *4-3.

Updated

First set: Daniel Evans 6-6 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): That is some hold from Dan Evans. Evans is under so much pressure right now, with Struff absolutely crushing the ball and moving forward whenever possible. He quickly moved to a 0-30 lead behind a great foray to the net. Evans responded with clarity, serve and volleying and finishing the point with a brilliant stretch volley. He moved to 30-30 with a great forehand crosscourt before holding after another bullet backhand from the German landed in the net. We move to a tiebreak.

First set: Daniel Evans *5-6 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): This is just extremely impressive from Struff under immense pressure. He eases through a love hold filled with huge serving and sealed with a big forehand. Evans has to respond well here because he is facing a barrage of huge hitting.

First set: Daniel Evans 5-5* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): That break did not last very long, but it was primarily down to Struff responding so positively to losing his serve. He crushed a huge forehand down the line for 0-15, then a brilliant dipping backhand crosscourt passing shot for 0-40. Struff sent a forehand long on the first break point, but then Evans just got himself into a tangle on the second break point sending a forehand into the net.

Sadly for Evans, his opponent is capable of taking the racquet out of his hands and he will whenever he can.

First set: Daniel Evans *5-4 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Evans breaks! What a sublime return game it was. It all started with a gorgeous backhand lob over his giant opponent’s head. Then he crushed a forehand down the line winner, and then he danced around a second serve to bury a forehand return winner.

Struff saved the first break point with a backhand down the line winner, but he pushed a volley long on the second. Evans to serve for it.

First set: Daniel Evans 4-4* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Another very good hold for Evans, this time to 15. More good serving and quick points, but it was sealed beautifully. At 40-15, Evans sped into the net and managed an incredible half volley pickup off a speeding ball before slipping an angled forehand volley past the German.

First set: Daniel Evans *3-4 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): The German edges ahead to 15 again with more huge serving. Evans tried to pump the small group of British supporters up after a Struff forehand flew wide for 40-15, but to no avail. We move on.

Updated

First set: Daniel Evans 3-3* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): For the first time, Dan Evans faces a barrage on his own serve as Struff continues to destroy the ball, but he holds on through a tough deuce game.

Some mammoth hitting from Struff throughout. He crushed a big second serve return to bring up 30-30, then erased Evans’ game point with a brilliant crosscourt forehand, finishing at the net with a flourish. Evans brought up a second game point with an ace, which Struff erased with a laser backhand down the line. But Evans found another ace at deuce and another big serve to hold. It should certainly be encouraging for the Brit to see his first serve finding joy on these courts.

First set: Daniel Evans *2-3 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): A much easier hold for Struff, sealed to 15 with a nice forehand volley from a serve and volley. His first serve percentage will dictate so much of his match today. If it is as low as it was in his second game, Evans will have plenty of opportunity to impose himself. Much better there.

First set: Daniel Evans 2-2* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): No problem for Evans after the disappointment of failing to break as he streams through another love hold. Some great serving, both first and second serve, dismounting with a great unreturned body serve.

First set: Daniel Evans *1-2 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Struff holds but this is a good start from Evans, who forced the German to save three break points. Evans’ tactics are pretty clear early on - take on the forehand as much as possible, keep his backhand slice low to the German’s backhand and move forward wherever possible. Evans opened the game with crushed a forehand down the line then a brilliant dipping backhand crosscourt pass for 0-30.

Struff did well to level the game at 30-30, but Evans snuck in beautifully after a couple of slices, finishing with a lovely drop volley. Struff saved the first break point with a searing backhand down the line off a low Evans slice, the second with a huge ace and the third with a huge inside out forehand winner. He survives, but only just.

First set: Daniel Evans 1-1* Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER): Evans levels immediately with a confident love hold of his own. Plenty of good serving from Evans, including a nice little serve and volley at 15-0. Good start.

First set: Daniel Evans *0-1 Jan-Lennard Struff (GBR 1-0 GER). That was fast. Struff bulldozes through his opening game to love with plenty of huge serving, dismounting with a big ace. We will probably see more of that today.

Before we begin, here is Kevin Mitchell on Edmund’s opening win.

Dan Evans and Jan Lennard Struff are onto the court. Meanwhile, Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta leads Argentina’s Guido Pella 7-6(3) 4-4 on Centre Court. With Rafael Nadal looming later, this is really a match that Argentina desperately need to win.

That was such a great performance from Edmund in conditions that seem to only be getting faster. The bad news for Great Britain is that Germany also have a huge-hitting player who should also thrive on these courts as Jan-Lennard Struff takes on Dan Evans.

Yesterday, Evans was blown off the court in the second half of his loss to Alexander Bublik. He will hope that the 6’5 German isn’t flowing quite as well today.

Evans leads the head to head 1-0, but their only meeting was at Wimbledon in 2016. Struff is a completely different player today after the best year of his career.

Updated

Kyle Edmund defeats Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 7-5 (GBR 1-0 GER)

Kyle Edmund seals a brilliant win with another easy hold to love. More big serving, more bruising forehands and backhands. That was comfortably one of his best matches of the year and we may look back on this period as a pivotal moment for his 2020 season. 12 aces, 14 groundstroke winners and just 9 unforced errors.

Kyle Edmund celebrates after beating Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Kyle Edmund celebrates after beating Philipp Kohlschreiber. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images/LTA

Updated

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 *6-5 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Edmund breaks! Goodness, Edmund’s backhand is well known as his weakness but he is hitting it so well right now. After sealing the previous game with a bullet down-the-line winner, he opened this game by crushing two more in succession - the first from the baseline and the second as a passing shot - to bring up 0-30.

Kohlschreiber did well to bring the game back to 30-30, but then Edmund’s backhand soared again, this time forcing a forehand error with impeccable depth. The break was sealed with a long forehand from Kohlschreiber and now the Brit will serve for a crucial first rubber.

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 5-5* Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Edmund moves through another solid hold to level the set. The German is beginning to impose himself in the rallies, but at 30-15 he over-hit a backhand return. On game point, Edmund sealed the hold with a brilliant backhand down the line winner.

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 *4-5 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Kohlschreiber digs out another hold, but it isn’t getting any easier. This time a missed forehand from Kohlschreiber on the opening point set the tone and he found himself down 15-30. He responded with a very good backhand drop volley, then a big unreturned serve. On game point, his forehand was just deep enough to rush the Edmund forehand and force an error. The German is living dangerously but he keeps on edging ahead. Now the pressure is back on Edmund as he serves to stay in it.

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 4-4* Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Kohlschreiber opened with a nice foray to the net, but the hope was quickly snuffed out by more huge serving and hitting from the Brit. Edmund served his 11th ace at 15-15, then slipped an easy forehand winner crosscourt after a big serve from the German. He held with an unreturned serve out wide. We move on. A huge game coming up here.

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 *3-4 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Edmund was threatening again at 30-30, but two points away from another break, Kohlschreiber kicked into gear with a great serve out wide followed by a big unreturned serve down the T to hold on. The German remains ahead, but he is under plenty of pressure again.

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 3-3* Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Edmund rolls through another love hold to level the set up again, sealed with a huge serve. Incredible work from him at 15-0, flitting towards a drop volley and sliding as he fired a forehand crosscourt past the German at the net. The pressure returns to the veteran’s shoulders.

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 *2-3 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Edmund responds with some brilliance of his own, immediately breaking back with ease. He is back to punishing Kohlschreiber on the baseline with booming forehands and his sheer weight of shot is often just too much in these conditions. At break point, Edmund persevered through a really tough point, passing Kohlschreiber at the net with a forehand at full stretch. That is how you respond.

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 1-3* Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Out of nowhere, Kohlschreiber breaks serve to move ahead in set two! The German connected with a couple of good returns and Edmund sprays a couple of error, quickly finding himself down 15-40.

Edmund saved the first break point with a searing backhand down the line winner, then he found a big first serve out wide before slotting an easy forehand behind his opponent. But the German’s backhand is starting to flow. He scuppered Edmund’s game point with a brilliant backhand return, then broke with the same trick. Momentum is a fickle thing in tennis.

Updated

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 *1-2 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): This is far from easy, but Kohlschreiber digs out a very good hold from 15-30 down. Edmund’s pace and weight of shot continues to put the German under immense pressure, but he responded with a bruising inside out forehand to force an error at 15-30, then he connected with a brilliant deep backhand down the middle, eliciting another Edmund error. He held with a big unreturned serve.

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 1-1* Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Edmund slams down his 8th ace to ease through another love hold with more brilliant serving in these fast conditions. He landed all four first serves in that game and he is up to 86% overall. He has so far lost just 3 points on his serve.

Second set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 *0-1 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Kohlschreiber opens the second set in far more convincing form, easing through a hold to 15. His first serve percentage is still quite low and he needs to improve it or else Edmund will threaten again.

A great performance from Edmund so far, but there aren’t that many people there to see it.

Edmund wins first set!

First set: Kyle Edmund 6-3 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Kyle Edmund takes the first set in 31 minutes by holding to love with complete ease. Three big first serves brought up triple set point, then Kohlschreiber sent a second serve return flying well long. Just a great set of attacking tennis from Edmund. He has not looked this confident all year.

Andy Murray reacts as watches Kyle Edmund’s match with Kohlschreiber.
Andy Murray reacts as watches Kyle Edmund’s match with Kohlschreiber. Photograph: Dave Shopland/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

First set: Kyle Edmund *5-3 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Kohlschreiber holds with a vey tidy game, moving to 40-0 with a beautifully timed forehand down the line off a huge return from the Brit. He took the second with a sliding serve out wide. Now Edmund will try to serve this thing out.

First set: Kyle Edmund 5-2* Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Everything is flowing for Edmund right now, who is serving well, crushing forehands and bullying a shaky Kohlschreiber. A big serve and forehand one-two punch brings up 40-15, then he holds with a deep unreturned second serve.

First set: Kyle Edmund *4-2 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Edmund breaks! These courts are playing so fast right now and Edmund is taking advantage of the speed by absolutely crushing the German’s second serve whenever he gets a look at one. A couple of bad missed backhands under pressure bring up a break point, which Edmund converts with a booming backhand down the line. Andy Murray is applauding in the crowd and for good reason. This is great controlled aggression from Edmund.

First set: Kyle Edmund 3-2* Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): Back to back love holds as Edmund responds with one of his own. The Brit opened with a bruising forehand behind his serve, then Kohlschreiber missed a routine forehand. After another big serve, a huge inside out forehand from Edmund forced an error from Kohlschreiber. We move on.

First set: Kyle Edmund *2-2 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): This time it’s the German who gets a love hold. Some great serving from Kohlschreiber to ease through the game, but also an outrageous point by him at 15-0. He was being bullied by the Edmund forehand but guessed correctly into the ad court and guided a backhand down the line.

First set: Kyle Edmund 2-1* Philipp Kohlschreiber (Great Britain 0-0 Germany): This has been a quality start from both. These notoriously fast conditions at altitude reward attacking play and so both players are going after their groundstrokes off both wings. A big serve down the T brought up 40-15 for Edmund, which the German saved with two stunning backhand returns in succession. At Deuce, Edmund found a third ace and then a late forehand from Kohlschreiber edged out. Still on serve.

First set: Kyle Edmund *1-1 Philipp Kohlschreiber (Great Britain 0-0 Germany): Edmund is absolutely crushing the ball early on and he immediately brought up break point at 30-40 after thumping crosscourt backhand passing shot winner, then drilling a backhand down the line winner. A good serve from the German saved the first, then after a loose forehand brought up the second, the German came up with an outrageous backhand down the line winner from miles behind the baseline.

It looked like Edmund would have a third break point after a double fault at deuce, but hawkeye ruled Kohlschreiber’s second serve in. How did the German respond? Two successive aces to hold.

First set: Kyle Edmund 1-0* Philipp Kohlschreiber (GBR 0-0 GER): A very nice start for Edmund. He opened his first service game with an ace and closed it with another ace. An easy hold to love to begin.

Updated

So, we begin with Kyle Edmund versus Philipp Kohlschreiber. Kohlschreiber has been a pleasant surprise this week. The 36 year-old German has been around forever, beating many top players and losing countless heartbreakers. He is a former top 20 player but this has been a tough year, with his ranking falling from 34th to 79th. This week he has rediscovered some nice form and he is unbeaten in his two singles rubbers.

Across the net, Edmund has had a tough year with a similar ranking drop, but he finished with a good showing to reach the third round in the Paris Masters last year. He looked very good against Kukushkin yesterday. Can he bring his top form again?

The players are out on-court and the national anthems are being played. Not too long now.

Emotions are running high after the earlier drama. Tears from the Serbian team after missing out on the final in such dramatic fashion and also because today marks the final day of former top 10 player Janko Tipsarevic’s playing career.

Friendly foes.

As things stand, Russia’s victory put them into the semi-final against Canada, the new tennis power. It will be two two-man teams in that round, with Rublev and Khachanov facing off against Vasek Pospisil and Denis Shapovalov.

In the bottom half of the knockout draw, the winner of Great Britain vs Germany will face the winner of Spain vs Argentina.

These two upcoming quarterfinal ties will have a tough act to follow. Earlier today, the two-man next gen Russian team of Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov took out Novak Djokovic’s Serbian team in a dramatic final doubles rubber, defeating Djokovic and Viktor Troicki 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(8) while saving three match points in the process.

There was good tennis, bad tennis (four singles players in a tense doubles match is not always pretty), Troicki screaming at the umpire and plenty of drama.

Here are the official nominations for tonight. As Great Britain and Germany do battle on Stadium 2, Spain and Argentina will face off in the main stadium and could provide plenty of its own drama should Pella win that crucial first rubber.

Updated

Preamble

Hello! Welcome to our coverage of Day 5 and quarterfinal day of the Davis Cup Madrid Finals. Yesterday afternoon, Great Britain just about clinched their spot in the quarters after Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski outplayed Alexander Bublik and Mikhail Kukushkin in the third round of the doubles. Today, they face a stern test from a Germany team that is flying under the radar but playing very well.

Leon Smith announced his team moments ago and it comes with a surprise - Andy Murray will not be playing today. After his heroics in Antwerp last month, Murray took 12 days off to rest his elbow and relax after the birth of his third child. He returned just a little undercooked this week and barely survived No 179 Tallon Griekspoor in a third set tiebreak.

Kyle Edmund played a great match to defeat Kukushkin yesterday and he will be in to replace Murray, where he will face veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber before Dan Evans tackles the big serving Jan Lennard Struff. These are two even matches and they could go either way. Just like yesterday’s tie, it could easily come down to the doubles, which will feature two top teams as Murray and Skupski take on French Open champions Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies.

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‘The lances were made of balsa wood and filled with uncooked spaghetti – so that when they broke, there’d be an explosion of what looked like splinters’
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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