Andy Murray thrashes Thanasi Kokkinakis but Dan Evans loses to Bernard Tomic as Great Britain and Australia are tied in thrilling Davis Cup semi-final

  • Andy Murray beats Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3 6-0 6-3 in first singles match
  • Murray's victory had put Great Britain up 1-0 with four matches to play
  • But Dan Evans was beaten by Bernard Tomic to level the scores 
  • Raucous Glasgow crowd made a hostile atmosphere for young Australian
  • Murray could play doubles on Saturday after easing through singles match
  • Murray said: 'I love playing for my country, I always seem to play well here'

The roof almost lifted off Glasgow's Emirates Arena for just one Murray on Friday - imagine what it might be like in the likely event that there are two on Saturday afternoon.

The chances of Andy partnering Jamie in what is likely to be the pivotal rubber of the Davis Cup soared to near certainty after the British No 1 put Great Britain ahead in their semi-final against Australia.

Riding a wave of patriotic fervour from the 8,700-crowd, the world No 3 delivered the first point with an imperious performance against Australian No 2 Thanasi Kokkinakis, beating him 6-3 6-0 6-3 in just an hour and three quarters. 

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Andy Murray celebrates easing to his three set victory over Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in Glasgow

Murray dispatched the promising 19-year-old 6-3 6-0 6-3 in just one hour and 47 minutes in Glasgow

The day ended at the expected scoreline of 1-1, but not before humbly-ranked Dan Evans had bravely given a pained Bernard Tomic a real scare before going down 6-3 7-6 6-7 6-4, doing his best to bridge a ranking gulf of 274 places.

Amid another febrile atmosphere Murray had turned it into something of a schooling for the youngster touted as a future Wimbledon champion, and its brevity worked in favour of the home side as they try to reach the final for the first time since 1978.

Murray can now reunite with his brother to try and repeat what they did against France in July's quarter final and tilt the match decisively in Great Britain's favour.

The worry for Australia, even two battle hardened professionals like their doubles team of Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth, is that the younger Murray looks in the mood to try and win this match single-handed if required.

Before enough Union Jacks to give Nicola Sturgeon an attack of the vapours, Murray was magnificent again in taking down the talented but still raw world No 72.

Afterwards he stuck to the party line that it will be Captain Leon Smith who makes the call about the doubles team, with Dominic Inglot a possible partner for Jamie: 'Ultimately, the decision is up to the captain and the players go on the court with a job to do, when they get out there,' he said.

However it will surely be Murray and Murray, with Jamie having backed up his Wimbledon final appearance with another at the US Open.

'He's made just huge improvements in his game this years and the Davis Cup matches he's played have really helped,' said Andy of his sibling. 'Playing against top players in front of big crowds have shown him he can hang with them and beat some of the best.'

The world number three was not playing down the task ahead of him over the next 48 hours, and remembers what it was like against France.

'That whole weekend was really draining for me and the Sunday was particularly difficult. I started slowly on the Saturday and the Sunday, and hopefully that won't be the case this time.' 

Kim Murray was in the stands as Dan Evans lost to Bernard Tomic in the second match

Kim Murray was in the stands as Dan Evans lost to Bernard Tomic in the second match

Kim was clearly enthralled with the action as the tie was finely poised at the end of day one

Kim was clearly enthralled with the action as the tie was finely poised at the end of day one

The rampant world No 3 was dominant, winning 19 out of 22 points on his serve in the opening set

The crowd in Glasgow created a lively atmosphere including a rousing rendition of Banks of Loch Lomond

It will not be straightforward as Groth has one of the world's biggest serves, while Hewitt is as smart and tough as they come.

Whatever yesterday's opposition Murray can rarely have played a more sustained high level of tennis than this, and his 93 per cent success rate on first serves was the highest in all 215 best-of-five set matches that he has played.

The 28 year-old Scot kept his emotions in check from the start, despite the warm-up being conducted to a rendition of the Banks of Loch Lomond that made the hairs stand up on the back of your head.

Kokkinakis initially played beautifully on the break points created by his opponent, but once the dam had been breached on the sixth of them at 3-2 the match became a tutorial for the 19 year-old, with the Murray backhand especially potent. Expect Hewitt to play the fifth and decisive rubber if one is needed.

By inducing a degree of panic in his opponent Evans justified his selection ahead of James Ward and Kyle Edmund, the result of the gut feelings of Smith that have served GB so well in this competition.

Twice the world No 300 – who has not played anyone of this calibre for fifteen months – came back from deficits to force a tiebreak.

Most impressive was that he did not lie down after failing to recover from a poor start in the first of them, losing it 7-2 after going 0-2 behind in the second set.

Recovering from 2-5 in the third set, with Tomic's nerves badly fraying at the end of it, Evans used one exquisite dropshot to take it 7-4. The roar at its conclusion made it feel like the arena might spontaneously combust.

The languid Australian was a picture of relief as he just about held on at the end, but he did not inspire much confidence. Belgium or Argentina await this weekend's winners – probably whoever wins Saturday's doubles.

Bernard Tomic levelled the score when he beat Dan Evans in four sets 

Bernard Tomic levelled the score when he beat Dan Evans in four sets 

Evans did his best to close the gulf in class but was beaten by the better man 

Evans did his best to close the gulf in class but was beaten by the better man 

 

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