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Davis Cup: We`re still in this, warns Aussie captain Wally Masur

Davis Cup: We`re still in this, warns Aussie captain Wally Masur

Wally Masur insists Australia`s Davis Cup hopes are still alive after Andy and Jamie Murray defeated Lleyton Hewitt and Samuel Groth to move Great Britain 2-1 ahead in their semi-final clash on Saturday.

World number three Andy and his older brother Jamie recovered from a set down to secure a thrilling 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4 victory in the doubles rubber following a gruelling four hour match.

Victory means Andy Murray could now win the best-of-five tie for Great Britain in Sunday`s first reverse singles as they attempt to reach the final of the competition for the first time since 1978.

But Australian captain Masur has belief his side can still clinch a first final berth since 2006 as they look to add to their tally of 28 competition wins.

"Obviously that was tough to take but we`re still in this," Masur said.

"We just lost by a set in the best of a five set match so we`re still in it up to our ears."

World number three Murray would secure a last-four showdown against Belgium or Argentina in November if he wins the first reverse singles rubber at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on Sunday.

It doesn`t give the 28-year-old long to recover and Masur hopes to take advantage of the Scot`s demanding schedule.

"From our perspective it was a four hour match and although we didn`t quite get the result we wanted we definitely soaked a little bit out of Andy for tomorrow," Masur added.

"Andy was scintillating in his singles but I can tell you he won`t be quite as clinical and won`t feel as good as he did on Friday, that`s for sure."

Murray is scheduled to meet Bernard Tomic in the first singles rubber on Sunday but the Australian captain hinted that he may throw veteran Hewitt in against the two-time Grand Slam winner to see if the former world number one can deliver a famous victory.

"We do have that versatility - that`s one of the great things about our team," Masur said.

"We have four singles players and from those four we`ve created a very competitive doubles team.

"We have options and we`ll go back tonight, assess how everyone is feeling and have a little thing about tomorrow and come up with something."Hewitt, who is in his final Davis Cup campaign before he retires after the Australian Open in January, says he will be ready if called upon.

"We`ve been able to keep Andy out there for a long time but he is going to be the favourite going into tomorrow`s match," Hewitt said.

"He obviously played really well on Friday but I`ll do what I`m needed to do. I think Wally will have a plan in mind. He will talk to me about it anyway and we`ll try and come up with the best opportunity for us to try and keep it alive and take it to a fifth rubber."

Andy Murray said the memorable doubles victory with his brother was as emotionally draining as it was physically.

"Obviously the longer the match the less time there is to recover," the British number one said.

"I need to go and jump in the ice bath, see my physio, stretch and hopefully pull up OK for tomorrow.

"It was a doubles match which, physically, is not as demanding. You are covering less of the court but there are movements that I`m not used to making in singles matches so after doubles matches my body is a little bit stiff in certain places.

"It`s not so much the physical toll, it`s more the emotional one for me in a match like that. It`s tough but, emotionally, matches like that are draining as well. Not as much is made of that.

"They are very tough matches to play like that. There were a lot of ups and downs and chances for both teams but I will try and recover the best I can."