Britain, Argentina, France edge closer to Davis Cup semi-finals

Ward can win the tie in the first reverse singles on Sunday against Tipsarevic, but if the Serb veteran wins then it will come down to a deciding match between 67th-ranked Edmund and Lajovic, the two teams’ highest-ranked players.

(Petr Sznapka/CTK via AP).

The 21-year-old stepped into Murray’s shoes for the weekend in Belgrade and rose to the challenge superbly, beating Janko Tipsarevic and then Dusan Lajovic to clinch victory for Great Britain.

Murray decided not to play in the quarterfinals a few days after his second Wimbledon title but was there to support the team.

Great Britain are aiming to become the sixth team to defend the Davis Cup title after they won it past year, with Kyle Edmund – victorious on Friday – able to seal victory if he beats Lajovic on Sunday.

Murray and Inglot won their encounter 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4.

Lajovic led 4-2 in the tie-break but Edmund again used his forehand to fight back and brought up his first match point at 5-6.

Edmund had to cope with appalling conditions as rain pounded the red clay in Belgrade, but he had too much power and intensity as he beat Lajovic, ranked at number 81 in the world, to give Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead.

British number one Andy Murray made a decision to travel to Belgrade just as a supporter for the tie.

On his first match point, Lajovic drove a backhand wide, and Edmund collapsed to the clay in celebration before being embraced by his team-mates.

Earlier, James Ward lost 6-1 6-3 6-2 against Dusan Lajovic in their singles match, which was delayed from Friday.

They swapped places in the third set.

Both teams held their serves well in the first eight games as the set was level at 4-4.

But the weather cleared and Lajovic put Serbia back in the tie.

The Argentines celebrated on the outdoor clay court, and will take a 3-1 record against Britain into their September 16-18 semifinal.

Amid increased security following the deadly attack in the French city of Nice, Tsonga rallied to beat Jiri Vesely 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-5 and earn a spot in the Davis Cup semifinals for France for the second time in three years.

France will face the winners of the final quarter-final between U.S. and Croatia, now sitting at 2-1 to the Americans.

“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 first Davis Cup experience was as demanding as it comes: GB’s final, away from home against Belgium, and facing world No11 David Goffin.

The winners of that tie will face either the 32-time champions United States or Croatia for a place in the final.

Jack Sock stormed back from two sets down to defeat former US Open champion Cilic 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 before world number 12 John Isner cruised to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Borna Coric.

The U.S. -Croatia victor will host the semifinal against France.