Share

Murray on 'top of the world'

London - British newspapers declared Andy Murray was on top of the world as they ecstatically hailed Great Britain's Davis Cup victory.

Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time in 79 years in Ghent on Sunday when Murray defeated David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 to take an unbeatable 3-1 lead over Belgium.

Several newspapers focused on the contrast with decades of British underachievement in tennis.

"British tennis, for so long the punch line to gags about national sporting ineptitude, has recovered its pride," wrote Kevin Mitchell in the Guardian.

"It is some journey from laughing stock to No 1," said the Times' Matt Dickinson.

The win over Goffin made Murray just the third player, after John McEnroe and Mats Wilander, to win all eight singles in the same calendar year since the Davis Cup World Group started in 1981.

And it underpinned Murray's place in tennis history following his headline-making wins in the 2012 US Open and Olympics, and at Wimbledon the following year.

"Murray now further aligns himself with the fellow greats of the modern game, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who have all won the premier team competition," said the Daily Mail's Mike Dickson.

While much of the adulation focused on Murray, a few pundits were careful to heap praise on Britain's Davis Cup team, which included Murray's brother, Jamie.

"Murray's individual contribution has been immense, but he has headlined a team effort that has been five years in the making," said the BBC's tennis correspondent Russell Fuller.

"Strategy and team spirit have been expertly co-ordinated by captain Leon Smith, and many other players have won crucial points in the climb through the divisions," he added.

However, most pundits credited Murray with clinching the title.

"As team triumphs go, this was about as individual as it gets. Andy Murray was on court to win the third and decisive point of the Davis Cup final this afternoon," wrote the Telegraph's Simon Briggs.

The Times's Dickinson said: "Soon there were six British players accepting their personal trophies, but it is Murray who has put Britain, improbably, on the summit of the tennis world."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE