The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsArgentina are through to the Davis Cup final after resisting a stirring comeback from defending champions Great Britain to eventually win the tie 3-2 in Glasgow, as Leonardo Mayer clinched the deciding match with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory over Dan Evans.
Argentina had taken a commanding 2-0 lead by winning both singles matches on the opening day, but Andy and Jamie Murray teamed up to beat Juan Martin Del Potro and Leonardo Mayer 6-1 3-6 6-4 6-4 in the doubles and give Great Britain a lifeline in the tie.
Then, on the penultimate day, Andy Murray overcame fatigue to see off Guido Pella 6-3 6-2 6-3 and level the semifinal at 2-2, ensuring that the tie would be settled in a deciding match. However, with the uncertainty increasing surrounding who Argentina would select to contest the final match, it was confirmed late that Leonardo Mayer would play against Dan Evans to decide which team would progress into the final.
In the opening set, Mayer struggled initially for consistency and a series of errors gifted Evans the crucial break, which the Brit easily consolidated to move 3-1 up. The Argentine found it difficult to manage his errors and at times was forcing the issue too much, whilst Evans was playing much more solid. Even though Mayer held the rest of his service games, one break was enough for Evans as he remained composed and closed out the set with an unreturnable serve to take the lead.
As the second set unfolded, both players held their first service games comfortably but Mayer’s level of tennis had improved and at 2-1 up, the Argentine ripped a forehand winner down the line to convert a break point and as a result secure the advantage. With his opponent now serving incredibly well, Evans was left almost powerless as Mayer quickly established a 4-1 lead, but even though the Brit could not make an impression on his opponent’s serve, he dug in and reduced the deficit to eventually force Mayer to serve for the set. As the Argentine served for the set at 5-3, Evans had a potential opportunity at 30-0 but Mayer recovered and wrapped up the set when his opponent’s slice drifted wide, to level the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Evans was forced into a lengthy opening service game and eventually Mayer prevailed, slapping a deep forehand return winner to claim the early break before consolidating it for a 2-0 lead. The Brit was now struggling to match the high quality tennis produced by his opponent and at 3-1 down, Evans netted a backhand to concede the double break. Mayer continued his imperious display of stunning shot-making and immaculate serving to stretch his lead to 5-1 and even though Evans registered one more game, the Argentine was simply in a rich vein of form as he took the set to gain the upper hand in the contest.
The fourth set saw both players battle in a titanic opening game as Mayer threatened to break Evans, but the Brit held firm to eventually win the game. Mayer though held his first service game much more comfortably but Evans did well initially to move ahead in the scoreline. However, at 2-2, Mayer crafted more break points and this time he converted when Evans netted a slice, as the Argentine easily consolidated the break to move 4-2 ahead. The Brit though battled on but still could not force an opportunity on Mayer’s impenetrable serve, as the Argentine continued to keep his opponent firmly at bay. Evans did well to force his opponent to serve out the match, but the Argentine was unfazed and held his nerve impeccably at the end, sealing the victory with a forehand winner to end Great Britain’s reign as Davis Cup champions.
In the final, Argentina will face Croatia as Marin Cilic secured the victory in the other semifinal against France by beating Richard Gasquet in straight sets, before Lucas Pouille gave France scant consolation in winning the dead singles match to reduce the overall deficit to 3-2 in Croatia’s favour.
