GLASGOW (Reuters) - Britain were knocked out of the Davis Cup Finals as Andy Murray and partner Joe Salisbury lost a deciding doubles to Dutch pair Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middelkoop in Glasgow.
Just as against the United States in their opening tie on Wednesday, Murray and doubles world number one Salisbury took to the court with the tie locked at 1-1.
They saved a match point in a nerve-jangling second set but eventually succumbed 7-6(0) 6-7(6) 6-3.
“It just sucks, because these matches have come down to a few points and they’ve not gone our way,” Murray said. “I have been fortunate to play a lot of these matches over the years, and, come through them.
“That hasn’t happened this time around, and I feel sad about that, because... I think we had the possibility to have a really good run here.”
While the Dutch celebrated wildly at sealing their place in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2005, Britain were left with their hopes in tatters.
The Dutch pair broke serve to lead 5-3 in the decider and closed it out in nerveless fashion on Koolhof’s serve.
Earlier, Dan Evans had given Britain the lead with a comfortable victory over Tallon Griekspoor, but Cameron Norrie was overpowered by Botic van de Zandschulp.
Murray and Salisbury fell just short again, as they did on Wednesday when they lost in three sets to Jack Sock and Rajeev Ram.