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Davis Cup: Great Britain take 2-1 lead into final day against Slovakia

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Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins
Image caption,

Fleming and Hutchins reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and the US Open in 2011

Great Britain will take a 2-1 lead into the final day of their Davis Cup match against Slovakia after winning Saturday's doubles rubber in Glasgow.

Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins won the first two sets against Filip Polasek and Michal Mertinak before losing the third without taking a game.

However, they fought back in the fourth to seal a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 0-6 6-3 win.

GB will need to win one of Sunday's two singles matches to seal victory in the Europe/Africa Group I tie.

In the absence of Andy Murray, who is resting, James Ward and Dan Evans will represent Britain on the final day.

A win by either would earn their country its first victory at this level or above since Tim Henman's last match against Croatia at Wimbledon in 2007.

Fleming and Hutchins, unlike Polasek and Mertinak, had the advantage of having played together on the ATP World Tour.

Their win takes Britain to the brink of a fifth consecutive Davis Cup triumph since Leon Smith took the captaincy.

The rubber was very closely contested and the first set was decided by a break of Polasek's serve in the sixth game.

The British duo both had to save break points but they clinched the set when Mertinak netted a forehand.

Two broken serves from Fleming meant the Britons failed to capitalise on Slovak errors in the second, but they held their nerve to take the set, before Polasek and Mertinak stepped up a gear to whitewash the third.

Hutchins looked in trouble at 0-40 at the start of the fourth, but five consecutive points proved to be the turning point of the match and the Britons turned on the class to seal victory.

Londoner Hutchins said: "I thought we did really well. There was a minor blip in the third but the crowd were the best I've ever had here.

"The boys are playing really well so hopefully we can get one more win tomorrow."

Scot Fleming said: "I think the home advantage made a difference. It came down to a few tight and nervous moments but the crowd got us through it.

"It seems to be the British way; you can't win it easy but it's great to get a win.

"We don't play five sets that often but it was a great game by Ross to hold at the beginning of the fourth set and that got us back on track."

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