Post by Scott on Apr 7, 2007 12:58:35 GMT
From BBC:
Davis Cup Euro/Africa Zone
Great Britain v Netherlands
Date: 6-8 April
Venue: Birmingham NEC
Coverage: Live on BBC Two, BBCi, Radio Five Live and this website
Great Britain finished day one of their Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands with a commanding 2-0 lead.
Tim Henman won Britain's second point of the day when he saw off a determined challenge from 20-year-old Robin Haase, winning 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
British number one Andy Murray earlier gave his team the perfect start with a 6-3 7-5 6-2 win over Raemon Sluiter.
Victory for Greg Rusedski and Jamie Murray in Saturday's doubles will give Britain an unassailable 3-0 lead.
The British pair will take on Igor Sijsling and Roger Wassen at 1300 BST.
Andy Murray said after his singles win that he continued to be troubled by a groin injury, but he always had too much for Sluiter.
After sweeping through the first set, world number 11 Murray took the second after producing a stunning pass on the half-volley to get the crucial break at 5-5.
The 19-year-old broke twice in the third to wrap up a relatively easy win.
Murray has been struggling all week with a groin injury and admitted he had felt it during the match.
He told BBC Sport: "I felt it after the first few games.
"I had been practising but you don't really stretch yourself until you are in the match. It wasn't restricting my movement but I still felt it.
Murray is ranked 129 places above Sluiter at 11 in the world
"I thought he played really well. He was making me do a lot of running and I was making a lot of mistakes in the second set.
"Towards the end I lost my concentration a few times, but I played well on the big points."
Henman looked understandably rusty on his return to Davis Cup action after three years away and dropped his opening service game from 40-0 up.
The Briton broke straight back but was rarely at ease in the opening set, letting three break points slip away in game five and saving one on his own serve in the following game.
But Henman's experience told in the tie-break as he produced some trademark chipping and charging to take the set.
With just one win under his belt this year, Henman was finally able to relax and set about dismantling Haase's booming but erratic game with two breaks in the second set.
Henman had to recover from a break down in the third and save two more break points at 4-4, with Haase dumping a very makeable forehand into the net on the second.
It was to be the Dutchman's last chance as Henman upped the pressure to dominate the tie-break and secure a crucial victory for Great Britain.
The straight-sets win was the perfect return to Davis Cup for Henman.
Davis Cup Euro/Africa Zone
Great Britain v Netherlands
Date: 6-8 April
Venue: Birmingham NEC
Coverage: Live on BBC Two, BBCi, Radio Five Live and this website
Great Britain finished day one of their Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands with a commanding 2-0 lead.
Tim Henman won Britain's second point of the day when he saw off a determined challenge from 20-year-old Robin Haase, winning 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
British number one Andy Murray earlier gave his team the perfect start with a 6-3 7-5 6-2 win over Raemon Sluiter.
Victory for Greg Rusedski and Jamie Murray in Saturday's doubles will give Britain an unassailable 3-0 lead.
The British pair will take on Igor Sijsling and Roger Wassen at 1300 BST.
Andy Murray said after his singles win that he continued to be troubled by a groin injury, but he always had too much for Sluiter.
After sweeping through the first set, world number 11 Murray took the second after producing a stunning pass on the half-volley to get the crucial break at 5-5.
The 19-year-old broke twice in the third to wrap up a relatively easy win.
Murray has been struggling all week with a groin injury and admitted he had felt it during the match.
He told BBC Sport: "I felt it after the first few games.
"I had been practising but you don't really stretch yourself until you are in the match. It wasn't restricting my movement but I still felt it.
Murray is ranked 129 places above Sluiter at 11 in the world
"I thought he played really well. He was making me do a lot of running and I was making a lot of mistakes in the second set.
"Towards the end I lost my concentration a few times, but I played well on the big points."
Henman looked understandably rusty on his return to Davis Cup action after three years away and dropped his opening service game from 40-0 up.
The Briton broke straight back but was rarely at ease in the opening set, letting three break points slip away in game five and saving one on his own serve in the following game.
But Henman's experience told in the tie-break as he produced some trademark chipping and charging to take the set.
With just one win under his belt this year, Henman was finally able to relax and set about dismantling Haase's booming but erratic game with two breaks in the second set.
Henman had to recover from a break down in the third and save two more break points at 4-4, with Haase dumping a very makeable forehand into the net on the second.
It was to be the Dutchman's last chance as Henman upped the pressure to dominate the tie-break and secure a crucial victory for Great Britain.
The straight-sets win was the perfect return to Davis Cup for Henman.