:00:00. > :00:00.the Madison, we are going to the red button.
:00:00. > :00:09.Now, we are going over to the Davis Cup.
:00:10. > :00:13.We are leaving BBC One but welcoming queue was on BBC Two to this cup tie
:00:14. > :00:19.between Great Britain and Japan. We are enjoying this outstanding
:00:20. > :00:24.match between key Nishikori, and Andy Murray. Goodbye to viewers on
:00:25. > :00:36.BBC One, the tennis continues on BBC Two. -- Kei Nishikori. COMMENTATOR:
:00:37. > :00:41.A comfortable enough hold to maintain that slender advantage, 2-1
:00:42. > :00:47.in the second... Second set? That was a while ago! Everybody's
:00:48. > :00:51.concentration goes after a while, that is the ebb and flow of these
:00:52. > :00:57.sets, it is interesting, that point from a man who knows his tennis,
:00:58. > :01:01.Gary Stewart, he wonders whether or not we should have tested, we being
:01:02. > :01:05.Great Britain, should have tested Andy Murray in the doubles
:01:06. > :01:10.yesterday, does that have an effect now? That three set work-out? I
:01:11. > :01:15.don't think so. It was such an easing match, much more than a
:01:16. > :01:19.practice session really. It could have gone on to four or five sets,
:01:20. > :01:29.but it was so comfortable. We've been focusing. He was venting, maybe
:01:30. > :01:32.his legs and quite bending that way. Nishikori is looking half a step
:01:33. > :01:36.slower. Quite rightly, I'm not saying he should not be. It is three
:01:37. > :01:42.hours and 15 minutes of gruelling tennis, but it seems he's taken a
:01:43. > :01:47.few chances too soon. His legs went in position on a couple of ground
:01:48. > :01:51.strokes. It's a battle of the wounded here. -- were not in
:01:52. > :01:55.position. He's taking a long time over the points. But that is the ebb
:01:56. > :02:00.and flow of the physicality and why you love it. It is a true test. That
:02:01. > :02:26.is why I prefer Test cricket over T20 cricket.
:02:27. > :02:35.he can't find one, he makes one. And the national anthem of Germany.
:02:36. > :02:49.You know when something is happening. It's a competitive
:02:50. > :02:51.instinct. Big ten minutes coming up. He can't find a first serve at the
:02:52. > :03:17.moment. OK. Here we are. Look at the focus on Murray's face
:03:18. > :03:52.now. How different. Don't miss those. He knows that's
:03:53. > :04:02.big one. Not the time to go mad at your bench. You would have taken
:04:03. > :04:07.15-30 at the change of ends. Nishikori is taking so long between
:04:08. > :04:50.service. He hasn't had a first serve in for some time. He needs one.
:04:51. > :05:00.Novak Djokovic has gone two sets all in front of his home fans in
:05:01. > :05:03.Belgrade against his opponent from Kazakhstan. The winners of this
:05:04. > :05:13.match between Great Britain and Japan play the winners of that.
:05:14. > :05:25.Probably going to have a fifth and deciding match in that contest. It's
:05:26. > :05:34.not hard to understand why the very best players don't play Davis Cup
:05:35. > :05:37.every year. This is the world number two and the world number six. The
:05:38. > :05:43.world number one struggling in Belgrade. They have to go to Indian
:05:44. > :05:56.Wells and get back on the circuit next week. It is a lot of energy.
:05:57. > :06:06.Not one first serve in this game. But still ahead in the game.
:06:07. > :06:15.Beautiful shot. Best one he has hit in a while. He really got his feet
:06:16. > :06:16.right and hit it early. Extended through beautifully. Didn't pull up
:06:17. > :07:09.on the ball. With the pace of these courts these
:07:10. > :07:14.days being so slow, so many of these rallies remind one of squashed.
:07:15. > :07:21.Working the ball each time into the corner, taking its toll eventually.
:07:22. > :07:42.Perhaps a few less clean winners these days, certainly less volleys.
:07:43. > :07:56.First first serve he's got in. What a time to do that. What a big effort
:07:57. > :08:00.there from the Japanese number one. To con the overhead. Could have
:08:01. > :08:31.bounced it. He has missed some of these. -- took on.
:08:32. > :08:40.You see, that's a 90 mph serve. If his feet were moving the way they
:08:41. > :08:49.have been, he would have taken that on the forehand. There were plenty
:08:50. > :09:06.of time to move around. He just didn't move the feet. Great hold.
:09:07. > :09:12.Nishikori is not going anywhere. We didn't think you would. There is
:09:13. > :09:20.always the possibility that your head goes down and two or three
:09:21. > :09:29.games can disappear. Not a bit of it. The standard of tennis has gone
:09:30. > :09:39.down. No doubt about that. It comes to a battle of wills. For me, Murray
:09:40. > :09:53.is going to take that. But it is exhausting.
:09:54. > :10:01.Murray has only ever lost twice in singles in a long Davis Cup career
:10:02. > :10:15.stretching back to 2005. He lost to Stan Wawrinka in clay in Naples.
:10:16. > :11:01.That foot workfare. Late on the ball. -- that footwork there.
:11:02. > :11:48.Stunning. This is what Jamie Baker was talking about. That ability to
:11:49. > :11:55.get through the court and get these fluffy, heavy tennis balls through
:11:56. > :12:06.the court. Well done, Kei Nishikori. Nice sportsmanship.
:12:07. > :12:21.And that would be the break of serve. This is going the way of
:12:22. > :12:26.Japan. And he has rather taken the crowd out of this. They are a lot
:12:27. > :12:34.quieter than they have been. John Lloyd asked me one of the questions
:12:35. > :12:43.with the mike down. As Andy Murray ever lost from two sets up? I think,
:12:44. > :12:48.only once. When he was very young in 2005, Wimbledon. Third round. His
:12:49. > :12:55.first Wimbledon. Against David Nalbandian. That doesn't really
:12:56. > :13:02.count. That was before he was a RealPlayer. He went physically in
:13:03. > :13:10.that match and Nalbandian could drive you mad in that regard. He
:13:11. > :13:19.could sap the energy of any player. And on Grassi was very effective. It
:13:20. > :13:23.has been a long time. It might be one of the toughest matches Leon
:13:24. > :13:30.Smith has had to deal with for a long time. The mood that Murray has
:13:31. > :13:36.been in. He could have easily lost the second set. The last set and a
:13:37. > :13:41.bit, it has been pretty tough going if you have been in the Murray
:13:42. > :13:48.support camp because of the stuff going on. They are all in this as a
:13:49. > :13:55.team. Whatever he needs to do to win. If you need to vent and get it
:13:56. > :14:01.out of his system. A bit of abuse. Then that is what you need to do.
:14:02. > :14:08.Talk about a player used to toughing it out. The world number one
:14:09. > :14:15.Djokovic. Back to all square in his match. Not too much wrong with the
:14:16. > :16:39.legs on that one. Got up to the forehand lightning quick there.
:16:40. > :16:52.Excellent hold. A bit of rhythm back on the serve. Looks a little
:16:53. > :17:00.quicker. Amazing how sometimes you get that energy when you start
:17:01. > :17:02.winning. One of the biggest things that helps you not be tired any
:17:03. > :17:28.more. He gave that one away. A little bit
:17:29. > :17:30.there. Not too much effort on that one, this is a worrying stage here,
:17:31. > :18:02.he has to hold this game. The ball has gone in. That was a
:18:03. > :18:41.late challenge as well. Just caught the line. I think he
:18:42. > :18:43.thought this was going out when he hit it, he hooked it a little, it
:18:44. > :19:31.just crept in. Big trouble now. Just not moving his
:19:32. > :20:08.feet in this game. It is interesting, Nishikori held
:20:09. > :20:11.his hand up there, I'm not sure he is able to do that. Not strictly by
:20:12. > :20:38.the rules. Never mind. Grants are so -- it glances away.
:20:39. > :20:43.Suddenly, it looks like a fifth and deciding set coming up, it read for
:20:44. > :20:47.fans of tennis, but it is quite a demand if you are supporting Andy
:20:48. > :20:51.Murray and Great Britain's chances, as most of the domestic market would
:20:52. > :20:59.be, it is difficult to watch. I would be very concerned now, I do
:21:00. > :21:03.not know how many more places Andy Murray can get some energy from?
:21:04. > :21:07.This is the five-week lay-off happening now. We were all concerned
:21:08. > :21:10.and talking about it, playing against his opponent on the first
:21:11. > :21:14.day of the doubles, he could have had 12 weeks off and it would make
:21:15. > :21:19.no difference, no disrespect, he is so much better. But up against a
:21:20. > :21:23.world number six after a gap of five weeks, no matter how hard you train,
:21:24. > :21:28.it is not the same of playing these kinds of points for so long. His
:21:29. > :21:32.legs have gone. If he can come back from this position, it would be an
:21:33. > :21:36.amazing achievement, one of the greatest in my opinion. But you
:21:37. > :21:43.never know, sometimes you get these reserves of strength, it's -- it
:21:44. > :21:47.sometimes comes back, but at this evidence, he has gone. He was like
:21:48. > :21:53.this against Simon at times as well, you would think there was no way
:21:54. > :22:00.back. It was the concentration, is it the physical side or the
:22:01. > :22:03.concentration, or the legs? I beg -- are they connected? I'm not
:22:04. > :22:08.convinced he is out of it, Kei Nishikori looked tired. There is a
:22:09. > :22:12.battle going on, now he looks exhausted, somehow he is going to
:22:13. > :22:16.get the ball back somehow, and I think somehow he will find a way.
:22:17. > :22:19.But it will be one of his best performances ever in the Davis Cup
:22:20. > :22:26.if he comes through, possibly the best.
:22:27. > :22:29.Time has been called here. Kei Nishikori is at the line ready to
:22:30. > :22:37.serve, he is really taking his time here.
:22:38. > :22:48.It is a wonderful tennis match to watch. Especially for the neutral.
:22:49. > :23:18.Maybe now he is down this double break he will take a lot more
:23:19. > :23:22.chances? And release some of the tension that has been there from the
:23:23. > :23:27.middle of the second set, he ended up winning it. He is wanting it so
:23:28. > :23:29.badly. Sometimes it can act against you.
:23:30. > :23:35.Sometimes you have to let things happen.
:23:36. > :23:58.It's a stupid game, it is exhausting to play and to watch!
:23:59. > :24:07.Both players have dominant five set records, if we do indeed go to five
:24:08. > :24:13.sets here. Murray has won 19 and lost seven,
:24:14. > :24:22.112 and lost four for Kei Nishikori, he is very good.
:24:23. > :24:28.-- won 12. May I remind you... That call was
:24:29. > :24:35.about half an hour late, and half a metre wide! It is taking the Mick
:24:36. > :25:34.out of the umpire. He knew that it was not in.
:25:35. > :25:45.Yes, he's going for it all right! That shot had a look as well, not
:25:46. > :25:49.going to run for another ball here, he may as well get another winner
:25:50. > :26:17.here or that is the end of it. He belted it.
:26:18. > :26:24.It's a funny old game. Kei Nishikori served a double fault, Andy Murray
:26:25. > :26:28.goes for it, all of a sudden now, if Andy Murray can hold the serve
:26:29. > :26:35.somehow, Kei Nishikori maybe a bit wobbly.
:26:36. > :27:31.Now, there is some freedom in Andy Murray's muscles, freedom in the way
:27:32. > :27:37.the racket clears the body. Certainly, he's working again. This
:27:38. > :27:45.is what happens when you let yourself go a little bit, relax...
:27:46. > :27:47.He's trying to shorten the points. Opening up, it is dangerous
:27:48. > :28:13.sometimes for your opponent. This is his last challenge. Yes.
:28:14. > :28:14.Floated a long way long. No challenges remaining, it could be
:28:15. > :28:45.crucial. It packed rafter up there now. A
:28:46. > :28:54.beautiful old-fashioned volley game, when it is required. I am already
:28:55. > :29:29.looking forward to the next. Me too. And the next game it is. Nishikori
:29:30. > :29:38.has lost two games in a row. Murray is relaxed, and focused. Nishikori
:29:39. > :29:43.knows here that if he misses any first serves, Murray is swinging
:29:44. > :29:47.from the hip. He is going after it and smacking it. We will see if he
:29:48. > :29:51.does it now, there is some link to lose in this next game or whether he
:29:52. > :29:55.knocks it into game and stays patient. I'm sure in the back of his
:29:56. > :29:59.mind, Kei Nishikori is thinking that way, the way that Andy Murray has
:30:00. > :30:03.hit the ball in the last two games is the best he has done in the last
:30:04. > :30:08.set and a half. His legs look better again, and he is moving, getting on
:30:09. > :30:15.top of the ball, taking it early. A fascinating game coming up. 16
:30:16. > :30:20.nations, eight ties in the first round, Britain won it last year, top
:30:21. > :30:24.seeds this year. 135 nations have entered this World Cup of tennis, as
:30:25. > :30:29.some of our PR and marketing people would have it, not far from the
:30:30. > :30:35.truth. It is a top team competition in men's tennis, as is the Fed cup
:30:36. > :30:42.in women's. And it is testing. Britain won the doubles, it is Andy
:30:43. > :30:54.Murray can beat this match, they beat Japan -- can win this match.
:30:55. > :30:59.It is a live this match. -- fifth match.
:31:00. > :31:05.We could be going home at three o'clock in the morning. Nobody is
:31:06. > :31:11.moving from here unless they have something very important going on.
:31:12. > :31:45.Serving for two sets, the Japanese number one.
:31:46. > :32:05.Big forehand there and then this one. That is big-time tennis, right
:32:06. > :32:24.there. 121 miles an hour. Doesn't get much
:32:25. > :32:33.bigger than that from Nishikori. That is full throttle. The British
:32:34. > :32:36.part of me wants to see a break of serve. The tennis fan wants to see a
:32:37. > :33:08.fifth. You've got to hand it to Nishikori.
:33:09. > :33:29.That is to excellent service. -- that is 2-macro excellent service.
:33:30. > :33:39.Now, let's see if he attacks this one. Tried it. Snatched at it a
:33:40. > :34:56.little bit. Magnificent comeback from two sets
:34:57. > :35:03.down to two sets all. Great Britain versus Japan is going to become a
:35:04. > :35:17.classic Davis Cup tie. Let's get some of the courtside at atmosphere
:35:18. > :35:20.with Jamie Baker. Nobody would have predicted this yesterday. You might
:35:21. > :35:27.have to think that their decision not to play Nishikori yesterday
:35:28. > :35:33.might have been a good one. He will obviously be the fresher of the two
:35:34. > :35:38.players. If you look at the difference between the two players
:35:39. > :35:42.at the moment, Andy is wearing his heart on his sleeve and burning
:35:43. > :35:48.energy between points. Nishikori is giving nothing away. Massive
:35:49. > :35:51.pressure. I think it is going to be a battle of willpower. If you wanted
:35:52. > :35:58.somebody on your team to come through, it would be Andy Murray. He
:35:59. > :36:04.has done it so many times. Nishikori hasn't lost since 2012 in Davis Cup.
:36:05. > :36:13.Leon Smith has an important role to play. He has never been in this
:36:14. > :36:22.position before. He will have to find the balance here. He has never
:36:23. > :36:28.had to challenge Andy in this way. These are both amazing players. Andy
:36:29. > :36:36.is a Grand Slam champion. To win his first Grand Slam, he had a two set
:36:37. > :36:42.lead and had to come back to win the final set. Good points well made.
:36:43. > :36:56.One final thing, the case go right now. Andy, one break, 6-36- four. We
:36:57. > :37:02.talk about Murray. Nishikori is going to have plenty to say. I40 was
:37:03. > :37:10.going. It just shows, when you start to win, adrenaline kicks in and you
:37:11. > :37:15.forget fatigue. I have so much respect for Murray's game and I have
:37:16. > :37:21.seen him do this kind of thing. Not as bad as this for awhile. He looks
:37:22. > :37:28.like he is out he somehow regroups. If we were allowed to bet, I
:37:29. > :37:34.wouldn't be putting too much on it. Nishikori is a class player and he
:37:35. > :37:38.is as quick as Murray, if not quicker. The difference is the
:37:39. > :37:44.serve. Murray not getting as many cheap points. Not hitting the big
:37:45. > :37:51.serves in the corner like he was. That has almost been negated. It is
:37:52. > :37:55.an even match. All willpower now. Mother's Day. It is hard enough to
:37:56. > :38:05.watch if you're not related. Let alone being a mum or grandmother
:38:06. > :38:15.watching. I couldn't even watch my girls play netball without becoming
:38:16. > :38:20.ridiculous. Andy is first out. He is going to be asking the umpire about
:38:21. > :38:23.the time pretty soon. I have to say, Nishikori has been pushing it a
:38:24. > :38:36.little bit with the time between points. The umpire looking out.
:38:37. > :38:40.Let's hear it for the power of youth. This balmy Amin ever stop.
:38:41. > :38:50.CHANTING -- this balmy army. They were
:38:51. > :38:58.probably doing this until late last night as well. They are a great
:38:59. > :39:03.bunch. They are all junior doctors and surgeons and architect and the
:39:04. > :39:08.like. People who will be of great responsibility one day. Get the
:39:09. > :39:14.responsibility out of your system before you start operating on
:39:15. > :39:26.people. Look at this. The future of the UK. Yes, Nishikori coming out
:39:27. > :39:44.for what could be a grand fifth set. Enjoyed this. He beat Vasek Pospisil
:39:45. > :39:53.and Millard 's Raonic last year. Hasn't lost a Davis Cup tie for all
:39:54. > :41:53.these years. Marie has -- Murray has only lost to have. Final set.
:41:54. > :42:00.So hard to knock this man off balance. To knock him off the
:42:01. > :42:04.baseline. That was the wrong shot because it just opened up the angle
:42:05. > :42:21.and he was just chasing the ball down. Easy saying it from here but
:42:22. > :42:26.Nishikori is so quick. That's wide. I believe he's going to be
:42:27. > :42:32.disappointed with this, the Japanese number one. It's just floated off a
:42:33. > :42:36.slight mis-hit. I think he has wasted a challenge. Worth a look but
:42:37. > :43:10.a challenge gone early. What a shot! How did he manufactured
:43:11. > :43:19.at angle from that position? Fantastic backhand. Good slice,
:43:20. > :43:24.deep. No problem. And he hits a winner from there. That is just
:43:25. > :43:29.brilliant. That footwork we talked about. After three hours and 58
:43:30. > :43:47.minutes. News from Serbia. As you might
:43:48. > :43:53.imagine, Novak Djokovic has managed to come back and win in five sets to
:43:54. > :44:01.keep Serbia's hopes alive for hours and 57 minutes. Just a little Sunday
:44:02. > :44:07.run out. This match is a bit of a lightweight in comparison. What are
:44:08. > :44:31.they tired about? The winner of GB - Japan, if you're
:44:32. > :44:39.just joining us, early Sunday evening, the winner plays the winner
:44:40. > :45:41.of Serbia - Kazakhstan. Either home or away depending on who wins.
:45:42. > :45:50.He's got it. He's absolutely gutted. And he absolutely deserves it. A
:45:51. > :45:57.12th break of serve in the match for Nishikori. That matches Murray. It
:45:58. > :46:01.puts him ahead in the fifth set. There was a ball in the rally
:46:02. > :46:09.earlier that might have been wide as well. He hit two ridiculous
:46:10. > :46:13.backhands in this game. The speed getting up to the ball was
:46:14. > :46:19.phenomenal. It looked in that game like the match had just started, the
:46:20. > :46:24.way he was moving. That's a bad sign for Murray. If you look at the way
:46:25. > :46:34.the patterns are developing. When they commence their rally and it
:46:35. > :46:40.opens up and a pattern develops, Murray is covering more ground. The
:46:41. > :46:48.crowd are doing their part. They have not stopped. They can make a
:46:49. > :46:49.difference here. When you're feeling low and screaming every point can
:46:50. > :47:16.certainly help. Murray a break down to Nishikori in
:47:17. > :49:06.this fifth and deciding set. That was ambitious second serve ads
:49:07. > :49:10.you - 30. If it caught the line it would have been a good one. -- at 0-
:49:11. > :49:54.30. Andy Murray refusing to be
:49:55. > :50:57.steam-rollered in this fifth set. Fantastic. Fantastic point. Such
:50:58. > :51:04.variety, the looping forehand. His opponent nicer and deeper, in
:51:05. > :51:10.another great position. Then just flattens out the backhand. When you
:51:11. > :51:19.think of the matches Murray has played against Nishikori in the
:51:20. > :51:27.past. Not had any problems. This is an absolute monster. Six straight
:51:28. > :52:11.points for the British number one. He is back to where he is pushing
:52:12. > :52:17.right on top of the baseline and getting Nishikori on the run. Not
:52:18. > :52:19.giving up as much space as he was in the fourth set when he was the one
:52:20. > :52:49.getting pushed back. That was beautifully done. It's not
:52:50. > :52:55.often that you will break out Andy Murray, that is normally a Roger
:52:56. > :53:01.Federer type. Absolutely, I think he is the only other player I have seen
:53:02. > :53:05.do that shot. Just pushes through it, gorgeous. The best thing about
:53:06. > :53:11.doing it to an opponent is you make them feel like that! They can bleed
:53:12. > :53:25.you did it! -- they cannot believe you did it.
:53:26. > :53:51.From dumping your server, first game of the fifth set after four hours,
:53:52. > :53:56.to come back and break her love, even the guy on the sound system has
:53:57. > :53:59.the right idea. All helps to put a bit of a surge into Andy Murray
:54:00. > :54:19.playing in front of a home crowd. Scenes in here that you could not
:54:20. > :54:23.imagine a few years ago. And let's not be under any illusions, we have
:54:24. > :54:28.some good players who have performed very well, James Ward, Kyle Edmund
:54:29. > :54:33.will be one for the future, and Evans may still be required to play
:54:34. > :54:38.a fifth match tonight. Jamie Murray, Colin Fleming, Ross Hutchins. That
:54:39. > :54:44.forget about it if Andy Murray was not presence and in the game. -- but
:54:45. > :54:50.forget about it. Which is why no matter what it costs he has got to
:54:51. > :54:54.be a major factor in where the game goes when he no longer plays. How
:54:55. > :55:00.could you throw what he has got away? You have two stay in the game,
:55:01. > :55:09.that has been the one problem over the years, the expertise has been
:55:10. > :55:14.lost, too much of it. He reckons he can play another six or seven years,
:55:15. > :55:20.Murray. Seems like a long time now when you are into the set! He will
:55:21. > :55:24.be so tired at the end of this match he might want to take another four
:55:25. > :57:51.weeks off. This is an exhausting match but a brilliant match.
:57:52. > :58:01.Must be very wearing fur Nishikori every times he makes a mistake he
:58:02. > :58:06.pleases so many people so much and they show their appreciation with
:58:07. > :58:08.applause and cheering. It must be quite a wearing factor over four and
:58:09. > :58:36.a quarter hours. You might say that was the right
:58:37. > :58:42.play. Again, just the last couple of sets he is just a fraction late, not
:58:43. > :58:47.catching it right on the rise. Just a fraction late. Is he right to
:58:48. > :58:51.continue with that tactic? Unless he can get the spark where he feels
:58:52. > :58:55.like he can get on top of the ball more I think he might be better just
:58:56. > :59:15.to stay back a little bit and get into the rallies.
:59:16. > :59:53.Brilliant. Time and that one a lot better. -- timed that one.
:59:54. > :00:29.Excellent serve. Only 105 but what an angle, so short.
:00:30. > :00:41.It is that low elbow again, it is trouble, trouble on the second serve
:00:42. > :00:47.particularly. Watch it here. Really close to the body, nothing up and
:00:48. > :00:49.ready about it. And he pulls down too quickly, does not keep it up
:00:50. > :01:05.long enough. That overhead could prove really
:01:06. > :01:50.costly. It was called out. It was a
:01:51. > :01:57.correction. OK, fine. Out, he thought on the baseline. Then he
:01:58. > :02:04.said, no, I made a mistake. Always the right thing to do. We will play
:02:05. > :02:09.it again. I don't mind when somebody holds their hand up straightaway. It
:02:10. > :02:11.was tough on Nishikori because he was in the driving seat after that
:02:12. > :02:35.forehand. Three straight games for Andy Murray
:02:36. > :02:38.who dumped his serve at the start of the set. He has broken twice since
:02:39. > :02:54.then. The complexion of this has changed
:02:55. > :03:01.completely in the last 16 or 17 minutes. Marie has found a way stop
:03:02. > :03:11.Nishikori will look at that overhead and say, oh no. -- Murray has found.
:03:12. > :03:25.After finding himself in a winning position from two sets down. Still,
:03:26. > :03:51.a long way to go. 3-1 in the deciding set.
:03:52. > :04:06.Oh yeah! Enough of that rally. You almost want to pull the plug out of
:04:07. > :04:17.the wall. That's what the drop shot was about. I can't run one more
:04:18. > :04:25.step. This is tough. This is where the big weapon, the serve comes
:04:26. > :05:07.through. A couple of brief points. There you go.
:05:08. > :05:12.There is beeping over there. Somebody brought their washing
:05:13. > :05:52.machine. Oh my! This guy can hit the ball.
:05:53. > :05:59.This is what took him to the Grand Slam final in the US Open. A win
:06:00. > :06:05.over Djokovic in 2014. The first Asian man in a Grand Slam final. How
:06:06. > :06:13.big a deal do think that was? Massive. On a par with Li Na and her
:06:14. > :07:26.championship. If he's wrong here, he has only got
:07:27. > :07:31.one game on the board here and he's going to be out of challenges. He is
:07:32. > :07:38.way wrong. All sorts of things happen at this point in a match. For
:07:39. > :07:52.hours and 22 minutes. Judgment goes, I cite affected. He is out of
:07:53. > :07:54.challenges. -- eyesight. I bet he doesn't know it when he wants to
:07:55. > :08:17.challenge next time. That's long. That is a magnificent
:08:18. > :08:23.game from Kei Nishikori. The world number six. A future world number
:08:24. > :08:28.one? It's not hard to imagine when you see him play like this. When
:08:29. > :08:37.Djokovic and Murray are not around any more. You have got some good
:08:38. > :08:49.ones around. None better than this man. The ebb and flow of this match
:08:50. > :08:52.has been amazing. Murray has got in charge and then Nishikori plays one
:08:53. > :09:00.of the best games he has in a while. His forehand was awesome. Murray
:09:01. > :09:04.didn't serve badly in that game. It was all just stellar play from the
:09:05. > :09:10.Japanese number one. A fascinating fifth set. No idea who is going to
:09:11. > :09:18.win. I still fancy Murray to get through somehow. No tie-break in the
:09:19. > :09:23.fifth. That is a big difference. This is the first year there are no
:09:24. > :09:40.tie-breakers in the fifth set of the Davis Cup. Four breaks of serve
:09:41. > :09:47.already in the set. 28 breaks in the match. That is the speed of the
:09:48. > :09:54.court. Once again, I would love to have this every week. The players
:09:55. > :10:00.wouldn't. As a spectator, how good does it get? These are career
:10:01. > :10:08.shortening matches. They really take a toll. Indian Wells next week. Back
:10:09. > :10:24.on serve, if it's worth the paper it is written on. In this fifth set.
:10:25. > :10:38.Anticipation. Exceptional. New where this folly was going to go and talk
:10:39. > :10:48.of early. Short backswing on the forehand and school down -- scooped
:10:49. > :10:54.it down the line. Just gives you the extra boost to break. Now he will
:10:55. > :12:10.certainly love it. Retrieving so well again, Murray. A
:12:11. > :12:11.couple of big forehands. Putting the pressure on Nishikori who finally
:12:12. > :12:45.misses. Nishikori made that shot look easier
:12:46. > :12:47.than it was. Went against the direction and just hope it down the
:12:48. > :13:40.line. So solid. At break point down. That is incredible! Murray was in
:13:41. > :13:43.charge for the whole of that rally, to the extent that Nishikori had to
:13:44. > :13:51.play a squash shot early on to get back in. Then he turned it around
:13:52. > :13:59.and straightened it out. That was just exceptional tennis.
:14:00. > :14:03.You're not going to find many better matches than this for the whole
:14:04. > :14:35.year. I can guarantee Murray is absolutely boiling at this
:14:36. > :15:29.point. 3-1 of, break points in this game.
:15:30. > :16:35.If there is a fifth match the man in the middle is Taro Daniel, will he
:16:36. > :16:39.play? He played on the first day against Murray, I don't think he
:16:40. > :16:46.will play a fifth, I think the other guy will. It will be Dan Evans for
:16:47. > :16:54.Great Britain if a fifth is required.
:16:55. > :17:10.If a fifth is required. If a fifth is required.
:17:11. > :18:02.Talk about leaning on it! That is so strong. Not interested in getting
:18:03. > :18:11.involved in a long rally there. Staying with what you believe in.
:18:12. > :18:19.And that is the reward. Great presence of mind as much as anything
:18:20. > :18:25.else. Some success, some failure with that but on the big point it
:18:26. > :18:27.has taken him home. Holds have been more difficult than breaks however.
:18:28. > :19:01.4-2. Fifth set. Whoever is playing in this fifth
:19:02. > :19:04.match has had to be ready, like an understudy in any sort of
:19:05. > :19:10.performance you have to be ready to go on. Both of them will be
:19:11. > :19:12.exhausted before they even take to the court for one of the bigger
:19:13. > :19:49.matches of their life. If required. Unreal. Every time he is down a
:19:50. > :19:55.break he seems to play his best game. It is almost as if the server
:19:56. > :20:06.is the weakest shot you will see a rally. Such is the returning.
:20:07. > :20:07.Highest part of the net, just cleared the top, but again,
:20:08. > :20:53.fantastic backhand. What a point. This is just
:20:54. > :21:01.remarkable. Somebody cried out one the shots. They did but it did not
:21:02. > :21:07.put him off. Anything down the line here after the Murray approach would
:21:08. > :21:08.have been good from Nishikori. Because Murray was not going to be
:21:09. > :22:06.able to put the brakes on. Pretty controlled miskick. --
:22:07. > :22:43.miskick. He generally strike a blow here. -- he can really.
:22:44. > :22:49.Murray is complaining but I don't know what else he could have done in
:22:50. > :22:53.this rally, he was on the back foot the whole time. I don't know what he
:22:54. > :23:49.was expecting. That was just a brilliant point.
:23:50. > :23:56.Sometimes I am watching these rallies and not believing what I am
:23:57. > :24:02.seeing. How players can just one shot after the other hit these
:24:03. > :24:07.extraordinary shots with pace, angles and they keep coming back one
:24:08. > :24:13.after the other. And for the first time we have seen real signs of
:24:14. > :24:20.frustration from Kei Nishikori. Head hanging down. Another chance for
:24:21. > :24:43.Murray to put the first nail in the Coffin.
:24:44. > :25:10.Not bad for four hours and 40 minutes of play. This is one of the
:25:11. > :25:13.best matches I have ever seen to be honest and I have seen some great
:25:14. > :25:56.matches. But this one is right up there.
:25:57. > :26:06.Decent second serve as well. Saw the match player in the last two points
:26:07. > :26:16.of that game. Saw the gambler as well.
:26:17. > :26:26.Would not have seen that kind of second serve a couple of years ago.
:26:27. > :26:32.Really went for it, 97 mph. Used to spend
:26:33. > :26:47.Just goes to show it so hard to train for tennis, you might be out
:26:48. > :26:52.there for an hour, you might be in accelerated rallies, or it might be
:26:53. > :26:55.one of these. You have to train per board. It is not like football or
:26:56. > :27:00.rugby were you know roughly how long it will last. And you have two peak
:27:01. > :27:06.for the Grand Slams because those are five sets and then you throw in
:27:07. > :27:24.the Davis Cup which are a different kind of fitness.
:27:25. > :27:35.One more game is the refrain from the crowd.
:27:36. > :27:45.One more game would take Great Britain home into a match with
:27:46. > :27:48.Serbia, away, or Kazakhstan at home. That will be in July, after
:27:49. > :30:14.Wimbledon. Was not much play with that short
:30:15. > :30:17.net cord, lucky for Andy Murray. Couldn't get any pace from this, it
:30:18. > :31:02.was to low. Then he's just a target. Four and three quarters hours they
:31:03. > :31:10.have been hammering each other in this Davis Cup tie.
:31:11. > :31:19.But now with Kei Nishikori serving at 15-40, Andy Murray with a chance
:31:20. > :31:37.to win yet another Davis Cup tie for Great Britain.
:31:38. > :31:48.Oh, challenge, as soon as he hit that return. Is that out? Has it
:31:49. > :31:52.finished on a double fault? He certainly gave it a bit of height
:31:53. > :31:59.over the net. Oh, he has hit the line! Good challenge. Worth a look.
:32:00. > :32:28.Great second serve from Kei Nishikori. Match point still.
:32:29. > :32:37.Oh! What a return of serve to start with from Murray. And then the
:32:38. > :32:40.defence from Kei Nishikori, how he dug that one out and got Murray on
:32:41. > :32:49.the run I have no idea. Once again Kei Nishikori with superb
:32:50. > :34:24.technique and courage. Just got to hand it to Kei
:34:25. > :34:33.Nishikori. Left Japan at the age of 14 to pursue his dream. Didn't speak
:34:34. > :34:40.a word of English and went to the American camp and worked and worked.
:34:41. > :34:54.A long way from home. These are the moments where you get your reward.
:34:55. > :35:06.Wonderful game. He has brought so much. We have seen him play great
:35:07. > :35:16.matches over time, over Djokovic in the US Open in 2014. He didn't play
:35:17. > :35:23.so good a final against Cilic. But we have got to know the man over
:35:24. > :35:31.these past four hours and 50 minutes, as well as you can without
:35:32. > :35:35.chatting with him. I wouldn't mind if he just lost this next game. An
:35:36. > :35:38.exceptional player. This is the moment. New balls. Andy Murray would
:35:39. > :36:16.have loved that. Oh! No. Set that up the so well.
:36:17. > :36:25.Should never have missed that volley. Oh, what a boost for Murray.
:36:26. > :37:57.He will have assumed the point was gone, I think.
:37:58. > :38:27.Well they just ground themselves into this playing surface haven't
:38:28. > :38:37.they? Still he refuses. To go a way. To
:38:38. > :39:58.give up. To capitulate. No chance. It's away! Andy Murray wins. The tie
:39:59. > :39:59.goes to Great Britain. The hand shakes should reflect the contest. I
:40:00. > :40:23.hope it does. Davis Cup, there really is nothing
:40:24. > :40:30.like it. It is the best of our sport. The team aspect, always Andy
:40:31. > :40:39.Murray quick to salute the efforts of others. But this is a very tired,
:40:40. > :40:51.very grey, drawn looking tennis champion. The winner Andy Murray!
:40:52. > :40:56.There is a lot of Brummies in this hall, and the one most relieved will
:40:57. > :41:02.be Dan Evans, who won't be called upon to play a fifth and deciding
:41:03. > :41:09.match. Kei Nishikori takes his bow and it is a sincere round of
:41:10. > :41:13.applause and in fact an ovation for the efforts of the world No 6. The
:41:14. > :41:18.first time Andy Murray has played a top ten player in Davis Cup. He has
:41:19. > :41:25.never lost on home soil in a singles match. Kei Nishikori loses for the
:41:26. > :41:35.first time since 2012 in this competition and you can see now why
:41:36. > :41:43.he has that proud record. So the new dad, he thinks that is exhausting!
:41:44. > :41:49.Well it sure is. But so are these Davis Cup five-setters. Brilliant to
:41:50. > :41:56.see him back in defence of the Davis Cup. Whether he has got a full year
:41:57. > :42:02.of efort in him will remain to be seen. It will be Serbia away next.
:42:03. > :42:15.That is between the Olympics and Wimbledon. So it would be a big ask.
:42:16. > :42:20.So let's get Andy Murray's thoughts now on what was a champion's
:42:21. > :42:26.performance. Just shy of five hours. Brilliant. Well congratulations
:42:27. > :42:30.Andy, that was quite an incredible tennis match, you both thrilled this
:42:31. > :42:38.crowd and entertained them for nearly five hours. What got you
:42:39. > :42:47.across the line? Well, the crowd helped for sure. Physically I was
:42:48. > :42:54.struggling a bit at the end of the third set. You know a bit throughout
:42:55. > :43:00.the fourth in the long rallies, he was pushing me far off the baseline
:43:01. > :43:04.and itches I was trying to keep the points short. But I had to grit my
:43:05. > :43:13.teeth and fight hard and managed to get the win. There is a relieved Dan
:43:14. > :43:16.Evans there. I don't know if he is relieved or not. It would have been
:43:17. > :43:24.a great chance for him to play a fifth match. But thankfully I
:43:25. > :43:31.managed to get through and... APPLAUSE. I don't think we will be
:43:32. > :43:36.playing a dead rubber today. I think everyone's probably seen enough
:43:37. > :43:42.tennis. Go home and rest. It was such a physical match. It was a very
:43:43. > :43:47.mental match, what pushed you through that pain barrier in the
:43:48. > :43:53.fifth set? I don't know. I was a bit calmer in the fifth set, I was
:43:54. > :43:57.getting frustrated and panicking a bit at the end of the third. I
:43:58. > :44:02.didn't know how to play the points and I was getting down on myself. In
:44:03. > :44:06.the fifth I wept back to what I was doing in the first set and getting
:44:07. > :44:11.pumped up with a lot of positive energy and fight for every point and
:44:12. > :44:14.that was enough. As you said, you clearly love playing this
:44:15. > :44:19.competition and seems to bring out the best in you, what made you
:44:20. > :44:23.commit to playing this Davis Cup for the rest of year and hoping to
:44:24. > :44:28.defend the title. Last year's experience was incredible for
:44:29. > :44:36.everyone on the team, every time I have played Davis Cup I have enjoyed
:44:37. > :44:40.it. But this team has done something special last year I would like to
:44:41. > :44:50.try and do the same again this year if we can. Next match will be
:44:51. > :44:53.extremely tough. But you know if we all stick together and fight like we
:44:54. > :44:58.have been in all the matches we have a chance. I guess lastly you must be
:44:59. > :45:03.looking forward to getting back to the family and hopefully you have
:45:04. > :45:12.made the best of some sleep here? Yes looking forward to getting back.
:45:13. > :45:17.It is Kim's first mother's day so... Yeah, so nice to hopefully get to
:45:18. > :45:24.see her this evening and get back to bath time and put her to sleep. Not
:45:25. > :45:28.Kim... The baby! We will let you go. Have a great evening and well done
:45:29. > :45:52.again. You're through to the next round. Andy Murray!
:45:53. > :45:58.Well congratulations Leon, that was a terrific contest. Andy was made to
:45:59. > :46:03.work hard, what do you think made the difference to getting over the
:46:04. > :46:14.line? I'm lost for words at this stage. I mean, he is just a man of
:46:15. > :46:20.steel isn't he? You have to pay a lot of credit to Kei. He played a
:46:21. > :46:24.great match. One of the best matches of his life. You look at what Andy
:46:25. > :46:29.manages to do, not just today, but another two matches over the
:46:30. > :46:34.weekend, it is astonishing considering he has not played since
:46:35. > :46:38.the Australian Open final. Massive credit to Andy. You had some
:46:39. > :46:47.difficult moments, how did you try to lift his spirits? He does that.
:46:48. > :46:51.Just try and help him and don't say something stupid and then set
:46:52. > :46:55.something else off! But no, he is amazing. It is a privilege to sit in
:46:56. > :47:01.there with him for a match like that. We will remember that for a
:47:02. > :47:07.long time and thank you to each and every one of you guys for brilliant
:47:08. > :47:11.support. And a great start to the defence of this cup, how do you
:47:12. > :47:15.reflect on the weekend as a whole? Well, obviously it is great to get
:47:16. > :47:22.back together and what we achieved in Ghent last year. It was great to
:47:23. > :47:26.get home and play in front of you guys and I think it was a tough
:47:27. > :47:31.match. We said at the start Japan would be difficult and they have
:47:32. > :47:37.improved a lot and in Kei they have one of the world's best players. But
:47:38. > :47:40.we have such a great team in Andy and Jamie and the rest and they
:47:41. > :47:44.fight for everything and they have great team spirit and we carry on.
:47:45. > :47:47.You're through to the quarter-finals, well done and a
:47:48. > :47:54.fantastic weekend. Leon Smith ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much.
:47:55. > :47:58.That is one very relieved captain. His man has pulled through, Andy
:47:59. > :48:04.Murray, and looking at the pictures, you can see he has given every inch
:48:05. > :48:10.of energy. He looked down and out in that fifth set. But he found a way
:48:11. > :48:15.to win and paying tribute to the fans who played their part. What an
:48:16. > :48:19.amazing atmosphere it has been here and the Barclay arena here in
:48:20. > :48:23.Birmingham. But Andy Murray, what can you say about him? What a great
:48:24. > :48:28.fighter and what a great match player. There was some brutal
:48:29. > :48:33.rallies testing mind and body on both sides. It was a hard-fought
:48:34. > :48:38.battle. But he won and Andy Murray has put Great Britain through to the
:48:39. > :48:46.quarter-finals in July and surely that is his finest Davis Cup victory
:48:47. > :48:51.ever. We talk about Andy Murray's unbeaten, still unbeaten through
:48:52. > :48:55.last year and this year, but he says it is a team effort and all play
:48:56. > :49:00.their part in getting the team together and keeping them fit and
:49:01. > :49:03.healthy. But Andy Murray, what a delight and Jamie Murray playing his
:49:04. > :49:08.part in the doubles and I'm sure the most relieved person on the court is
:49:09. > :49:13.Dan Evans, who now does haven't to play that fifth and final rubber.
:49:14. > :49:20.That would have been a very nervous testing time. But what a great
:49:21. > :49:24.champion Andy Murray is. John Lloyd is here, talking about finding a way
:49:25. > :49:30.to win, you go a break down in the fifth and it is more about, well, I
:49:31. > :49:34.is physical, but it is more about the mind and keeping yourself
:49:35. > :49:39.positive. That is not easy. No and that five week break and to come
:49:40. > :49:43.into a match against a guy like Kei Nishikori who is so good and kept
:49:44. > :49:52.pushing him and at times he looked exhausted. But he pulls back and he
:49:53. > :49:57.has got that will powtories win. It -- will power to win. It says
:49:58. > :50:02.something about the Davis Cup. What does he do in that fifth set, you
:50:03. > :50:07.have to lift yourself, he looked physically spent. Kei Nishikori
:50:08. > :50:12.didn't look like he was even breathing hard, although we know he
:50:13. > :50:16.was feeling it. It is finding the ability to lift yourself one last
:50:17. > :50:23.time. The champions have such a will to win that they refuse, I remember
:50:24. > :50:27.talking when I was married to Chris Evert. She said the thing I hate
:50:28. > :50:32.most is when I have to shake hands with somebody who has beaten me.
:50:33. > :50:38.That is what drove her on. It is a weird sense and so for Andy and
:50:39. > :50:42.these champions, they don't want to lose so badly, they will fight until
:50:43. > :50:48.there is not one breath of air left. Some of fans and it is lovely to see
:50:49. > :50:51.so many kids, but what entertainment they have had. There is something
:50:52. > :50:55.special about the Davis Cup. There is nothing like it and the players
:50:56. > :51:01.know when they come out here, yes at tournaments they get great support
:51:02. > :51:03.and Andy Murray is loved every where, but