Britain, Croatia score doubles wins in Davis Cup semifinals

Britain got on the board in its Davis Cup semifinal clash against visiting Argentina with a victory in Saturday’s doubles, while host Croatia topped France in the doubles to take a 21 lead in that finalfour tie.

Ironmen Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro took the court on Saturday for Britain and Argentina, respectively, on Saturday, a day after playing the longest match of their careers in the opening singles.

The move paid off for the British squad as the world No. 2 and his older brother Jamie Murray defeated Del Potro and Leonardo Mayer 61, 36, 64, 64 at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

The Argentines put 75 percent of their first serves in play but only won 61 percent of those points, leading to five breaks of serve over the course of the contest.

Even so, the hosts trail two matches to one after Murray lost 64, 57, 67 (57), 63, 64 to Del Potro and 21yearold Kyle Edmund fell to Guido Pella 67 (57), 64, 63, 62 on Friday.

The big question for the Argentines, however, is whether the eight hours Del Potro has spent on court already in this tie will affect him on Sunday in a potential tiedeciding matchup against the inexperienced but talented Edmund.

Andy Murray first would have to shrug off all the time he has spent on court and defeat Pella to set up that decider.

In the other Davis Cup semifinal tie, the Croatian team of Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig topped the French duo of PierreHugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 76 (86), 57, 76 (86), 63 on Saturday at the Kresimir Cosic Hall in Zadar, Croatia.

In Sunday’s reverse singles, Cilic will take on Richard Gasquet in the fourth match of the tie, while the potential deciding fifth and final contest would pit 19yearold Croatian Borna Coric against Lucas Pouille.