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Before heading to the NIA for the final day of tennis, I filled up with a Morrison's big breakfast, to ensure I wouldn't be tempted into buying any of the extortionately priced fodder in the arena.
The first three rubbers having gone as expected, the fourth was always likely to be the crucial one, and a potential Davis Cup classic. This proved to be the case - and in an epic style.
Andy Murray, World Number 2, took on Kei Nishikori, the World Number 6. Murray got off to a steady start, breaking Nishikori in the third game. However, the Japanese broke back in the seventh game to make it 4-3. It looked like it was going to a tie-break when in the twelfth game Nishikori's nerves, combined with pressure from Murray, got the better of him and he double faulted twice on his way to conceding the game and first set.
Nishikori reacted to the disappointment in style by immediately breaking Murray to take a 1-0 lead. Murray fought back in the fourth game to level the score at 2 apiece. This time a tie-break was required to decide the set. Murray raced into a 4-0 lead, only for Nishikori to win the next 5 points. He then failed to serve for the set at 6-5 and Murray capitalised to take the breaker 8-6 and a two set lead.
The third set was just as tight, but this time Nishikori made the decisive break in the 8th game and proceeding to serve out the set 6-3.
The Japanese kept up the pressure in the fourth set as the Brit showed signs of wilting, and the inevitable break came in the fifth game. Nishikori broke again to serve for the set at 5-2. However, Murray managed to find some inspiration and clawed back a break. Nevertheless, at the second time of asking Nishikori won his serve to take this thrilling contest into a deciding set.
Serving first in the final set is a definite advantage, unless you get broken straight away - which is what happened to Murray. However, he immediately broke back and after holding his serve executed another break to take a 3-1 lead. The next two games also went against serve to make it 4-2. Murray then held his serve for 5-2, and Nishikori held his to force the Brit to serve for the match, which he did in style. Thus this 4 hour 54 minute epic ended in a British victory. We now face an away trip to Serbia in the quarter finals.
A fantastic performance by both players.
The atmosphere throughout the whole match was electric. The Japanese fans were much more vocal than on the previous two days as they got behind their man. As ever, the Barmy Army did a fantastic job leading the cheering, but the whole crowd were brilliant.
Tomorrow I catch the train back home for a relaxing evening preparing for the return of reality on Tuesday. Wow - what a weekend!
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