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Yesterday I travelled up to Birmingham by train for the start of our Davis Cup defence, and to welcome home the Champions!
Our first round match is a tricky encounter against the Japanese, who's top player is ranked number 6 in the world. The first day went to form, meaning it ended up with the teams tied at 1 rubber a piece.
The Davis Cup Trophy was on display in the concourse, so I was delighted to be able to get close and take a couple of photos.
After being treated to top notch pre-match entertainment in Glasgow last year in the semi-finals, courtesy of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, I found it disappointing that on this occasion it consisted of a DJ. OK, he was a good DJ, but nothing beats live music, and they had a jolly good band playing on the concourse, so why not have used them?
Making their first appearance as Champions, the GB team received a rapturous welcome as they marched on court for the Presentation Ceremony.
Then it was down to the serious business as World Number 2 Andy Murray took on Japan's World Number 87, Taro Daniel. Playing his first competitive match since the Australian Open final, almost 5 weeks previously, Murray showed a few signs of rustiness. However, Daniel started slow and showed signs of nerves as Andy rushed into a 5-0 lead, taking the first set 6-1.
Avoiding the dreaded doughnut gave Daniel some confidence and the second set was a lot closer until the crucial seventh game when Murray made the decisive break going on to take the set 6-3.
The third set was more one sided as Murray went on to complete the victory 6-1.
The second rubber was always going to be a tough one for Wold Number 157 Dan Evans as he took on World Number 6 Kei Nishikori. Nevertheless, in their one previous meeting at the 2013 US Open, Evans came out victorious. However, since then Nishikori has established himself as a Top 10 player and successfully defended his Memphis title three weeks previously.
Nishikori won the first set fairly easily, 6-3. Evans, a true battler and never one to give up, matched Nishikori throughout the second set until the 12th game when the greater class of the Japanese enabled him to break the Brit's resistance and close out the set 7-5.
Two sets down, Evans faced a daunting task to win. After the first two games went with serve, the following six all went against serve as Nishikorii showed signs that Evans never-say-die attitude was getting to him. The next few games went back on serve as Evans forced the tie break. Again, Nishikori's class and experience came to the fore and he closed out the victory to level the tie.
Once again, Saturday's doubles could prove pivotal.
Given that we're not allowed to take food and drink into the Barclaycard Arena, I think it is despicable, but unsurprising, that prices are so extortionate. Bottled drinks, including water,
cost a staggering £2.20, whereas the same costs just £1 round the corner. For health and safety reasons, water should be free and easily available.
After the tennis, I made for the Miller and Carter at The Mailbox for a sumptuous fillet steak, followed by a fantastic chocolate brownie.
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