Andy Murray overcame a determined challenge from Austrian No.1 Jurgen Melzer, defeating the left-hander 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-1 to level the tie at 2-2.

Having not played doubles the previous day, the onus was on Murray to win his match and then leave the honours to Alex Bogdanovic in the deciding rubber. The world No.4 who had beaten Melzer from two sets to love down at the US Open this year was controversially rested by coach John Lloyd for fear of aggravating a strained abductor wheareas Melzer has put himself on the line three times.

It was the Austrian, ever the tricky customer that he is who came out of the blocks with all guns blazing and had the British No.1 in trouble in the fourth game courtesy of three service return corkers, all clean winners, to set up two break points chances. Murray valiantly saved both and held serve, but found himself in trouble again at 0-40 in his next service game when Melzer set up three more break points with a backhand volley winner. The young Scot saved all three, the third gifted when a wretched high forehand from midcourt was thrashed into the top of the net by Melzer. The Austrian then missed a fourth break point in that game and Murray held again, this time with a superb backhand crosscourt winner.

The British No.1's reward for saving a total of six break points came in the seventh game with a moment of pure inspiration which brought the score to 30-30 with some exceptional scurrying around the court, retrieving balls that were all but lost causes. The stadium erupted as Murray gestured for more noise and then broke the Austrian two points later with a forehand pass down the line.

Murray duly closed out the 38 minute set on serve with three consecutive aces and a roar of "c'mon!"

When Murray broke in the fifth game of the second set it looked for all the world as if he was set for a straightforward day at the office. However, nothing is ever straightforward with the left handed Austrian as both Murray and Bogdanovic have found.

After saving a break point in the seventh game, Melzer broke back for 4-4, converting for the first time having squandered seven previous chances. He didn't wait long to convert another with Murray serving at 5-6, when the Scot put an awkward smash wide at set point down.

After breaks were exchanged early in the third set, Murray raised his game sufficiently to break Melzer in the seventh game on his fourth break point opportunity, and having served out for a two sets to one lead, cruised to victory for just the loss of just one game in the fourth set.

Andre Jones

Wimbledon