Semi-Final - Great Britain v Argentina: Day 1 Davis Cup

Good afternoon. Davis Cup fever hits Glasgow again as Britain are here to

take on Argentina in the semi-finals. We are delighted to be

back at this magnificent stadium. It is the Emirates Arena, where they

provide such a wonderful atmosphere. First up, it is the match everyone

has been talking about, following their epic bat until the Olympic

final, it is Andy Murray up against the man making the comeback, it is

Juan Martin del Potro. That is the first match on court today.

Well, the players are in the tunnel. Everyone is expecting this match to

be played on Sunday, but as Juan Martin del Potro continues his

comeback from injury, his ranking is lower than his true ability. These

are two Grand Slam winners going head-to-head. The result of this

match will definitely affect the tone and the mood of this tie. So,

everyone getting ready. We are ready for Murray against del Potro. And

the Argentine crowd have a feel what this crowd will be like with the

Opening Ceremony. THE COMMENTATOR: From the coast of

Scotland... They are just introduced the ball

boys and girls. Here the come the players.

THE COMMENTATOR: Please welcome, accompanied by his captain,

representing Argentina, Juan Martin del Potro...

APPLAUSE Accompanied by his captain, Leon

Smith, representing Great Britain, please welcome Andy Murray.

Emotions will be heightened for Andy following the death last week of his

grandfather, the father of his dad. The funeral is being held today and

Andy cut his media commitment short yesterday to attend a family

gathering. It is a difficult time for Andy and the Murray family.

Today he can rely on this patriotic crowd to lift him as they have so

much in the past. He has enjoyed so much success on this court before.

He arrives here in Glasgow following one magnificent performance after

another in 2016. It has been a memorable year for

Andy. Individual success at women telldon and winning Olympic gold.

For him it is about the team. His best moment was carrying the flag in

the Opening Ceremony in Rio. Here he wants to lift his team to greater

success. He is Britain's number one. As we have a look at the two teams,

it actually has been difficult for the captains to select who will be

their singles Players. On the left it is Andy Murray and Kyle Edmund.

He is ranks a little behind Daniel Evans. Kyle Edmund is the second

person chosen today. Difficult for the Argentine captain because he

knew he wanted Juan Martin del Potro to play number one. Who would he get

to play number two? He has gone for Guido Pella. Difficult time for both

captains. So, this is what we can look forward to over the next three

days. The singles players up today: Who the Argentines will play we are

not sure whether Delbonis and Mayer. The two remaining singles matches,

if needed, will be played on Sunday. It has been difficult for the

players. Let's hear from Leon Smith. First up is Murray against Juan

Martin del Potro. Here are his thoughts on the match ahead.

Juan Martin del Potro's ranking, from what he's gone through over the

last two or three years. It is a brutality tough match for both

players to start a weekend. It is what the fans will enjoy on Friday.

The media will get a huge amount of attention. Having sat through what

was a block-buster of a match in Rio and witnessed the level of tennis,

you know, everyone will be in for a great few hours of tennis. So, it

will be a repeat of the Rio final. Because of the injuries that del

Potro has had, his wrist injury, this is his first Davis Cup singles

since 2012. He's been getting better over the last few movepts and that

showed in the four -- months and that showed in the four-hour battle

they had in Rio. Andy Murray, a double Olympic gold

medallist. I was open about how tough the

match, for a number of reasons. Playing for your country makes it

hard. The way the match was won. The ups and the downs and the length of

it physically was very demanding. At the end of the match both of us were

exhausted. That showed in both of our reactions when we finished. You

know, playing a match like that, yes, you know, I respected him

before. I respect him afterwards. It was amazing. A great final

against Andy. I was so tired, exhausted after all the matches

during the week, but he deserved... All the matches against him are

tough and very, very close matches. But I think the fans, the crowd will

enjoy our match between him and me. Hopefully I can do better than Rio.

Obviously we had a pretty epic match at the Olympics. I hope it's not as

tough as that one, physically and mentally. It was a draining match.

Four hours long. Such a wonderful match out in Rio.

Emotions were really high in that match on both sides of the court. It

will be out here again, Juan Martin del Potro, such a dangerous player.

Proved that in winning the US Open back in 2009. He's a big hitter. He

can worry Murray today. Murray will need to serve well. A lot will

depend on the atmosphere and how the crowd can lift him. All them from

Stirling University, they have done it before, can they do it again?

Let's go court-side and soak in more of the atmosphere.

When I spoke to Leon Smith yesterday, he said the first time

his team walked into this arena against the USA last year, it really

hit them how much noise this stadium can create. Let me tell you this

morning and this afternoon, whenvy been in here, this has eclipsed

anything that happened last year. What is interesting is the

Argentineans have brought a lot of support. When I walked in they were

in full voice. It will be a big factor the crowd today. The point

that Leon was making, this crowd absolutely love to see Andy Murray

playing. They love to see the British team. The final thing is I

have to say, this will be a great match. Juan Martin del Potro, it is

fantastic to see him on the court. He's at the top of his game again,

or getting close to. This will be a great match.

Cue the crowd, they start singing. That will be the theme over the next

three days here as they try and lift the British crowd once again. We are

all ready for this first match in the semi-final. The other is being

played in Croatia, as Croatia take on France. We will keep you

up-to-date on. That let's enjoy the singing. When they finish singing it

we will be taken through the match. Good afternoon. As you can hear it

feels like Friday night here in the Emirates Arena. It is just after 1pm

on a lunch time in September. I suppose that means the younger

tennis fans are at school, or heading off to university. A

sizeable percentage of who are watching on BBC television, are of

an age that you can recall those dark days which are not that long

ago of losing to the tennis powerhouses like Lithuania and

Ecuador. Let's not get too blase about this.

Two steps away from retaining the trophy for the first time in 80

years. Most of that is down to that man - and down to his mum as well.

Andy Murray has been a powerhouse. Arguably our greatest modern

sportsman of all and some would say our greatest sportsman of all time.

The next big match in his extraordinary career, what a match

it promises to be. John Lloyd alongside me here in the

commentary box. Every Davis box tie, I mean we had the Red Hot Chilli

Pipers, who were playing rifts from AC/DC and Led Zeppelin, all that

stuff, the des bell count goes up a notch. You are right. There is

nothing like it for a tennis player. Perhaps the Olympics, you know, that

was right up there, as we saw in Rio. Other than that, you just don't

get this atmosphere at other tournaments in the world. The Davis

Cup is so special. And in Scotland, the fans here have taken it to

another level. I have never heard anything like it in all my years in

Davis Cup. It is a Jo I to be here and for the pla Iers, they must walk

out and be an extra foot taller when they hear this noise. Even though

Argentina have a sizeable amount of people here they will be drowned

out. This crowd is amazing. Sportsman like, but ferocious. Our

team may need it here. The atmosphere is incredible. This game,

however long it takes, we will talk about the crowd because they will be

the extra player in the Great Britain team. From the match point

of view, from the tennis point of view, how key do you think this game

is between Murray and del Potro in probably determining the outcome of

the tie? It is huge. When you have someone like Andy Murray who doesn't

lose in Davis Cup, in singles. He's lost two matches, you expect to win.

You cannot help that. So Kyle Edmund, as much as he's a young

professional, he will expect to be one serve row up at the end of this

match. You feel that Andy will win. If Andy were to lose this match, the

whole thing, the whole tie changes. It is the rest of the match, it is

what Kyle Edmund will be feeling, what the number two player will be

feeling. The whole thing changes. Once again, as usual, the pressure

is all on Andy Murray. Both these guys lost in the quarter

finals in the US Open, but in very different circumstances. And there

has been a lot of conjek ter about how tired Andy Murray might be after

the events of the entire year, never mind the Olympics and building up to

the US Open when he obviously lost, when it seemed the game was on the

end of his racket. If you had a fear about this game, would that be it?

That would be it. Purely fatigue. If it goes to the latter stage of the

match, then I would be a little bit worried. That is the prize, a Davis

Cup final against either Croatia or France, and so much resting on the

shoulders yet again of the world number two and the British number

one. Thank you, Sir. Sit down, please.

Security steward being asked to sit down. The first intervention by the

crowd. Andy would certainly take that for

starters. Just two points and a full

repertoire already. A drop shot, a sensational lob. A great forehand

winner. Solid, canny play from the Argentine

there. With the forehand, that last shot

from del Potro that got the error from Murray. That is one of the most

fathersome shots in the game. It was when he was at his best. It is

coming back towards that way. It is such a great shot. So technically

sound. Del Potro thought about coming in

there. Decided against it. Suddenly, after playing two brilliant opening

points to take a 30-0 lead, here is the first break point of the match

and it's in the very first game. A fathersome serve.

-- a fearsome serve. He's a great player. He knows that serve can get

him out of trouble so many times. Two great players, playing great

tennis. Murray got the luck of the draw there. This game's well over

six minutes long already. We could be in for a long afternoon and

potentially a very long evening. That forehand - he can hit winners

from anywhere on the court. You have to touch it well. You see the wind

up there. There's so much pace that comes off that. It's difficult to

predict where he's going to hit it. A marvellous shot.

Well, you saw the young guns looking at the master there and the great

thing about the noise, of course, when it is noisy like that, it is

almost overwhelming, but then, when it goes quiet, you can actually feel

the tension, because the contrast is just so vast.

That is absolutely brilliant. First blood to Murray. Nearly nine minutes

of an extraordinary opening game. It is exhausting already. Played one

game... A half-volley, backhand lob. How easy is that? Del Potro moves

extremely well for a big man and the lob has to be absolutely perfect to

get over his head. Twice in the first game he did so. You can just

see the danger signals from del Potro, the way he's very patient. He

slices his backhand a lot more than he used to since the injury.

He's not so confident with the two-hander, but that sliced backhand

is a very good shot. It is something he didn't used to play that much.

The forehand is just awesome and the first serve coming up as well. Del

Potro has another one of his big weapons. Well, this is shaping up to

be early days yet, obviously, but if it carries on like that first game,

then, well, we are in for a treat. Well, there we have it.

Masterful. So good.

You can see already the way these rallies are developing that Murray

knows that if he keeps going to the del Potro backhand, del Potro

doesn't hit any winners of that side. 90% he hits the slice. Murray

knows he will always be in the rally when he goes that side. He has to

pick the right time to go to the opening on the right-hand side.

There's so much of del Potro's style now has been determined by four

wrist operations that he's had. We will talk more about that at the

change of ends. Three break points for Andy Murray

and Great Britain. Good strength there, but again that

big first serve and Murray gets it back deep and then the rally starts

all over again. It is so frustrating for del Potro not getting any cheap

points. So far, every one he has to work for.

Well, that was some forehand. It was some depth from Murray to get the

serve back in the first place. We should talk about the court as well

because Leon Smith we talked to before play began this morning,

apparently the last time the Davis Cup was staged here the court speed

on the sort of speedometer was graded at 35. Today it is at 40. So

it is a much quicker surface than it was for the last time. What that

means from a balance of power situation.

Well worked. And first blood to Murray.

The an engrossing quarter of an hour. Talk about the speed on the

court. Who does that benefit? I don't think it is much of a benefit

to either. I don't think it favours one or the other in that aspect. I

don't think it is a lot faster. I think both players are comfortable

on a faster court. You can see with del Potro and certainly Andy Murray,

it is faster, but you can see already that it is still difficult

to get the ball past Murray. If anything with the speed of the

court, if anything it may favour Kyle Edmund in the second match. His

opponent is a clay court player. He has more pace in his armoury and it

may help him a little bit. Here is a question. If you were

William Smith, given the Hauritz by Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans at the US

Open, who would you pick for the second singles? Kyle Edmund,

absolutely. 133 mph, he posted his fastest ever

served at the US Open a couple of weeks ago. Which I think was 141.

Shifting. Great Britain is challenging the

call. The call was out. Hawk-Eye in action for the first

time. Second serve. Del Potro had a break point' in the

first game and didn't take it but here he has the chance to break back

after Marie's so that each of the Argentine's first service game. --

Murray. That served to the rescue again.

Total confidence on the first serve. He saw the serve was going to make

Del Potro lunge and he took three quick steps to get in with the

handling. -- forehand volley. He is going to need that serve again

now. Argentina is challenging the call on

the left baseline. Brave call from Del Potro to stop the rally, he

reckons he has broken back. Marie is already sitting down so presumably

he thinks it is out. -- Murray. Fine margins but a break back for

Argentina. This man is a great player, a lot of you might not have

seen him on free to air television, since the US Open seven years ago he

has been bedevilled by rest of Britain -- wrist injuries. There

were times he thought there were no prospects of getting back to the top

but fascinating articles morning, with the surgeon who did all the

operations. He had to change the way he took the racket back because that

is what was putting pressure on the rest. How difficult is it when you

are a top ten player to change the way you play? It is huge. He used to

have a very strong two-handed backhand. Already we have seen this

is where he is reverting now, the slides. That shot he hardly used

when he was at his best. His two-handed backhand was the weapon.

But the left hand, that is the one that does the work on the two-handed

backhand, had three surgeries. At the moment it is just a guiding shot

with two hands. We have not seen him put the exonerate on and on that

side. And even with that he is still showing glimpses. But there is not

the pace he used to have. If he gets that back watch out. He was to save

the big four might not become the big five, and even he might not one

of those out and become even the one, we could be talking about him

instead of Djokovic. That is the hand fate dealt him. But he is on

the way back. You can see from the first 22 minutes here in Glasgow he

is a considerable opponent for Andy Murray here this afternoon.

That is just a superb change of pace there from Murray and the inside out

spin was so good. Today you will see Murray head backhand down the line

at times to open up beforehand when the time is right. And he will have

to use that shot to get Del Potro out of guarding that backhand.

Great Britain challenging the call on the left.

GROANS FROM CROWD He had worked it out perfectly until

the last moment. This is real cat and mouse stuff. Not as much

disguise on that drop shot from Murray, trying to hit its nice and

early. It will be interesting to see if Murray comes in a little bit more

today on the Del Potro backhand. That is when Del Potro will have to

come over the ball to hit a passing shot. We may see a little bit more

of that as well in this matter. He is six foot six and he has big

levers at the net. A big serve to square things up. We

have played not far short of half an hour, and it was four hours of that

breathtaking match in Rio which ended up with those two grown men

emotionally and physically in every way exhausted at the net.

Pascal Maria is the chair umpire today.

Good tennis. Big forehands again from Del Potro. On any type of

opening on that side he looks to open up the court. Very good sliced

backhand approach with a lot of light on it. Tough for Murray to get

over that ball with any pace. And the Argentine bench, if we can call

them that, exhorting the 300 or 400 Argentine fans had to give it

everything went Del Potro wins a point. They got 400 here against

8000 stop they have to make themselves heard.

The thing about all great sportsman, what ever their discipline they make

it look easy. Every point at the moment feels like

it is really important. And it is only the first set. They are still

sparring. With every punch almost feels like it is a knockout blow.

You see the difference in pace on the passing shot from Del Potro. He

has not been hitting it that hard in the rallies but he knew there was a

target Anne-Marie had to go for the big shot. He hasn't been doing in

the rally so far, hitting two hard once in a row, Del Potro.

This is tight. What you said in the first set about the sparring. Del

Potro has had a busy summer as well, when you are both tired, you lose

the first set and psychologically that is a real downer. In a normal

match but when you are exhausted, you get that first set under your

belt it makes a difference. Mentally.

That was great footwork from Murray. In the background Leon Smith saying

it was well worked out, great point. And again. Carbon copy of four weeks

earlier, Murray edges ahead. -- nudges. John Conner you have done

it, in your distinguished CV, you have been captain of the Davis Cup

team. The old joke about what the editor of a live sporting event is,

does he just say well done at the end of it because by the very

natured the game just happens in front of you. What does the Davis

Cup captain actually do, what can Leon Smith actually say? It honestly

depends on your relationship. And the idea not think he likes to have

too much said to him during these games but just of little things. It

depends on the player, younger players with less experience, that

is when you have two savings they are starting to do and maybe they

get nervous at times and that is when you can hopefully calm them

down and tell them what they are doing. But with somebody like Andy

Murray who knows how to change plans if things are not going right, it is

more encouragement really. Keeping you on the right track. This is more

of an encouragement. Andy knows what he's doing and he knows his plan. He

has given him some instructions there for something other but they

have a good bond together. They have been together for many years and

that is a big advantage, no doubt about it. One racket has gone to be

very strong and ready. Funny how perhaps with the heat of the crowd,

creating a different type of, you might wonder strings a little bit

tighter, perhaps. It is amazing how that can happen this early on the

sometimes you just get that feel and you need to get something done with

the string tension. Amazingly it is only 3-2.

That is great tennis from Del Potro. This is a very good sliced, a lot of

bite on that ball. It didn't come up at all. He had two options and

wrong-footed Murray. So simple, that forehand. Just about

the most straightforward game of the six we have had so far. The thought

is most definitely on simmer. You have got to feel this could be

anything contest. This could take us into the time and well beyond.

The winners and errors category so far. Murray has hit nine unforced

errors, Del Potro only three. I would have thought it would have

been the opposite way, less errors for Murray and more winners for Del

Potro. He is playing well now. The most

impressive two-handed backhand we have seen from him today. He leaned

into that one. You can see the way he stepped into that one. Created

the opening for the body. -- volley. He moves well for a big man. Nice

and low, I is level with the ball on that volley. Excellent technique.

I think this is an optimistic challenge from Del Potro. Great

serve from Murray. Only 130 mph. Only! But the angle was unplayable.

Another of those unforced errors we were talking about. It didn't set up

for him that well. I like that shot down the line. To get the photo out

of the backhand corner of the act on the vivid fast, he lives to the

off-balance a little bit. He rushed that shot. Del Potro putting him

under a lot of pressure Two first serves in makes all the

difference. The depth on that backhand as well.

That is Leon Smith right next door to the umpire's microphone.

Vamos, says Del Potro. And he is putting so much pressure on Murray.

Sixth break point of the match far. And even at this early stage you

feel that this actually could be the key moment in this match. Maybe in

this tie. Maybe it will be. Second break of

serve for Juan Martin Del Potro. And this means he just has too holders

serve a couple of times and it will be first set to Argentina and who

knows how key that might be. Andy Murray talking to the bench, not

sure about the racket tension. He is obviously not happy at the moment.

Down a break why would he be but there is something, it could be the

racket tension. Maybe needs to go up a little bit intention perhaps. It

is a fine match so far, from both as, the quality has been amazing.

Del Potro hitting three unforced errors so far after seven games with

Murray coming at you shot after shot. He is just not making an

error. That backhand side, not hitting many winners on that site

but just not making errors and then the forehand is just opening up the

Court and Murray is having to defend so well as well. Too many errors

from Murray and he would like, up to 11, four times almost as many as Del

Potro. He has to cut that down a little bit. But a quality match. The

Argentine has got to start making errors, he cannot continue at this

quality like this, not if they go for five sets, it is impossible, one

would think. If you are having an idle thought

about how long this match my go, the longest all-time Davis Cup single

featured a player on the Argentine bench today, Leonardo Mayer in

Brazil last year. A match that took six hours and 42 minutes! If we are

going to beat that, we will still be on court at eight o'clock and Kyle

Edmond will be thinking, when on earth am I going to get on?

When is he going to miss a backhand? I know he isn't hitting that sliced

backhand that hard... He's guiding it, a little bit of spin, nice and

deep. That had to be the longest rally, who blinked first? It was

Andy. And when you are watching that you have to remember to breathe. You

can fill eight and half thousand people exhaling at the end of that

round. -- field. Have a guess how many shots the

previous rally was? A lot. 44. In case you're getting really worried

about your Friday night being kibosh to buy this match going on forever,

as a result of that match last year with Leonardo Mayer, it went to a

tie-break. The way del Potro is playing,

doesn't anticipate being here for four hours.

A second ace at 130 miles an hour, that was.

That was a very straightforward hold for the Argentines. And so, Andy

Murray will have to do serve to stay in this opening set, having won the

first two games and having got off to a flyer.

And be in no doubt about what the big event this is the Argentinians

bought. More than 50 accredited journalists here from Argentina for

this. The interest generated by the

possibility of Argentina getting to a first final is absolutely huge.

That is his first backhand winner today. He picked the toughest shot

to hit it at. The timing of that... The timing of that was perfect. The

first winner he has hit on that side. I think Murray was shocked, he

didn't even move for that one. Murray could do with a few mod cheap

points like that. There is the chairman of the All-England Club.

Well played. If there were to be a final, let's not count our chickens

here... If there were to be a final in this country, would you play it

on Centre Court at Wimbledon under the roof? I don't think they would

be able to at that late stage of the year. They have never yet played a

final on the Centre Court at Wimbledon. I don't think all England

would allow them to even if they wanted to, and I think it is too

late in the year for the grass. I think they could have played the

semifinals under the roof. It would be nice to have that option,

wouldn't it? It sure would. Wright, crunch time

now. How does Murray approach returning this serve? He just hasn't

quite got the balance right. Played a few too many errors. Just pushing

perhaps a little too much. I still like the plague, I know it's not

really Murray's game to come in that much, but I like the play-off coming

in on his backhand occasionally. His passing shot with the two hand, not

that much pace on the ball. At the moment Murray is getting pulled into

these long rallies with his backhand slice and then del Potro opens up

with the moment Murray is getting pulled into these long rallies with

his backhand slice and then del Potro opens up with the forehand.

You have to come in a bit more and still use that one down the line to

open up the del Potro forehand. Fascinating insight into nothing

now. The Argentine captain you could see was about to say something half

a dozen times to del Potro and then thought better of it. So the whole

fabric, didn't say a word to him! Over to you.

The handy Fanclub are in full voice. -- Andy Fanclub. Needs to break

serve here or it is first blood to Argentina.

No margin for error there. That was beautifully played by del Potro.

A good change up there from del Potro. Serve and volley. Murray not

expecting that. In that rally Murray had a shot on

his backhand, he chipped and moved back to the baseline. Which then

opened up a huge space and del Potro, in this form, does not miss

opportunities like that. So here we are, after nearly an hour, three set

points. Just one needed. The ball was called in. Murray knows

it was in. But it's a minor irritant, just to delay the

inevitable. So this was the great question last

night, was Andy Murray tired after the US Open and that defeat to

Nishikori? Or the emotional situation over the last few days

after the death of his grandfather. We saw a shot Jamie Murray just

that, who I think went to the funeral and has come back to support

his brother. It's been a big year, carrying the Olympic flag, becoming

a dad, everything in terms of physically and mentally, a draining

six-month period. If things started to go badly today, what impact would

it have? That is what we were saying tonight. That possibly is what we

might be seeing here. What is your take on how Andy might respond to

that? I haven't seen the Nishikori meltdown... He has got a little bit

irritated but managed to hold it back. I think mentally so far he has

managed to hold things in. I don't know if you can sense what the

atmosphere is like down at courtside... You can see how excited

the Argentine fans are and you can understand why. And the people at

home who haven't seen much of del Potro over the last three or four

years, it gives them a chance to see what a wonderful play years. Yes,

Annie has an hit his backhand with full pelt yet. I don't know this

wrist is 100% right. He has managed to manoeuvre his game around that

and his backhand slice has become something very special. He doesn't

miss. Only made four unforced errors in that whole set.

Are we talking here about the captain encroaching onto the field

of play, John? Didn't really hear that. Don't know if he was talking

about the crowd... As a general rule at the moment, the

long rallies are going the way of the Argentinians. Yes.

Murray's sixth ace, assuming it was in. Del Potro seems reasonably

confident it wasn't, although he is now rethinking and going to the

other side of the court. Hawk-Eye delivers its verdict.

And it is so important for Andy Murray to hold serve at the start of

this second set. First big cry from the Scott --

Scot. Ace number seven. It kind of got away with that one on

the backhand side line, but well played in the end. Things were

looking a little bit shaky, but Murray has righted the ship and won

the first game of the second set. I had a coach at school a thousand

years ago who always said the first game of the second set is one of the

most important in any match, because if you lost it, you could almost see

the finish line in the other guy's favour. But if you won it and said,

I have got this one, let's get on with it. That is a pretty good rule

of thought, apart from at this level. At this level I don't think

it matters that much, they are good enough players and fighters it

wouldn't make too much difference. But psychologically, del Potro with

a break there would have been a very happy man. But Murray's serve got

him out of trouble. If he hadn't won some big points on his serve he

would be even even more trouble. Del Potro has been flawless so far.

We don't see this shot very much in the men's game, in the women's game

we see a lot of it, the drive forehand volley. He has used two

foes in the match so far, del Potro, and been perfect both times. A huge

screech from Murray a few moments ago at himself.

Please, ladies and gentlemen, closed the gates please. Thank you.

Got to stop worrying about this rule, it's so silly. Who cares if a

few people are standing on the back of the stands? Come on!

When it's coming down from six foot six, the angle is nigh on impossible

when he hits it that well. Game Argentina. 1-1. Four aces to

del Potro. Close the gate, please. Don't let the people in between the

gates. Just keep them waiting outside for

15 minutes! Lots of inexperienced stewards on duty, possibly. But the

noise that Davis Cup tennis is played in, you would think a few

people moving... Would not really make a great deal of difference.

Players are used to people moving around in practice. And if you go to

the French Open you have phones going off all the time.

I think we've got to see more of this. Coming in on that backhand

side. Challenging the call on the right

side of the service line. The ball was called out.

Might just be fractionally wide, this one, I think. Second serve.

He hasn't missed many of those. Great Britain has two challenges

remaining. Sometimes you need straightforward

games just to settle you down a bit. This is Murray's 32nd Davis Cup

singles. He has won 29 and last two. In the two he lost a Fabio Fognini

of Italy in the extraordinary match and his first-ever singles match,

when he played... Wawrinka? Yes. That was about -- a battle. This

game, you suspect, is going to get very tense over the course of the

next hour and a half or so. Yet this out of the way now, because I

happened to look it up this morning. Andy Murray's Davis Cup debut was

against Israel and he played in the doubles in 2005. Who did he play

with? David Sherwood? It was. You are an egghead, officially. I think

he started off on the first point with a return down the line winner

or he crossed or something. I remember vaguely he walked on court

and the first point needed something dramatic. It wasn't like feeling his

way onto the court as a youngster, he just hit a winner with the first

ball! A lot has happened in the intervening 11 years. Three Grand

Slam titles, two of them big titles. The Davis Cup last year and Great

Britain this year trying to retain the trophy for the first time in 80

years. Since 1936. There is an awful lot of tennis to be played in this

tie before we can even start thinking about that. Del Potro 2-1

down. Murray looked like he moved a bit

strangely after that forehand. Del Potro decided one of the balls

wasn't good enough, so he hit it the umpire's Wade, who dropped it. --

way. Happy enough with that ball, though.

I was about to say to you halfway through that rally, Murray had a

chance to go in and decided not to and then he did. I said that early

on in the second set. I think this is a tactic he has to employ against

him, especially of del Potro is going to try and chip that ball.

Murray is too quick for that, you will have to come over the ball. As

we have seen, not that much pace on the two handed backhand. I don't

know why Murray isn't doing it more often. I know it's not his tactic,

but you have to change it up. Just drifted wide. There was a

glimmer at 30-30. And the urgent encouragement from

Leon Smith. Frustration for Murray, because it

was a big serve, but that ball was on his racket.

Eventually he Thauvin rally. It is quite nervy. Playing against and

opponent who is inspired right now but we are seeing more aggression.

On not the great things about Murray is he has four or five game plans.

The a game plan today is not working, so you had to change it and

that is what he's doing. We all become body language experts

watching Andy Murray potentially the last few points there seems to be a

bit more urgency and energy. Had enough of that. He might not

have done that at 30-30. He would have hoisted a lob back or

something. Fabulous came from Murray. You can see times here way

he looks exhausted. But the Davis Cup, that is the difference. If this

was a normal tournament I think he would be in big trouble, physically

he is wondering what he's doing but in these circumstances he hears the

crowd and sees his team-mates and it is just a different thing from any

other competition that the tennis players are involved with in the

Davis Cup. Use squeeze out that extra bit of energy when you needed,

that fight. And Murray, the match has barely started really and they

have already had some of most exhausting rallies. They have barely

started the second set, they cannot both keep this up, but for five

hours, errors will start to creep in. They will have two. If you are

just an occasional tennis watcher, thinking it is always like this, no.

The Stirling University Barmy Army, key elements behind Andy their, of

the entourage, they are in full voice. Yet again.

And of course Murray serving first in the second set. He always has a

chance to break and take what might in the decisive lead.

Not sure what he was trying there. Looking at Leon Smith may be saying,

I did come in, I presume they have been talking about that but I don't

know what sort of approach shot that was, I suppose he was trying to hit

it short enough where Del Potro would have two stretch but there was

no bite on that ball and Del Potro just steered it down the line.

Well, he came in again. He wasn't really committed to read again and

he is drawn to Leon Smith, they probably talked about this tactic

that he came in from here, he hesitated and then he made the move

and by then he had too much court to cover. You see where he is hitting

that volley, that should be another three feet further in, the tactic

was right that he just came a split-second too late.

Andy Murray was on his haunches then favouring his left knee.

That was a bit lucky but fantastic racket head control there. Del Potro

things he has hit a winner. OK it clipped the top of the net but it

was a winner anyway. That is the other shot that I think

he needs to hit more than really commit to that one down the line.

That was more steering, not the explosion that we see when he turns

the shoulder. Almost like he is not quite sure that is the tactic. He is

sort of half doing it. Out. No call came from the line

judge. That was Pascal Maria. That is the line next to him. If he has

got this wrong... That is a brave over rule. But he was right. This

was the stage in the first set where Del Potro broke Murray and obviously

went on to take the first set. And it is one of the oldest cliches

about the seventh game. The seventh game is important because it is kind

of right in the heart of the set. This is a big moment. Andy Murray

cannot afford to get broken at this stage. You would think, this is a

long way back normally but in these circumstances and in the holistic

round of where Andy Murray is this year. He has new balls.

Late call. The ball was called out. A lot of infinitesimal calls being

made, and initially the line judge said it was in and then she changed

her mind. Relief sweeps round the Emirates

Arena in Glasgow. That was an assertive let's go from

Murray. Two positive first point, make that three.

Excellent service came from Murray. The new balls with that extra bit of

pace and snap. I think we will see an aggressive game on this return of

serve. There is lots and lots you can do with the return of serve but

Murray is becoming more aggressive now. I think he needs to. He has too

tried to get Del Potro out of this pattern. He has to try doing

something a little bit different. He has gone for a word with the

sizeable back-up team, a big team effort. And again, let's not just

sensing, let's see if there is any indication between captain and

player. I tell you a story about that. The former took the job, I had

a chat with John Fitzgerald of Australia and I asked him how he

dealt with the superstars. Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewett. He said

it was going pretty well with Pat Rafter Bledman was itching to get

involved and I said something to him about his volleying and he said,

it's all right, mate, let me deal with it. So he said OK, after that

the realised it is best not to say too much unless they ask you. That

is what the Argentinian captain is doing right now.

So mad because that is one of his favourite shots. Did not really get

hold of that one again. Missed by quite a way. Four shots earlier he

timed 12 affection. Again looking over and again if you

look at the approach shot he didn't do enough with it. Accelerated a

little bit on the two-handed backhand. Watch this one. Nothing on

that. Del Potro has enough time to set himself up, could have gone

crosscourt. Huge balloon from the Stirling

University Barmy Army, it has been taken into custody.

Hawk-Eye being kept very busy in this match. You felt that was in all

the while. Del Potro with three points to take a level again.

Murray came in again. That was to the wrong side. Absolutely marooned

at the net. That 1's not even out wide and it is too good shot to

coming against unless you are a lot more decisive than that. Excellent

service game. Is he coming in because he wants to shorten the

rally? I think he wants to change up the pattern of the baseline rallies.

He just hasn't approached very well, though. I still think it is the

right thing to do. That is the difference with that

approach shot. Hitting that one hard enough and wide enough that Del

Potro can only hit the slice. He has not hit that shot well today

and he looks to me like he is almost falling off that shot. He is not

committing himself. He pulled himself that one, did instead

through an extent like he normally does. Is that fatigue? It could be.

That serve was rescuing him in some big positions.

That is more like it. Full commitment on that shot. What a time

to hit it. Del Potro almost aiding him on. Have you got it in you? And

he did. That is well played by Del Potro.

That is what she was doing in the first set. That forehand put so much

pressure on Murray, he knows in these rallies if he hits anything in

that area, if it is not deep enough to the baseline then Del Potro does

this. He can do it to both sides. It is a ferocious shot.

That racket is lucky to live because he thought about disintegrating it.

As bad forehand went into the net. So, at 4-4 and is set to the good

here is a break point. As the umpire asks the Argentine fans to sit down.

This could be a big moment. That is why he is a champion. That

is exactly why. Bold and brave. And clinical.

From almost smashing his racket to fist pumping in 30 seconds for Andy

Murray as he now has a point for the 5-4 lead.

Got it! Not the best drop shot he has ever hit. But he's still out in

front. These are nervy moments. We say it at every match that ebbs and

flows like this but I can't remember the guy in Wales who invented the

scoring system, but he was a genius. That game is a microcosm of the

sport, you thought for a moment this could be it and now you're thinking,

who knows? Absolutely. One point away from Del Potro serving for the

second set. Obviously not a guarantee when you're playing

against Murray 13 when it being in great shape to be up to Mac OS X,

then serve and volley in the corner. Small margins, that is what great

players do. They come up with these shots. Murray at times looked tired

and it reminds me of the petrol tank when you think maybe you have 30

miles left but it is still there and sometimes he looks like he is dead

on his feet and the extra energy comes through again. The difference

is your gauge on your Carl dashboard -- car dashboard says you have 30

last ago but you know the vegetation is 33 miles away. But here you don't

know where the service station is, how much petrol is in the tank at

the moment got what it could be an hour, it could be three hours. Great

atmosphere. That goes without saying in the Davis Cup, especially at home

in recent years for Great Britain. But this is just fantastic.

It is an amazing match. We are used to the sort of climax of these ties

coming on the third day because the number ones play each other. Del

Potro really is the number one, so you have the best match of probably

coming right here in the first match. Set in the living up to that

at the moment. That is too good. It really is. I

thought he would pass with that forehand that he just stabs that

over. Perfect feel. That is brilliant! What a shot! You

with thinking, is he going down the line, crosscourt? Then he pulls out

a masterstroke like this. Watch this, a great lob by del Potro. No

chance! And with that one shot, Murray has

lit the touch paper in this arena. He is two points from squaring

things up. There was a big cry on that serve.

The crowd thought it was out. The crowd called it out, and that's what

Murray is standing there, going... I think he thought it was a line judge

who called it out. He played the ball anyway. Of course, we were

under by them. -- underway by then. I think Andy new who the culprit

was. The umpire had a word with the member of the support team there.

Anyway, either way, we are at 30-30. That is so good! He thought he was

going to sneak in, decided not to, moved forwards and had to hit one

heck of a volley to wrong-foot Murray.

In the last five minutes they've just kind of turned the oven up a

little bit. You can feel, literally, the heat.

That's just another glimpse, for me, to show that del Potro, with the

season getting towards the end, and he has time to work on that wrist to

get it stronger in his mind, he's going to be a major threat next

year. It was done with the best

intentions, that cry of "Out" from the crowd, because it was a double

fault to all intents and purposes, but it was in Alnwick 's Murray the

point. Now we are at 5-5 and this is anybody's set.

Well... He has hit far too many of those today's. Another one of those

shots, we have seen it four or five times now, he goes to hit it and

then his weight comes back off the back and when he hits it. Not

leaning in and extending when he hits it well. To me, it's showing

he's not that confident on that shot. Trying to steer it in, almost.

You have to give him credit again for that serve. He's gone almost

every time on the crucial point on the outside, he's gone out wide, his

favourite serve, and there he senses del Potro leaning that way and hit

it down the middle. Good change-up. 13 aces for Andy Murray and he has

needed most of those to get himself out of a bit of bother and he could

do with a couple more big serves now.

That's magnificent! That's the Murray we know. And to portray --

del Potro will have to serve to stay in the second set. Good stuff? Come

on, it's really outstanding! Two the best players in the world. The

quality is just magnificent, really. Del Potro in that game, 15-30,

played so well to get there and then two aces come down. He did nothing

wrong in that game, but Murray elevated his game when he needed to.

Do you sense it might be this game, it might be the tie-break, do you

send these next ten minutes also could be the match? Absolutely. I

think to come back from two sets to love, with the odd strum article

against Murray, with the circumstances leading into this

match, if he wins this is that I have no doubt he is going to win

this match. -- with the difficult circumstances. I like that kind of

positive talk! But there's a lot of tennis to be played before we get to

that situation. Del Potro has served five aces so far. And he's getting

80% of his first serves in that. That is a pretty handy ratio.

Remarkable. But it is different serving at 2-3

down 5-6. Correct. Maybe it isn't! Even though he has

been out of the game for a long while, you still think of del Potro

and he is a big-time player. He has won Aslam. He has been there and

done it. -- a Grand Slam. And when he did he beat Nadal and Federer in

back-to-back matches. In their pomp. What a return!

He missed it. That's the first relatively simple forehand that del

Potro has done that to, and can you feel the noise?

Big chance, big chance for Andy Murray now.

Outstanding rally. What a forehand that was.

Leon Smith, during the rally, was actually turning round and asking

some of the Stirling University barmy Army to keep quiet. They are

encouraging Andy Murray, and it is hard to stay quiet when you have

drama like this. Here is Murray now, two shots from making it 1-1.

The ball went wide in the end of the del Potro. He is livid and slams the

ball into the court. I think he was angry about a ball being called out,

obviously it wasn't, the rally carried on, but it was just the

noise. I am surprised the umpire didn't order that point replayed.

Irrespective of that is one set all. Andy Murray has squared things up.

We said ten minutes or so ago we were starting to get very concerned

about how things might pan out but it is one set apiece. Let's go down

to Jamie Baker, who is with the rest of Andy Murray's team-mates.

This is a massive physical and mental battle, what is your view on

the match so far? I think Andy had to get that set. I know it's still

in the balance. I still back Andy to win the match, but it's going to be

another two more, maybe three more brutal sets. In terms of tactics, to

portrayal is consistent with his backhand and a lot of slice. What

you think Andy has to do in terms of coming to going back? Andy likes a

lot of pace, but you go to the forehand and you get burned

crosscourt. I mean, I'd rather him run out than... He's doing well

coming forward, but has to pick his times. When he did that in that set

he won most of the points coming in. Is a tough job for Leon Smith, how

much does he say now? I wouldn't like to be sat on the bench telling

Andy what to do in that position. I think Leon will have a conversation

and just sort of sound him out, see what he thinks and go with it.

Definitely coming forward's been a big attribute to winning that set.

Thank you, Dan. During that chat with Dan and we

watched a fascinating conversation between the umpire and the Argentine

captain, and the tournament referee about the intervention of the crowd,

because the Argentine are very unhappy about a call from the crowd

about a ball being out when it wasn't during that final rally, as

it turned out, in the second set. It is the nature of the beast. A very

emotional, noisy and engaged crowd and that's what you get in Davis Cup

ties, which you don't get on the Centre Court at Roland Garros. That

is the nature of the beast. It will be interesting to see if it happens

again, with a close call and if the crowd think it's out, what will be

the punishment. It's worth saying before this match began an

announcement was made to the crowd saying that these were the rules,

the wording of the rules... If you create a disturbance, your team can

be penalised a point. And that is the point I think of the umpire was

reiterating to the crowd just then. Either way, two hours gone, one set

all. Simple now, best of three. That's good hitting, again. He's

kind of got his eye in now. Of course, the great thing is,

having got things back on a level footing, you don't want to surrender

the advantage at the beginning of the next set.

The ball was called out. It's only fractions, but I think it probably

was. CHEERING Good call, Hawk-Eye.

Positive stuff from Murray. The big forehand gave him the chance to put

that away. A very good hold their from Murray.

Started off well, then del Potro came back at him a bit. Murray did

not want to lose that opening service game, with the momentum

going his way. It looks like del Potro is sort of... Has got rid of

the anger he had at losing that second set with that interference by

the crowd. He seems to have regained his composure, back to business.

Somewhere at the back of the Emirates Arena, Kyle Edmund is

thinking, I wonder how long it's going to be before I'm on court? He

will be playing the second singles against Guido Pella of Argentina

after this. That is just a huge shot, isn't it?

It was in the hitting zone, but you still have to hit it. Especially

when you play someone as quick as Murray, it has to be almost perfect.

He lines this one up, open stance forehand, incredible hip rotation on

that shot and belts it away. Broke his string in there, Murray.

Did well to still win the point with a broken string. Like a cricket shot

at the end! Broke the racket at the previous

shot so he knew he had to come in and get this point over with, and

did it so well. Andy's really quick, but del Potro

is really good. That was a good riposte to what Murray achieved on

the previous point. More conversations between Murray and

Leon Smith than you normally see. Well, seems pretty animated today,

no doubt about that. What makes Murray so fascinating to

watch is the breadth and variety of tennis he can play. Absolutely.

There are great players out there, some are the kind where you know

what you are going to get, but the variety of what he produces is

intriguing. Unlucky, didn't do enough with a

volley, though. Yes, and he said something about the volley there.

The word volley within there. In there somewhere. With some other

words. No pace on it, should have stuck that one away. Again, just a

little bit too cautious on it. A volley of abuse to himself. He is

such a good player of the volley, technique wise.

You kind of sense that Murray thought he had a sniff and is

frustrated that it's actually one apiece. In sets and games.

That's the 1-2-macro punch del Potro was using so effectively in the

first set, Murray using it now. They are playing Gold over the

tannoy. The last time these two met the gold medal in Rio. What a match

that was. It was the closest, I think I've ever seen to a singles

match not in a Davis Cup tie. It was like a Davis tie. A full house on

the tennis -- at the tennis in Rio. All the Brazilians were shouting

that Andy because they don't like Argentina. The atmosphere was

absolutely fantastic. The ovation they both got at the end after a

four hour, Leon Smith described as a Blockbuster earlier on, the

reception they received was just overwhelming, deservedly so. I think

both had nothing left to give. If it had gone to a fifth you might have

had to carry them both out. A few conversations going on here, I

suspect about the involvement of the crowd again. The Speaker of the

House of Commons is here, John Bercow, so maybe he should take

either, because he could certainly shut this 8000 up because he deals

with much worse on Wednesday the Prime Minister's Questions.

It's a balance, because one of the things we love about the Davis Cup

is the way the crowd gets engaged in a way it doesn't in any other major

tennis event. With that incident in the crowd, they weren't doing that

to put off del Potro, they were doing it to say the ball was out. It

would've been different if it had been a second serve, but I do think

the umpire should have perhaps replayed the second point. Pascal

Maria having a long conversation with Leon Smith now. He's having a

hard day. Del Potro has served three double

faults in this match. Murray just the one.

CHEERING. What was he thinking there? Murray won that point, but

boy did del Potro lose it? And here's a really big window of

opportunity now for Andy Murray. He was after that like a rabbit

wasn't he? Out. If you want to know how close

this match is, Murray has won 74 points and del Potro has won 74

points. Out.

UMPIRE: A challenge to the call on the left baseline. The ball was

called out. It's time for everyone to keep calm here, line judges as

well. A big point that was as well. That

would have given Murray 15-40. It wasn't going to lose the point from

that position. Becomes 30-30. I like that. That was

human error by the line judge in For the moment of that bad call,

that game ran away from Andy easily. It really affected him there. The

rarely does he miss two returns like that in a row. He's riding both

horses that guy, in an Argentine shirt and with a tam-o'-shanter on

his head. All the Argentine fans here were given a rousing ovation

and welcomed in Spanish at the start of the match today. And there's a

great feeling of camaraderie here today.

Sensational tennis. Two incredible points there. The forehand from del

Potro in both these first two points. Murray played a superb rally

there. Del Potro knew from this position he had to go for winner.

Pushed so far out, had no chance of recovering. And just inside the

line. Let' s see if Murray can get him out of trouble.

That wasn't just a double fault, that was a treble fault. Three

minutes ago we thought it was going to be 15-40 and now he's lost six

points in a row. Three break points for del Potro.

Out. Saved one of them although del Potro is going to challenge that.

UMPIRE: A challenge on the call on the right-hand side. The ball was

called out. While awaiting for Hawk-Eye to do its best, we've

spoken to the ITF about that last point in the second set and they

said it is at the umpire's discretion whether to play the

point. Pascal Maria decided that there was no reason to do so.

From the very top drawer, ace number 15. He's so good now that you

actually expect him to do that on big points. 131 miles an hour that

was. He was almost backing it there,

Andy. Not quite sure what del Potro thought what was happening to that

ball. It wasn't really a lob. Then it became a smash, then a volley and

it almost went into the court. A break point served.

That's brilliant. That is just extraordinary. Brute force. And

majestic subtlety. It was the imagination, and the disguise. He

serves the big serve here and looks like he is going to hit a forehand

but he hits what is called a fast drop shot, where it goes over the

net quickly and dies quickly. Absolutely brilliant. Not expecting

that at all. Break point number five. Murray

bashing himself on the head with his racket telling himself he should

have gone cross-court again and not down the line.

He's not happy, Andy, understandably. Not just because of

that missed opportunity in the previous game when he thought he was

going to get 15-14. I think Leon Smith is having another word with

the umpire on Andy's behalf about the quality of the line calling. But

the ball was on the end of his racket and he should have put it

awayment Yes, but what is the umpire supposed to do? The linesman made a

mistake. There is nothing he can do. Replace the linesman I suppose, but

it is human error. It happens. It was a bad call. It was a bad call.

It wasn't just a bad call, it was a very bad call. Yes, this that was a

huge points, because from that position Murray wins the points, to

go 15-40. In the end it doesn't happen. They replay the point and he

ends up losing six points in a row. But having said that, at this level

you can't let that worry you for that amount of time, and he did. You

can see, that's an awful call. No ifs or buts about it. I don't blame

him together a bit nuts about it but you've got to throw away, it is easy

to say from here, but a couple of points went quickly there with bad

returns when he was thinking about it. But at this level you can't

afford to do it. This mustn't be a Nishikori moment. Exactly. As soon

as the game started again, Murray was back to business. Amid all the

debate and the conjecture all that matters is the scoreboard. And

Argentina, through that man, have a break of serve in this third set and

lead 3-2. I must say from the physical side,

they have played two-and-a-half hours of gruelling tennis. Del Potro

looks like he has barely started the match. Looks physically lake he has

plenty of gas left in the tank. Maybe if it goes on another hour we

won't be saying that, but at the moment he looks absolutely fresh.

Andy at times looks like he is feeling it. But we've seen that

before from him. He has amazing stamina. Sometimes he looks like he

is out of it and all of a sudden he keeps on going.

No call at all on that but the umpire saying it was out. Do you

want to challenge it? This is no laughing matter. No!

They always say a break of serve is never a break of serve until you've

held your own serve afterwards, and no better time to get back to level

pegging than immediately after you've lost a game this the manner

that Murray did a few moments ago. CHEERING. Del Potro didn't see that

coming. So good. He can spot when del Potro

is going to hit the slice and when he comes in bypass that, if he is

quick enough, it is not really that much del Potro can do if he isn't

going to go over the ball with the two-hander.

CHEERING. Punch and counterpunch. And listen to the noise. As Andy

Murray squares it up one set each, three games all. What a match. What

a way to spend a Friday afternoon. If you've just come home from school

you've missed two hours and 33 minutes of an absolutely engrossing

tennis match. It's been every bit as good as the score would suggest.

That's a sensational, absolutely phenomenal volley cross-court from

del Potro there. He's a huge man, 6 foot 6, proportional build. His dad

was a rugby player, but look at the touch on this.

CHEERING. Did he make it or didn't he make it? Very close. I thought he

was going to challenge there, but must have clipped the line. You are

the line judge at home. Just clipped it, I think. Yep.

Don't you think it would be an interesting exercise one day, I

don't know quite in what circumstances you could do it...

UMPIRE: The ball was called in. Murray had opened the court up

brilliantly and did he finish it off? And this point is what I was

going to say. Circumstances UMPIRE: The ball was called in.

Murray had opened the court up brilliantly and did he finish it

off? And this point is what I was going to say. Yes, he did - just.

Wouldn't it be fascinating in a game of some substance, I don't know how

you would do it, maybe a first round match at Queen's, but all of us who

sit in judgment in the commentary box, we were the line judges in a

match and had to make decisions like that? Not me. It is not easy is it?

No. Calling a line like that, the margins are so infinitesimal. Out.

Almost had too much time for that. There's Dan Evans, who may be called

on, who knows, on Sunday to play a key role in this tie. Something else

that might be important to a lesser extent, but as this set guarantees

on del Potro has only one challenge left, so a set and a match that's

been full of challenges and counter challenges. This went to a

tie-break, that might be key. Although obviously he would get an

extra one in the event of that happening.

That's an incredible rally! Some of the hitting from del Potro there was

extraordinary. Murray got him back. They both smiled at each other. And

there's the roar of the Argentine tiger, the Argentine puma.

That ball may have played its last role in this tie. It was beaten to a

pulp. During the course of that rally.

Amid all that, a break point. For Argentina to take a 4-3 lead. Let,

first service. Well, can he do it a third time but

this time not clip the top of the net?

CHEERING. Del Potro's got his eye on that forehand now. Ebb and flow, nip

and tuck, but it's advantage Argentina.

What a match. Last three games have been remarkable in the way the match

has swung. The match last year when we played against Japan and Murray

beat Nishikori I thought was one of the best matches I've seen in Davis

Cup. Obviously this match hasn't gone as long yet, it is not into the

fifth set, but in terms of quality so far, this surpasses that match.

Both players, del Potro taking big risks in that game there, big risks

on the forehand. Murray didn't really do anything wrong with those

last two points. He was outplayed. The quality is staggering. But such

is the return of serve with Murray that one like del Potro normally is

up a break and you think OK the set's over but you feel that Murray

can still get this back. He has to win two more service games

theoretically. It is a long way from being over even though del Potro now

has got that step ahead. But what a match! Del Potro's forehand at the

moment, we said before the game began, when he is in form it is an

immense, bludgeoning weapon. He is like a cricketer in a t20 match,

smashing it out of the ground. Does Murray have to concentrate on the

backhand to keep it away from that? Or do you reckon he can't keep

hitting balls with that frosty? The one thing Murray hasn't hit well

today is that backhand down the line, to open up the forehand, but

he has hit that poorly I think it is a case of del Potro has elevated his

game to a level at the moment that Murray just can't stick with it. He

is number 64 in the world at the moment but he won't be there for

much longer. US Open winner seven years ago, a

career blighted by injury but he is back in style.

A bit unlucky there, Murray. Just mishit that forehand. It slowed it

up enough. Del Potro had too much time for that forehand. Still hit

one heck of a shot, because Murray was covering down the line.

CHEERING. Murray was stranded had that gone over. I think that's the

first drop shot he's tried. I don't remember him doing a drop shot the

whole match, del Potro. Murray has certainly hit a lot of them, but...

When you are being pummelled as Murray is at the moment, you take

points like that don't you. You do. Out.

And he'll certainly take that. That backhand slice has been absolutely

rock solid, and that one barely got over the middle of the net. That

was, that had to be nerves. Didn't move his feet on that one at all.

He needed that serve. First serve went off a little bit in this game

until then. CHEERING. That's what he's been

trying to do for the last two hours and 45 minutes and he has finally

nailed one. That's been his worst shot today. On a point like that, he

still have the confidence to go for it and exkite perfectly. There's the

one, leans that ball just inside the line. The difference was his body

weight was going forwards the whole way. What a backhand. Break back

point. Murray challenged it without

actually saying it. He just put his arms up. Had to do it three times

before the umpire saw him. That was just a question of, that was a

tactical call there. Take a breather, just reset here. Let del

Potro think where he is. Giving del Potro some of his own

medicine there. So good. That was counterpunching at

its best from Murray. He was put under pressure almost every shot in

that rally but kept on rebounding back at help trove. In the end,

forced to play a shot that was too deep.

A point for Murray to level things at 4-4. Unbelievable angle on that

serve, from that height. Short up the service box, Murray could have

gone across the five seconds before that and still not got there,

brilliant serve. Not quite sure what happened there.

His shoe has come off. You thought Andy would lob them. You'll macro

that is what I thought would happen. It is stating the obvious but you

have to be so strong mentally to play this sport at this level and

intensity, not just for so long but when you have two players here, the

world stopped and, perhaps even the world's top five or six when del

Potro gets back to that level. The intensity and the enormity of every

point, it wears you down watching it, never mind playing it. It is

relentless. The length of some of the shots and

the margins on the lines. Not much more than 100 mph but the

angle they gave Andy no chance. He thought it was a let there, didn't

he? He stopped. It was called a let. I heard it. It hit the net. The ball

change direction. Did Andy say "Why not just at the

fourth set?" He is saying the machine didn't call it. But Andy is

saying he can hear it. We heard it. Ice suppose you can go against the

machine but I think everybody heard it. Where was that noise before? Can

we go back to that began? Here we have it one more time. There is a

definite noise. I suppose it is the Alex Ferguson thing, everything

evens out in the end. Murray got lucky on the set point in the second

set but the bottom line is that Andy is not happy. But he is serving here

to keep himself in the third set. Del Potro was not happy about that

call but he has decided to keep his powder dry at the moment.

Del Potro perhaps mindful he has to serve so he was not too bothered

about that but that can be a dangerous game to play.

Ace number 17. But what matters are the Serbs to come. This is a game --

serves. As a spectator, I love these games coming up, it is what it is

all about. One of the best servers, on his way back to being one of the

best buys against maybe not the best return about the second best, in a

Davis Cup match to go to- one up and I would not bet my money on either

player winning this game, I think it is a 50-50 game. I can't wait for it

to start because there is some at going on here now. Del Potro thought

he got bad luck against him and now Murray thinks it, the crowd is

involved in every single point. They want stop, the noise is deafening.

This is what it's all about. I have no idea what will happen in this

game. What Murray has got to do is get the ball back in the court on

the first serve. To get himself in the rally and then try and steer the

game his way. Yes. Yet another match in Andy Murray's

career where you feel it should carry a government health warning

because it is hard work. But it is riveting and compelling. And you

can't take your eyes off it. And one Martin del Potro is about to serve

to take a 2-1 lead. That was not coming back. Ten aces

for del Potro. That was the most emphatic of them all.

What was that? That was the worst shot he has probably ever hit in his

career. I guarantee if any of you played tennis this morning at a low

and humble level, you probably hit a shot like this at one point. A

complete mis-hit off the edge of his friend, how that stayed in, he hit

that right on the edge. That was unbelievable. May that was the

turning point of the match. Could be.

You are macro that shot. That one there. Cat and mouse, not sure which

is which. Murray took the initiative there.

And in a set full of breaks of serve... He desperately needs

another one now. Stunning forehand from Murray. He

just had to rip it, didn't he? Write down at del Potro's feet. Two break

points as the clock ticks past three hours.

He thought he had it there for a moment. He actually got there too

early on that one. He was there. If he has tweaked to muscle there,

he could do with getting this point out of the way. Great serve, that is

a great serve. Murray is livid with himself. Stretching those quads and

hamstrings. His going to need them for the battle ahead, that is for

sure. And in less than a minute, del Potro

has gone from two break points down and staring 5-5 in the face to after

three hours and two minutes, a set point to give Argentina a two sets

to one lead in this enthralling and engrossing first match of this tie.

No, come on. Ridiculous, amazing from Murray, reminiscent of the

final last year with that amazing lob at a key moment. Absolutely

under the cosh. One shot to play. You'll macro 6-foot six man, dipping

over his head, set point against you, can't believe it.

Can you feel the atmosphere at home? You can hear the noise but can you

feel it? He's made it. Sensational forehand

from Murray to the feet of del Potro. And he wasn't going to miss

that one. Look at the crowd, on their feet, claiming a stunning game

from Andy Murray. Yet another break of serve and somehow, heaven knows

how, we find ourselves at 5-5. You did call it, you did say that game

could be anything and it was not anything, it was everything. Yes,

everything. Wow. Now Andy Murray almost has to calm down a bit after

those last couple of points. Del Potro, what must he be thinking?

Played a fantastic service game and still lost it.

Correction, ball was good. That point improve Murray's mood. It

wasn't that hard a shot as well, the lines person missed that one. But

don't think it will have an affect on the game but it is an irritating

thing to Murray. What an impressive game from Andy

Murray. Clinical, surgical. An hour and five minutes of absolutely

stunning set of tennis and we are not done yet. And you wouldn't put

your money either way on the next game. No. It is a measure of how

great a player he is now that you sort of expect him to do what he

just did in that last game or the game before last. To hit the lob an

set point down, you just felt he was going to make it. In this rally, del

Potro did absolutely nothing wrong, bumping beforehand. Look at that

forehand. Fabulous approach shot, couldn't get any closer to the line

on that and that comes over your head, and set point against you, it

is just remarkable. He mis-hit that forehand a bit. Just a dipping

forehand at his feet. Six points in a row now, what a momentum changed

now. What must del Potro be thinking at this changeover?

The atmosphere almost speaks for itself. Fantastic. When you think

about it, the bad days, Davis Cup ties that came and went and to be

supporting public barely knew it existed, barely a decade or so ago.

We are now a nation who have embraced the Davis Cup because of

that man really. Because he actually got it and realised what it meant.

Del Potro now has to regroup and think he is one game away from a

tie-break. You reset, in the tie-break, anything can happen. One

game away from that, that is what he has to think now. Can't dwell on the

fact that he just served for the set.

I like that play. Can't pass you with a one-handed backhand.

In or out? I think it was out. You could be a line judge.

An incredible return from Murray, floating and floating towards the

baseline. Taking all the pace, forcing a del Potro to force the

game and making a mistake like that. He's got that shot working well at

the moment. I think somebody shouted something actually, on the last

point in the deuce court when del Potro served which annoyed Murray

and he was talking to Leon Smith about it. But we are back at deuce

again. Andy will be cross about that.

Tie-break time. These are the kind matches when the great players

retire, that they actually miss, the bullring, the boxing ring, whatever

you want to call it. No quarter asked or given. And who's got the

strength mentally to make the right decisions, to play the right shots.

One set all, 6-6, tie-break. Welcome back to the two-handed

backhand down the line. He's hit it on a couple of crucial points.

Another one of those, first point of the tie-break, what a message. Gets

so low on that ball. How's your heart rate? Not good in this match.

What they return! -- what a return. He took that so early, that second

serve, on the rise. Gets a very good second serve. This is a must win .4

del Potro. -- point for del Potro. Lunchtime in the bars of Buena 's

ire is and elsewhere, I'm sure all of the televisions are on this. They

will be engrossed. -- Buena 's even though it was a Murray error,

they had -- he had to win this to stay in the tie-break.

The cries of come on, Andy get ever louder. He is doing the business at

the moment. He goes to the changeover, 4-2. I

don't know what he's talking about, but it is the way here's bucking

himself up, I suppose. It's not affecting him when he is getting

mad. This time, he seems to be playing better off when he gets mad.

Looking at Liam Brodie on the sideline, the young British player.

This is what Murray and other players have done to give the Davis

Cup such prominence. He will be watching this thinking, I want a bit

of this action as soon as I possibly can.

That's a great shot. He almost got it back. It's not like this in the

Tashkent challenge, is it? The Davis Cup is almost like nothing else in

sport. In terms of the atmosphere, the noise, and the variation of

noise, from AC/DC to Norah Jones, to the sounds of silence. In an

instant. Well, one mini-break is never

enough. And from 4-1 to 4-4. Five brilliant strikes, one after

the other. Gets his nose in front. Judy stands a solitary figure, but

we are all with her. It looked to me like he just brushed

that one, came at the ball too early on the forehand. It was the right

shot to hit. 1-1, 6-6, 5-5. Close. Murray coming in at key moments.

Here he comes, takes the initiative. Puts it away. And now has the chance

to serve for Ray 2-1 lead in this pulsating dual with the man he beat

in the gold medal match in Rio just three weeks ago.

2-1, Murray. Three and a half hours of the most end falling tennis. But

there is still a lot of work to be done. Let's step down to the

courtside and hear from Jamie Baker. What a set that was. How on earth

did Andy Murray win that? By doing what he always does - digging in

deep and making plays out of nowhere. He keeps surprising us, but

I don't know why, because he does it every time. He is just quality.

There was a moment that 4-3 where Randy seemed to stop. What happened?

It hit the net cord, then someone in the crowd may be shouted. I don't

know if Andy stopped because of the net cord or because of the guy. He

was thrown off. Del Potro has gone off to regroup, but do you think

that in the fourth and potentially fifth set, the different styles, del

Potro does not use much energy in the points, and the users a lot. Is

that a factor? I don't think so. He needs to get himself fired up and

angry, and then he plays his best. Occasionally, he rushes the

forehand. Del Potro has to protect his back end now. That is the weak

area of the court. He is making so many returns, just chipping and

hustling points, I think he realises what he has to do, taking on the

second serves only. I think he will keep doing that. And then rushing

del Potro to the back. I think that is the main play that will win the

match. The thing that finding the balance could make a difference in

the closing stages? Beasley, he doesn't want to overdo it. He could

never do enough in terms of choosing the right moments and taking it when

there is an opportunity, on the second serves he is doing well. Del

Potro will give it all. He can't risk too many second serves. He may

miss a few more first serves. It is a chess game, and I think Andy is

coming out on top. When it comes down to the real gritty moments, the

fact that del Potro's backhand is a bit weaker than maybe in the past, I

think that is unfortunately where his downfall might be. Pushing for a

prediction, what do you think will happen? I think we will win the set.

The biggest key is that Andy starts the set well. He can sometimes have

a lull and get broken only. If he can push through to the latter

stages of the set, I think we will have it. Thank you.

We keep saying what a fantastic event the Davis Cup is. There was a

period where we were a bit ambivalent about it due to the fact

that we weren't doing very well, but you realise what a huge sport tennis

is, but also what a huge event the Davis Cup is when you consider what

matches are taking place all around the globe today. It really is all

around the globe. Croatia are playing France in the other

semifinal. I had to have a look at the map to see wearing Croatia that

was. There are matches taking place in Tashkent, Sydney, Moscow, New

Delhi, O Sakho. The rhizome one and zone two games taking place. There

is a match in Lima. Your Thailand -- you have Thailand against Taipei.

Portugal against Slovenia, New Zealand against Pakistan. The Davis

Cup is, in many ways, still tennis's best kept secret. It is a phenomenal

event. It is. It is such an amazing event, I just wish that the ITF

could change some of the scheduling for it, certainly in an Olympic

year, not do it. Maybe every two years, just because when you see

tennis like this, you want the top ten to play every year. For a number

of years now, that hasn't happened. It is still a great event, but it

should be better than it is and should have every single player

playing at this marvellous event. How can you get atmosphere like this

anywhere else at any other event? You can't. The scheduling is

awkward. It is coming up to 5pm on Friday, and a lot of people will

have stuck the telly on and thought, what is this? Because the Champions

League has been happening and football is in full swing, the

Paralympics and everything, this Davis Cup weekend has sneaked up. It

is the week after Ray grand slam. It very rarely fails to deliver. The

doubles is invariably the match that get you off your seat. This match,

which normally would have been on the Sunday, it has really kicked

this tie off in style. Can you coach that? No. It's just

instinct. I hate to use the word, but it's genius. Absolutely.

A solid start from del Potro. If we talk about a comparison between the

two players and their shots, and he has a greater variety. There is a

comparison between the two forehands and where they are putting them, and

also the wake of shop. You would think that del Potro, we don't have

the mechanism to show you to gauge the speed of shop, your instinct

would be that del Potro is hitting the ball harder. Murray has a

greater variety of shop, but occasionally Murray just rips one,

doesn't he? -- variety of shot. When he flattens is out -- it out,

Murray's forehand is as powerful as anyone's. The power del Potro has is

incredible. A lovely backhand there. That was

the first time that del Potro's movement seemed a bit off. He has

been moving so well. This one, he was just a bit late getting to it.

There were half a dozen occasions in the Olympic final where del Potro

looked like he was taking an eight count, and he kept coming off the

canvas for more. A bit of a lull at the moment, two fairly

straightforward service games at the start of this set. After the drama

of the last 25 minutes or so of that last set, culminating in the

tie-break. Both players would surely be happy with two comfortable games.

It was drama in the previous set. 11 aces for del Potro against

Murray's 20. Leaving nothing to chance there. I

suppose it's inevitable, it's a bit like an oceangoing yacht in the

America's Cup - you get the calm sometimes. The match is taking the

foot of the throttle a little bit. There are one or two words being

uttered by players on the court that are offensive. We apologise for

that. It is a battle. The nature of the match is that even though

nothing is happening, this is often when the most happens. You can

suddenly sneak a break of serve when no one is expecting it. The

intensity of the first three sets, it is almost impossible to continue

at this level. They have both dropped a bit. It is a danger area.

A little lack of concentration and you go down a break of serve. You

need to be focusing to get this match is over with, and you can drop

a level and have to work harder to get into the fifth set. That is the

job of the captains, to keep punching at the changeover. It is

the old cliche, one point at a time, but keep focusing, because it is so

easy at this level, with three hours and 40 minutes of incredible tennis.

And we still could have another two hours of tennis. Absolutely. You

weren't doing anything tonight, were you? What about Kyle Edmund? He has

eaten about four meals already. That what lay -- that was lazy,

there. He didn't know the feet. This is also where the crowd can help.

They also sends it when there is a little bit of danger. -- he didn't

move the feet. This crowd almost don't let you relax, even if you

wanted to. Too casual there, two points in a

row. He just pushed that one in. Here, he had too many options.

We did say that a break of serve can sneak up when you are not expecting

it. Andy needs to wreak rupiah. -- to regroup here. He made that volley

look a lot easier than it was. That one, straight into the body of del

Potro. He hit a drop volley off it. That was an excellent volley.

Murray was on the ropes, but he got back into the centre of the ring and

then made the error. The ball went to the top of his right thigh there.

Is a hint of desperation in the Captain's voice there.

That was a poor service game. He was all over the place on the backhand,

wasn't he? We're not quite sure what he's saying. Is he asking for a

medical time-out? The umpire is following things with interest. No

doubt, the worst game he has played in the whole match. Exactly what you

were saying at the changeover. Egypt with his concert -- he dipped in his

concentration, and del Potro said, thank you very much. He is back in

the match. Andy can sometimes cut a rather

forlorn and melancholy figure. He's doing that at the moment. But he is

2-1 up. So good. If he is forlorn, he plays

like that. So good, snuck in quickly, acceleration and again the

drop volley that he plays so well. Is he moving all right? Occasionally

it looks like the top of his right thigh is bothering him.

O. He did really well to stay in that rally as long as he did.

Certainly his movement didn't look affected in that rally, he was

moving well there. This is their ninth meeting, they

have never played a five setter but we could be heading that way. What a

great forehand that was from del Potro. At this changeover, we can

see if they look for any medical things. You would think if there was

a problem he would be calling for a trainer. I don't know if we're able

to eavesdrop on this. Couldn't really lip reader that? I

thought he said cramped there. Doesn't like any of them, that is

the fifth racket he has looked at. It has been a battle of wills for

three hours and 49 minutes. And it is turning into an endurance test

now. Mentally and physically for both of them, it has turned into an

endurance test. And he doesn't want to throw the

fourth set away. But he doesn't want to let it drift away 6-2 and go for

it in the fifth because there is always the chance. It is only one

break. And we have seen already that he can break del Potro's serve. But

first he has to hold his own. Like that.

Even though he has hit those serves at a decent clip, 120, it looks to

me like he is not bending his knees as much as he normally does on the

first serve, it is more of a straight leg. Not too bad. Only 93

mph though. That has stemmed the bleeding

anyway. And as you say, it is only one break of serve, it is a let

code, one brilliant shot and a couple of errors on the other side

of the net. If it isn't there to be had.

More in hope than expectation there you would think.

So, del Potro on the cusp of squaring things at two sets all. We

are getting close to the four hour mark, four hours they played in Rio

for four sets. Very similar here. Except I was the Murray came through

in four sets there. And the enduring image of Murray and del Potro

embracing at the net, floods of tears, exhausted, mentally and

physically exhausted. One of the great shots of the Rio Olympic

Games. We expected this match to pick up from there and it has done

just that. And certainly in terms of the tennis, the first three sets,

exceeded it. The Onuoha the quality today, this set has dropped off from

Andy Murray. Physically, del Potro looks the stronger but that can

change so quickly in this game. Imagine his length, del Potro looks

fine at the moment but one game can turn that around where suddenly

physically he can get cramp or something. Murray, no question about

it, is not moving as well the can also get a second wind. I have seen

it from him many times. They have these reserves that they can call

upon and it is amazing to watch. He looks out of it at some stages. He

must answer here because even if Doug Boettcher holds out to make it

2-2, Murray wants to serve first in the final set. Absolutely. So it is

a big game irrespective of what happens in the next del Potro

service game. Murray hasn't given up on this set yet. He has broken him

and del Potro may get a bit tight as well.

The first one he has missed. The first lob he has missed today.

All of a sudden, that fifth set is getting ever closer. Andy Murray's

play has dropped markedly a couple of notches.

He has definitely changed his service motion with the legs, not

bending as much. He is protecting that leg. 85 mph on the second

serve. He had a second serve earlier that was ten mph slower than that.

His first serve is somewhere in the 120s but his leg is stiffer. Not