Summary

  • Great Britain beat Japan 3-1 in Birmingham

  • Andy Murray beats Kei Nishikori 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 4-6 6-3

  • GB will play Serbia or Kazakhstan in July's quarter-final

Live Reporting

Stephan Shemilt

  1. Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 1-0 Nishikori*

    It looks as though Murray has been slightly reinvigorated. The serve is certainly still doing the business, with two directed to the Nishikori forehand getting him through this first game. He'll have the luxury of front-running in this fourth chapter.

  2. Jamie Baker
    Former GB Davis Cup player on BBC One

    Andrew Castle asks Jamie Baker, can Leon Smith say anything to calm Murray down? 

    "No I don’t think you say much. He is his own breed Andy Murray. 

    "You wouldn’t teach someone to act in way he does, only he can perform when he is this pumped up and using this kind of energy."

  3. Miles Maclagan
    British tennis coach on Radio 5 live

    Kei Nishikori celebratesReuters

    “I think after the intensity of the first two sets it’s as though Andy came off his game a bit. When the pressure rose at 3-4 it was actually Nishikori who stepped it up, but I think Andy will pick himself up now.”

  4. *Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 Nishikori

    Right then, what has Andy Murray got for us? As the clock approaches the three-hour mark, the best in Britain has serve in the fourth. 

  5. Murray takes tense tie-break

    A happier time for Andy Murray...

    Andy Murray wins tie-break to take second set

  6. Andrew Castle
    BBC Sport tennis commentator

    "Credit Kei Nishikori, he is not World Number 6 by chance, he has earned it. There could be awful lot of tennis left to play."

  7. Game and third set Nishikori

    Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 Nishikori

    Kei Nishikori celebratesReuters

    Won down the line! Kei Nishikori takes the third set and, it has to be said, has the momentum. Andy Murray needs to find something. Leon Smith, it's time to earn your cash.

  8. John Lloyd
    Former Davis Cup finalist on BBC One

    "I don't believe that two aces in one game."

  9. Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-5 Nishikori*

    Nishikori finds a timely ace, but he's too eager with a forehand and give it too much juice. Murray swings for the fence on a second serve, unloading so much that it's almost out of the arena. 30-30. Ace! Set point...

  10. John Lloyd
    Former Davis Cup finalist on BBC One

    Andy Murray reactsReuters

    "Murray is difficult to read. He has got a negative look, he's looking at his bench but you know once the first ball is in play, he is going to come at Nishikori.

    "But the body language is not great at the moment."

  11. Nishikori breaks

    Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-5 Nishikori*

    Kei NishikoriReuters

    It's been coming. Murray goes long, Nishikori will serve for the set. The world number two has entered 'one of those' phases. You know the one. Slightly spoiled-brat, world is against me, so I'll shout at everyone and no one, and find an injury.

  12. John Lloyd
    Former Davis Cup finalist on BBC One

    "The serve is getting Murray out of trouble. At the moment he is getting two free points a service game and he is just about holding on, but if that drops a bit, he could be in trouble."

  13. *Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-4 Nishikori

    Murray breathes hard and looks to the bench for inspiration. When it looks like he could slip off into the night, he pulls a booming serve out of the bag. He's slightly swinging from the hip. If he could have a runner, he would. Double fault, break point...

  14. Andrew Castle
    BBC Sport tennis commentator

    "These are difficult, difficult yards now for Murray to cover. He is definitely hurting right now. He looks like he has had all the energy sucked out of him."

  15. *Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-4 Nishikori

    Kei Nishikori of JapanGetty Images

    Murray is hurting, being asked to cover plenty of ground by his red opponent. Another hold to 15, Birmingham barely marking it with a jot of noise. Is Murray really tiring? I still have a sneaky suspicion he'll be ready to go at squeaky bum time.

  16. Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 3-3 Nishikori*

    Holds coming at a pace now, as if these two prizefighters are saving for themselves for the business end. Nishikori does pull out an exhibition-style backhand pass, but it's a mere footnote in a simple Murray hold. Equals peaquals.

  17. Andrew Castle
    BBC Sport tennis commentator

    Andy Murray of Great BritainGetty Images

    "What has marked this match in the last couple of minutes is Andy Murray is just struggling with his concentration. That is part of the ebs and flows you get in a five set match."

  18. *Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 2-3 Nishikori

    "Please close the doors, security guard. Thank you." The umpire is obviously feeling a draft. At 30-0, some improvisation from Murray looks like into might get him back into the game, only for Nishikori to snuff it out and hold to love. You can't but think that we'll be going the distance once more in this set...

  19. John Lloyd
    Former Davis Cup finalist on BBC One

    "Brilliant serving there from Murray, to get himself out of trouble."

  20. Murray 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 2-2 Nishikori *

    Murray thumps a winning serve down the middle, Nishikori responds by swatting away a second serve down the line. Murray sticks away a confident smash, Nishikori cracks another return winner. 30-30 and it remains a battle out there for Murray. Another fizzing return sets up break point for Nishikori.... time for some serve-and-volley from former Wimbledon champion Murray, and he serves his way out of trouble.