Rosco and Andy downed in four
Poles prove too consistent for GB duo…
Polish duo Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski proved to be too tough a match for Ross Hutchins and Andy Murray as the British duo fell to a 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-2 defeat in the third rubber of Team GB’s Davis Cup Euro-Africa Zone I relegation play-off.
The world No.11s played with a consistency and ruthlessness lacking in the British pair’s game as Murray and Hutchins converted just one of their 19 break point chances to take the second set.
With concerns about Murray’s left wrist the Scot returned from the deuce court to protect his backhand in the first set as Fyrstenberg and Matwowski survived a few early scares in games four and six.
The set looked to be heading for a tie-break when at 5-5 the Poles converted just their third break point of the match as Matkowski powered a forehand return through Murray at the net before Fyrstenberg served the set out.
With a raucous Echo Arena crowd behind them the British pair hit back in the second set, breaking in game eight as the decision to switch returning positions made them a more dangerous threat. Murray served out, clinching the set with an ace.
With the momentum with the Brits, they looked in good shape to turn the rubber around. But Fyrstenberg and Matkowski stepped up their games, cutting down on the unforced errors to prevent Murray and Hutchins from running away with the match.
A break in game six proved to be enough as the British pair were held at bay, sealed when Matkowski beat Murray for pace with a huge serve on set point.
With it all to do, Murray and Hutchins played some of their best tennis at the start of the fourth set, Hutchins recovering from break point down in game three with some superb shotmaking.
He carried his rich vein of form into the next game, some great defensive work taking the Brits to 0-40, before a disastrous run of only one point of the next twelve saw them slip a break behind.
The momentum was now with the Polish duo, and unlike Hutchins and Murray they managed to make it count.
A second break in game seven sealed their fate, and although another six break points presented themselves as the pair clung on, the Poles secured victory on their first match point.
