Andy Murray beats David Ferrer 6-4 6-4
Britain wins opening match in his group
Wawrinka v Nadal at 20:00 GMT
Tim Henman
Former British number one on BBC Two
Quote MessageWe are seeing Murray at his proactive best, looking to dominate and take the time away from his opponent. More of the same please.
Oof! Balletic and brutal from Murray as he sprints from one end to the other, stooping to his shoelaces and beating Ferrer with a super backhand passing shot down the line. Bravo.
Magnificent serving from Murray, too, as he races to a 40-0 lead. There's a blip - a wild forehand swing - but the Scot comes through to hold to 15.
Image source, EPAMurray goes on the attack, but the gamble doesn't pay off. First he's wide, then he's too long. Adrenaline getting the better of him. But he engineers another chance, pouncing like a panther on a Ferrer volley to earn a third break point.
The Scot not at his most ruthless. Another opportunity slips by. Ferrer now nips ahead, Murray can only watch on as a cute dropper gets the better of him.
Murray malfunctioning again, the net becoming a major obstacle and Ferrer holds firm once more.
Image source, EPATwo break points Murray
Not everyone in the darkened O2 theatre is supporting the home favourite as there are a few Spanish flags on view. A double-header for Spanish tennis fans with Rafael Nadal on show later this evening.
Ferrer is slightly vexed. A legitimate forehand from the Spaniard was called out, but he successfully challenges the call, though he doesn't seem happy at having to use a challenge in the first place.
The Spaniard has lost his cool, and he's leaking points. He's 0-30 down, a clumsy crosscourt forehand flying wide. Ferrer in trouble. He nicks one point back, but misses the target by miles on the next play, dragging a forehand into the tramlines to gift Murray two break points.
Image source, Getty ImagesWho should be British number two in the Davis Cup final?
Chris Goldsmith: No Tim Henman...... British tennis needs to look to the future.... Ward struggling personally and for form, Edmund easily should get it.
Ed Laslett: Obvious choice for me is @JamesWardtennis, external, big game player, Davis Cup pedigree and had he not beaten Isner we wouldn't be here.
At 30-15 Murray is in command of the rally, but his concentration falters and he slaps a forehand into the tape. A venomous swinging serve into Ferrer's ribs, though, brings a stop to any thoughts of a Murray dip and he sees off the Spaniard with relative ease.
Image source, ReutersMurray senses an opportunity to turn the screw on the opening return of the game, but messes it up, which sparks a familiar Murray monologue. A double fault from Ferrer, though, the first of the match, allows the Scot to level.
Lovely from Ferrer. A feather-soft dropper which stops still once it bounces on the other side of the net. The Spaniard in control at 40-15.
He must serve twice on the next point. A chance for Murray? No, not really. Murray's forced to scamper to one tramline, then the other and it's the overhead into the corner which gets the better of the Scot.
Image source, Getty ImagesTim Henman
Former British number one on BBC Two
Quote MessageI would wait and see whether Aljaz Bedene is available. He would get my pick but I don't think he will be available. James Ward has done very well and had some big wins and so would probably get my nod. For Kyle Edmund to make his debut in the final is hard. But I would be comfortable with either player. Kyle has won on clay and qualified for Roland Garros while James has proven he can play in the Davis Cup arena.
Who should be British number two in the Davis Cup final?
Andy Lawton: With Kyle Edmund winning the clay challenger surely he should be selected ahead of possibly the slightly better Bedene?
Zach Kingsbury: James Ward. We probably wouldn't have got here if didn't beat John Isner... on the clay! He can beat any of Belgium's players.
Murray's serve has been on song in these last couple of games. The first serves landing more frequently, giving Ferrer little opportunity to attack his weaker weapon, the dastardly second serve.
The Scot cruising at 40-0 and seals the deal by sending Ferrer this way and that before concluding the point with an angry shoulder-high volley.
Image source, Getty ImagesWho should be British number two in the Davis Cup final?
Dane: I would play James Ward as No 2 for Davis Cup. He seems to play well in Davis Cup. Plus won a challenger on clay!
Chris Goldsmith: 100% Kyle Edmund. In-form, future of British Tennis, needs a chance early in career, loves clay & qualified for Roland Garros.
Applause for Ferrer as he holds firm in adversity, concluding the game with a peachy irretrievable volley which earns him the admiration of the sell-out O2 crowd.
Image source, Getty ImagesMurray 40-40 Ferrer
Murray wiping his sweaty face during the changeover. Three games in and it's already a sudorific workout. The Scot nicks the opening point, but is grimacing at the end of the next one. He was on the up, in control, but ballooned a forehand long. 15-15.
A momentum-changing forehand from Murray, putting Ferrer on the defensive, he follows up with another boomer into the corner and then produces a beautiful backhand winner into the same end. A beautifully constructed point for a 15-30 lead.
The Spaniard levels, but a botched backhand means he must attempt to see off a break point.
He greets the challenge and rises to the occasion. The pair slug it out from the back of the court before Ferrer drags Murray to the net and beats him with a delicate flick of the wrist. Deuce.
If you're looking for drama, hoping for a twist in the plot at this early stage, then you've come to the wrong place. Murray confidently holds to love, ending the game by reaching the unreachable beyond the baseline which forces Ferrer onto his heels and the Spaniard's overhead lands somewhere in the Thames.
Image source, Getty ImagesThis match could be a cracker. From tramline to tramline the duo go, bashing, bashing, bashing, neither prepared to blink... the crowd transfixed, but eventually Murray falters, screwing a backhand wide. Ferrer 30-0 up and soon it's 40-0 as Murray nets a volley.
The Scot is getting Ferrer into baseline rallies, but is making errors at the crucial moments.
Murray to the net once more, but he's outwitted by the Spaniard who pounces on the Scot's iffy volley and beats him with a lovely crosscourt cutie. An entertaining hold to love.
Image source, Getty ImagesWho should be Britain's number two in the Davis Cup final?
Andy Wallin: Bedene, best player available, we need to take pressure off Andy.
Kieran: Edmund - in great form and he is the future of British tennis.
Murray sneaks to advantage, and then a canny first serve sees him home as Ferrer's return goes long. Mrs Kim Murray on the sidelines, clapping but her eyeballs are like saucers, her husband's given her a fright.
Image source, ReutersMurray 40-40 Ferrer
Andy Murray gets the match under way and secures the first blow, a rasping serve for a 15-0 lead.
But David Ferrer soon as the Briton scampering, an outswinging forehand which kisses the tramlines changes momentum and has Murray backpedalling from the get-go. 15-15.
Eke. Murray in trouble. Ferrer on the front foot, aggressive from the off, and a feather-soft volley eases him to 15-30.
Murray stops the rot, getting the better of the Spaniard from the baseline - but a lackadaisical loopy forehand presents Ferrer with a break point. Gulp. Ferrer goes for broke... a crunching forehand... which... which... was out. To deuce.
Image source, Getty Images