- By Jonathan Jurejko
- BBC Sport at Manchester Arena
Image supply, Getty Images
Andy Murray revealed it was his grandmother’s funeral on Friday
A tearful Andy Murray devoted a Davis Cup win to his grandmother Ellen after revealing he missed her funeral as a result of it was the identical day as his match.
Murray, 36, had to dig deep to guarantee Great Britain made a profitable begin in a round-robin tie in opposition to Switzerland.
Murray edged previous Leandro Riedi 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 6-4 earlier than telling the group it was his gran’s funeral on Friday.
Overcome with emotion, Murray mentioned: “I’m sorry to my family I’m not able to be there. Gran, this one is for you.”
Murray sat on his chair, together with his head underneath his towel, earlier than receiving one other consoling spherical of applause from the group at Manchester’s AO Arena.
It got here after the three-time Grand Slam champion confirmed his high quality and expertise to come by means of adversity on the courtroom.
With Britain aiming for a spot in November’s eight-team knockout stage, Murray’s win means Cameron Norrie can seal victory in opposition to the Swiss by beating Stan Wawrinka afterward Friday.
If Norrie loses, Dan Evans and Neal Skupski can safe a second straight GB win by taking the deciding doubles.
Even if Britain beat the Swiss within the best-of-three tie, they can not safe qualification till Sunday’s last tie in opposition to France.
Four nations – Britain, Australia, France and Switzerland – are enjoying within the group stage occasion held at Manchester’s AO Arena.
They all play one another as soon as in a round-robin format, with the highest two nations going by means of to the knockout stage – often known as the ‘Final Eight’ – in Malaga in November.
“It’s incredible to get through that one – it easily could have gone the other way,” mentioned Murray, who helped Britain win the Davis Cup in 2015.
“It was ridiculous the shots he was pulling off, some amazing returning.”
Davis Cup 2023: Andy Murray and Leandro Riedi play out entertaining rally
Britain clinched victory in Wednesday’s opening tie in opposition to Australia when debutant Jack Draper and Dan Evans – picked forward of Murray and Norrie primarily based on their present type – received their singles matches.
In one other attention-grabbing transfer on Friday, British captain Leon Smith determined to go together with Murray and Norrie in opposition to the Swiss as he utilised the entire of a proficient squad.
The majority of the house crowd, who watched Murray play in Manchester for the primary time since 2004, in all probability didn’t count on the previous world primary to be pushed so onerous by 21-year-old Riedi.
But, as they’ve seen so typically previously, Murray dug deep into all of his huge bodily and psychological reserves to safe the victory.