(Manchester) Andy Murray couldn’t hold back his tears after revealing he missed his grandmother’s funeral to compete in the Davis Cup group stage on Friday.
The three-time major champion beat Leandro Riedi 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4 to give Britain a winning start.
The country cruised to a 2-1 win against Switzerland.
After taking more than three hours to beat Riedi, the Scot was overcome with emotion during the on-pitch interview.
“Today is difficult for me. It’s my grandmother’s funeral, Murray said. I’m sorry to my family that I can’t be there but, “Grandma, this one’s for you.” »
Murray then sat down and cried under his towel as he was applauded by spectators in Manchester.
The 36-year-old Murray later said he spoke to his father about whether he should play or not. “He said she would want me to play. He just told me, “Make sure you win,” and I did. »
Stan Wawrinka beat Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-4 to tie the score, but Dan Evans and Neal Skupski beat Wawrinka and Dominic Stricker 6-3, 6-3 in doubles.
Novak Djokovic allowed the Serbs to advance in the table by winning 6-3, 6-4 in group C against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Italy took an unassailable 2-0 lead over Chile in Group A, where Canada won its first two matches.
