BIRMINGHAM — Andy Murray defeated Kei Nishikori 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 in an epic clash as defending champion Great Britain downed Japan to reach the Davis Cup quarterfinals Sunday.
Murray, the world No. 2, had seemed set for a comfortable afternoon against his sixth-ranked opponent by taking the first two sets against a player he had defeated five times in six previous encounters.
But Nishikori battled and even was a break to the good in the deciding set before Murray stormed back for victory in five minutes short of five hours.
Victory gave Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie and a place in July's quarterfinals.
Djokovic levels tie
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic battled for almost five hours to defeat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to level the Davis Cup World Group first round tie between Serbia and Kazakhstan Sunday.
Djokovic hit 19 aces and 37 winners but committed 94 unforced errors in a four-hour 57-minute epic win over world No. 79 Kukushkin.
That leveled the tie at 2-2 with Serbia's Viktor Troicki, the world No. 23, to face Aleksandr Nedovyesov in the decisive rubber later Sunday.
Isner leads US past Australia
John Isner powered the United States to victory over Australia in the Davis Cup World Group tie with a masterful serving performance at Kooyong.
The towering Isner served 49 aces in delivering a 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Australia’s Bernard Tomic in two hours 15 minutes in the fourth rubber to clinch the tie with an unassailable 3-1 lead.
Czechs beats Germany
Lukas Rosol defeated 18-year-old Davis Cup debutant Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to book a place for the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals with a 3-2 win over Germany.
Earlier, Philipp Kohlschreiber leveled the first-round tie at 2-2 after Tomas Berdych retired due to a right thigh injury with the German leading 6-3, 7-5.
The Czech Republic next faces Canada or France in July's quarterfinals.
China completes sweep
China Sunday completed its clean sweep against Pakistan in a Davis Cup tie, winning both single matches on day three at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.
The third day was just a formality, with China having already secured its place in the next round after winning the first two singles and the doubles match on Friday and Saturday respectively.
Pakistan managed to take just one set off the Chinese side in the final day’s two singles matches.
Chinese Wu Di beat Pakistan’s M Abid by 6-1, 6-0, while Zhang Ze defeated Yasir Khan 6-3,6-0.
S. Korea beats New Zealand
Chung Hyeon achieved a clean sweep against Jose Statham Sunday to help South Korea secure a first-round victory over New Zealand in their Davis Cup tie.
Chung, who had defeated Michael Venus 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 Friday, beat Statham 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in less than two hours, helping South Korea earn their ticket for the second round against India.
New Zealand managed just one vicoty over the South Koreans, in the final day’s doubles match. Artem Sitak and Michael Venus beat Lee Duck-Hee and Lim Yong-Kyu 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
On Friday Hong Seong-Chan also beat Statham 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6).
Svitolina wins Malaysian Open
Second-seeded Elina Svitolina came back to beat Canada's Eugenie Bouchard 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5 in the rain interrupted Malaysian Open final Sunday.
The match finished at midnight local time as rain interrupted play for well over three hours before the 21-year-old won out.
Bouchard and Svitolina were on court for 2 hours 53 minutes between the three rain interruptions before the Ukrainian got a crucial break late in the decisive set to clinch the title.
Svitolina lost the first set in a tight tie-breaker and Bouchard couldn't capitalize on early breaks in the second set.
Despite breaking Svitolina's serve twice early in the second, Bouchard couldn't hold her serve in the eighth and 10th games to lose 6-4 before the final was stretched to midnight due to two long rain interruptions.
