britain take 2-1 lead over aus
GlASGOW: Andy Murray and his brother Jamie led Britain to a hard-fought five-set victory against lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth of Australia on Saturday to seize a vital 2-1 lead in their Davis Cup semifinal. The Scottish brothers enjoyed vociferous home support in Glasgow but had to come from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-4. The Murrays won five straight games to take the third set but missed a chance to serve out the match in the fourth. The win gives Andy Murray a chance to put Britain into its first Davis Cup final since 1978 when he plays Bernard Tomic in Sunday’s first reverse singles.
netherlands keep tie alive
Geneva: Roger Federer and late replacement Marco Chiudinelli missed a chance to seal Switzerland’s victory in a Davis Cup relegation playoff on Saturday, losing a five-set doubles match to the Netherlands. Dutch pair Thiemo De Bakker and Matwe Middelkoop rallied from a set down to win 7-6 (7), 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 after Federer’s regular partner Stan Wawrinka scratched citing fatigue. Switzerland leads 2-1 with second-ranked Federer due on court at Palexpo arena in the first of Sunday’s reverse singles against No. 144 De Bakker. If Federer loses, Wawrinka is scheduled to play 436th-ranked Jesse Huta Galung in a decisive fifth match.