Bring on the Aussies! The amazing journey continues for the Aegon GB Davis Cup Team after a magnificent Andy Murray beat Gilles Simon on a nail-biting Sunday afternoon in London.
An inspirational display of determination and guts pulled the British No.1 back from a set and a break down to send the home team to the last four of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas for the first time since 1981.
Just five years after the team had to beat Turkey to avoid relegation to Europe/Africa Zone Group III in Leon Smith’s first game in charge, they will now face Australia at home in a mouth-watering September semi-final.
After an energy sapping doubles win on Saturday, Murray had to draw on every ounce of strength left in his body to overcame the stubborn and battling Simon 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-0 in three hours and 26 minutes.
With an extra day of rest in his legs, world No.11 Simon burst out from his bench and set up break point in the third game with a crafty display of turning defence into attack.
A booming forehand down the line gave him the advantage but with 30 minutes gone he slipped while serving and injured his right knee to leave him requiring treatment.
Despite moving a little nervy at first he held on, saving two break points in the process, to claim the opener before carrying his momentum into the second and breaking the Murray serve straight from the off.
The two-time Grand Slam champion was waiting for a moment that got his adrenaline pumping and it came at 4-2 down when he successfully defended a break point to save going 5-2 behind.
A stunning game followed and although Simon seemed to have the ball on a piece of string at times, a backhand into the net handed the break back to the delight of The Queen’s Club crowd.
Like the crucial and tense second against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday, a tie-break would decide the set and Murray had to show nerves of steel to recover from 4-1 and 5-4 down to complete the revival.
Now with the breeze firmly in his sails the world No.3 broke twice to move into a 3-0 lead and despite Simon recovering one, the high quality set came to an end when Murray broke once more with a quite ridiculous lob.
The match was now approaching three hours long and Murray sensed victory when his opponent fell on the turf once more to concede a break of serve early in the fourth.
After racing into a 4-0 lead and with Simon struggling, the former Wimbledon champion took his record in the competition to a quite superb 23 wins from 25 matches and spark jubilant scenes in the stands.
An emotional Murray, who had tears in his eyes, said: “It wasn’t looking great in the second set but I managed to find a way. I didn’t care how I played I just wanted to win the match.
“The weekend has been fantastic. We are punching above our weight here and are now in the semi-finals. It has been a long road back from where we were a few years ago and many players have played their part in getting us back here.”
Leon Smith added: "It is amazing. As you sit and watch the match unfold it is incredible how he finds a way to dig as deep as he can. It is phenomenal what he finds within himself.”
Australia, who can call upon Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, will travel to Britain in September after coming back from 2-0 down to beat Kazakhstan in a thriller.