Britain win in Davis Cup in what could be Murray's last Glasgow game

GB defeated Kazakhstan 2-1 with Sir Andy Murray winning the first tie

Author: Finlay JackPublished 18th Sep 2022

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski held their nerve to grab Great Britain's first, and only, win in the 2022 Davis Cup.

But the story of the day may well belong to Sir Andy Murray though, who, by his own admission, could have played his last match for his country in Glasgow.

He'd earlier got his team off to the perfect start, beating Dmitry Popko of Kazakhstan 6-4 6-3.

However, world number eight Cameron Norrie lost out to Kazakhstan number one Alexander Bublik by the same scoreline.

For the first time this week the doubles decider went the way of the host nation though, with Salisbury and Skupski defeating Bublik and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 7-6 (7-2)

Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury

A new format

The revamped competition saw four groups of four teams fight it out across four cities, with the top two in each pool progressing.

Group D, Great Britain's group, was all-but decided on Friday evening following Netherlands 2-1 win over the home nation.

The Dutch went on to top the group by defeating USA on Saturday, leaving GB and Kazakhstan to fight it out for 3rd.

Despite neither team playing for anything but pride, the partisan Glaswegian crowd were at their blistering best throughout the day.

A Scotland swansong for Sir Andy Murray?

Andy Murray leaves court after defeating Dmitry Popko

"Thanks for creating amazing, amazing memories", said the three-time major winner when asked about the Scottish support.

"I'm glad that I was able to get out there and play in front of them - maybe that's the last time.

"They did make it special.

"If it is the last time, it's been amazing what they've done for our team.

"I've spoken to my Mum about it in the past, never would I have imagined that I would be playing in front of packed, seven and a half thousand, eight thousand people, or whatever the capacity is here.

"The crowd, in a lot of our matches here, has made a big difference and they've been some of the best memories that I've made on a tennis court.

"I'm sad that we might not get the opportunity to play here again, but we might also be back here in February, we'll just have to wait and see."

The Emirates Arena falls silent

Glasgow joined the rest of the country in a minute long silence in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at 8PM.

Play was paused at 8PM

It was impeccably observed by all in the Emirates Arena.

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