Davis Cup: Kyle Edmund win seals GB victory over Serbia – BBC News

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Edmund sends GB into Davis Cup semi-final

Kyle Edmund took Great Britain into the Davis Cup semi-finals with victory over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic in Belgrade.

Edmund, who also won Friday’s opening singles match, won 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-5) to give Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead.

Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot won Saturday’s doubles match before Edmund sealed the win in two hours 34 minutes against the Serb world number 81.

Britain will now play Argentina at home in September as they aim to defend the title they won in Belgium last year.

Following Edmund’s win, James Ward lost the dead singles rubber 6-2 3-6 7-5 against Janko Tipsarevic meaning the tie finished 3-2 to Great Britain.

Edmund, 21, was making just his second Davis Cup appearance and playing as Britain’s top ranked singles player as Andy Murray chose to sit out the tie after he won Wimbledon.

The win was the first time Britain have won a World Group Davis Cup match without their number one ranked player.

Facing the highest ranked player in Serbia’s squad, Edmund produced one of the best performances of his career hitting 27 forehand winners and 39 in total on a slow clay court due to rain in the Serbian capital.

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Andy Murray (right) travelled to Belgrade just as a supporter for the tie

Edmund, the world number 67, served for the match at 5-4 but Lajovic broke back before the Yorkshireman rallied to take the match on a tie-break.

“You want to win for your country. When you know what is at stake – I’m so pleased that I’ve won,” Edmund said.

“When you’re out there you are in the moment and trying to win every point. Lajovic missed the backhand down the line – when you see that you feel so happy.

“When you play away, and the home player gains momentum the crowd bite into that. The crowd got louder and louder. It was tough getting broken.”

Edmund win ‘very special indeed’

Team captain Leon Smith has now won 14 of his 16 Davis Cup matches since taking the job in 2010.

He said: “I have seen Kyle develop a lot.

“We saw what he did to David Goffin (taking the Belgian to five sets in the 2015 Davis Cup final) and this year he has been getting better and better. His backhand is now rock solid, the serve and the forehand is an unbelievable shot.

“He will take a lot from being able to win two five-set matches under this pressure.

“Hats off to Kyle. To get your first Davis Cup win is something, to get two in one weekend is something very special indeed.”

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British number five Laura Robson praises Edmund’s performance

Jamie Murray said: “We didn’t have Andy in the team, we were away from home, and playing on clay, but the guys really stepped up.

“Dom got his first point yesterday and showed his quality and Kyle was awesome in his matches. I think the more established he becomes on the tour his ranking will move up, and there’s great things ahead for him.”

Analysis

Former Great Britain Davis Cup captain John Lloyd: “It was a gutsy performance and Kyle had faith in his game. He didn’t pull back, he stood firm and withstood Lajovic’s best games at the end.

“That will mean so much that Kyle came through in that sort of pressure. What that could do for his career is amazing.”

Former Great Britain Davis Cup player Jamie Baker: “He was rock-solid at the end. He’s never been in a situation like that before.

“His forehand in terms of pace and what he can do with it is in the top five of the world but he can always improve his movement.

“But what an example Andy Murray is. He was tall and skinny when he was younger but is now one of the best athletes in the sport.”

Quarter-final round-up

Tsonga<!–

Tsonga sealed France’s win over the Czech Republic with a four set victory over Jiri Vesely

Britain will face Argentina in the last four after the South Americans completed a 3-1 away victory against Italy.

Federico Delbonis clinched the victory with a 6-4 7-5 3-6 7-5 win over world number 36 Fabio Fognini.

France – featuring Wimbledon doubles champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, as well as singles quarter-finalists Lucas Pouille and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – beat the Czech Republic 3-1.

The United States lead Croatia 2-1 with the singles matches to be played later on Sunday in Oregon.

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