Andy Murray storms to straight sets victory over Bernard Tomic as Great Britain reach first Davis Cup final since 1978

Great Britain have reached Davis Cup final for first time in 37 years
Andy Murray defeated Australia’s Bernard Tomic in straight sets
The 28-year-old won the semi-final 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 in Glasgow
Murray’s serving was superb in the third-set against Tomic

Published:
14:00 GMT, 20 September 2015

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Updated:
17:18 GMT, 20 September 2015

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Three Grand Slam nations played, three beaten, and now Great Britain are back in the Davis Cup final for the first time in 37 years.

It is a scarcely believable achievement and owes itself above all to the extraordinary talent and resolve of Andy Murray.

On Sunday afternoon, he sent Australia packing the same way as the United States and France have been, with an imperious 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Bernard Tomic that completed a 3-1 win.

Andy Murray celebrates with his Great Britain team-mates after reaching the Davis Cup final on Sunday

Murray celebrates a match-point as he defeats Australia’s Bernard Tomic in the Davis Cup semis

World No 3 Murray beat Tomic in straight sets 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on Sunday

Tomic returns a forehand shot as the Australian succumbs to a straight sets defeat by Murray

The Murray brothers, Dan Evans, Kyle Edmund, James Ward, Dom Inglot and Leon Smith take a selfie

Having emulated Fred Perry by ending the country’s Grand Slam drought he has been intent on duplicating him again by leading GB to a first Davis Cup title since 1936.

In what would be one of the unlikeliest sports stories of the year, that can done if Belgium or Argentina are beaten in late November, with the two nations locked at 2-2 in their semi-final in Brussels.

‘It has been a very tough weekend for me physically and mentally,’ said Murray. ‘It’s draining and there’s a lot of emotions out there. Yesterday was incredibly tough with lots of ups and downs.

‘I’m very proud, it’s been a great weekend. It wold an incredible achievement to win the Cup but there’s s still a long way to go and there are two difficult teams left. Everyone has played their part.’

It has been a big team effort, with contributions from the likes of Jamie Murray, James Ward, Colin Fleming, Dan Evans and Dom Inglot, skilfully marshaled by Captain Leon Smith.

But one man stands above them all, and Murray put on a masterclass of clinical tennis under pressure to continually wrong-foot and outplay the world No 23.

When he hit a last service winner there was little in the way of over emotion, bar a hug with Smith, no court invasion, just a job done in sublimely professional fashion. The British game, undeserving in some ways, is extremely lucky to have him.

He walked on court to another deafening ovation, knowing that he had not lost a singles match to an Australian player since he was a teenager.

Murray kneels down low to return a tricky back hand during the Davis Cup semi-final on Sunday

Murray stretches to return the ball to Tomic during the semi-final clash against Tomic in Glasgow

His first shot was a 123 mph ace, and his ease of movement quickly eased fears that he was feeling under par after the near four hour exertion of the previous day in the doubles.

Some astonishing scrambling in the back court led him to break for 3-1, but his one real glitch came when he served for the first set at when he served for it at 5-3 and his first serve deserted him, allowing the improving Tomic to break back.

These were moments of real tension, but at 6-5 Murray fashioned three break points when Tomic missed an overhead after more brilliant defence. On the third of them Murray stopped a mid court backhand with astonishing sangfroid and played the most beautiful drop-shot to clinch the set.

Tomic plays a return to Murray as he falls to a straight sets defeat by the Scotsman in his birth-city

Murray’s wife Kim (right) watches on as her husband seals a proud moment for the British Davis Cup team

Murray jolts forward to hit a forehand return to Tomic during their match at the Emirates Arena

Murray and Tomic meet at the centre of the court to shake hands following their match on Sunday

The Australian is an immense, languid talent although he is vulnerable to being made to change direction abruptly. Again it was fantastic athleticism behind the baseline that led Murray to break for 3-1, including an exquisite point than ended in a lob winner.

Tomic can be flaky but, with Lleyton Hewitt stationed on the baseline bellowing out encouragement, he played well enough to force Murray to bring out some of his best tennis. As on Friday his serve was, with that first set exception, firing beautifully and there were no dramas as he stretched to a two set lead.

That seemed to knock some fight out of the Australian, and when he thumped a backhand in the net Murray went 2-1 up, now jagging his opponent all over the court.

Roared on to the finish the third became a procession, the damage had been done in the doubles and now Murray is on the brink of making more history.