SCOTTISH tennis fans could be in for a huge treat after a superb straight-sets win by Kyle Edmund over Dusan Lajovic earned Great Britain’s Davis Cup holders victory in their quarter-final tie against Serbia.
The atmosphere was utterly memorable when Glasgow hosted last year’s semi-final against Australia and captain Leon Smith and Andy Murray gave the fans huge plaudits for the supporting role they played in the victory.
There was no confirmation of this year’s venue as The National went to press last night, but Murray and Smith, who is from Glasgow, want a return.
Murray travelled with the team to Belgrade and his non-playing presence after his second Wimbledon championship showed his commitment to the GB cause as well as his confidence in his colleagues including his brother Jamie, who with Dom Inglot won Saturday’s doubles match to set up a deciding day.
Edmund had never won a Davis Cup match before Friday when the world No 67 beat Janko Tipsarevic, a former world No 8, in straight sets. The 21-year-old Yorkshireman had taken on Andy Murray’s mantle as team leader and number one, and he rose to the occasion as if to the manner born, winning 6-3, 6-4,
7-6 (7-5).
With Great Britain leading 2-1, Edmund knew he could clinch the semi-final place by beating Lajovic, the world No 81 and Serbia’s
No 1 in place of the rested Novak Djokovic.
Given his fantastic performance in defeat against Belgium’s top-ranked David Goffin in last year’s Davis Cup final, it was clear that in only his second appearance in the tournament, Edmund is one of those players who really raises his game for the sport’s annual World Cup.
He did so splendidly against Lajovic. Edmund enjoyed the upper hand throughout his contest and always looked more comfortable in light drizzle on the slow outdoor red clay. He broke the Serb’s serve in the sixth game of the opening set and there was no way back for the home crowd favourite as Edmund kept hammering his forehand into areas beyond Lajovic’s reach. Edmund sealed the opening set when he rifled in a pair of aces to delight the loud band of British supporters.
Having dispatched an array of volleys and backhands which kept Lajovic on the back foot, Edmund won the final four games of the second set. In the third games went with serve until Edmund converted his third break point in the seventh game to gain what looked like a decisive advantage.
With Edmund serving for the match, Lajovic carved out his first break of serve to keep the contest alive, much to the delight of the passionate home fans sporting dozens of Serbia flags.
A galvanised Lajovic held serve and then conjured two set points on Edmund’s serve, but the Briton held firm and forced a tie-break.
A tense tit-for-tat exchange garnished by several breathtaking rallies ensued before the fired-up Lajovic engineered a 4-2 advantage, only for Edmund to respond with two unanswered shots of his own.
With the score tied at 5-5, the clearly rattled Lajovic then sent a pair of backhands wide to hand Edmund a well-deserved victory in two hours 33 minutes. “I am so happy to have won this one for the team,” Edmund said. “It was very emotional to win, knowing what was on the line and at stake.”
Smith said: “The good thing about Kyle is that every year he is just going to get better and better.”
Britain now face Argentina, who beat Italy in their quarter-final. France beat the Czech Republic 3-1 and the USA were leading Croatia 2-1 in Oregon last night.
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