Murray fires Britain to France quarter-final tie
Great Britain will face France in the Davis Cup quarter-finals after Andy Murray defeated John Isner to earn a 3-1 win over United States.
Andy Murray defeated John Isner in straight sets as Great Britain beat United States in the Davis Cup for the second year running.
A thrilling doubles victory for Bryan brothers Bob and Mike kept the tie alive on Saturday, but Scot Murray wowed the home crowd in Glasgow with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) triumph to complete a 3-1 success.
Isner, who had to recover from a five-set marathon in Friday's defeat to James Ward, looked the more comfortable in the early stages - the big-serving American wasting break-point chances when leading 2-1 and 4-3.
Murray again had to dig deep to see off three set points when serving at 6-5 down, before recovering to take the tie-break and wrap up a 63-minute opening set.
Two-time grand slam champion Murray saved seven break points in the first set and showed Isner how it was done by taking the solitary break in the second.
Isner had to stave off three break points at the start of the third set, but ultimately it was Murray who powered his way through the tie-break as Britain - who knocked US out in the same stage in 2014 - avoided the need for a deciding rubber.
Awaiting in the quarter-finals are France. They had already won their tie with Germany by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead on Saturday, but Philipp Kohlschreiber and Jan-Lennard Struff won their dead rubbers on Sunday to restore some German pride.
Bernard Tomic proved the hero for Australia as his straight-sets victory over Lukas Rosol completed a back-and-forth tie, which ended 3-2 against Czech Republic.
Australia will now contest the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006, where Kazakhstan will be the opponents.
Trailing 2-1 against Italy heading into the final day, Mikhail Kukushkin triumphed in straight sets over Andreas Seppi, before Aleksandr Nedovyesov produced one of the performances of his career to outlast Fabio Fognini in a colossal five-set thriller.
A huge 108 places separate the two in the world rankings, but Nedovyesov belied his underdog status to clinch a 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-5 win.
Serbia completed a 5-0 whitewash of Croatia and will now face the winner of Argentina's tie with Brazil - which is currently locked at 2-2 after Leonardo Mayer won an epic five-set thriller against Joao Souza in the fourth rubber.
Mayer, who had squandered a two-set lead, finally secured the win with his 11th match point in a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 5-7 15-13 victory.
Elsewhere, David Goffin defeated Adrien Bossel in the deciding fifth rubber as Belgium overcame Switzerland 3-2. They will now meet the victor of Canada's contest against Japan.