BOTB: Team Soul crowned Best Brits, Evans, Edmund to meet in final

Day 5 at the Battle of the Brits saw Dan Evans bring an end to Andy Murray’s campaign and Kyle Edmund beat Cam Norrie to make the final two. Murray and Skupski defeated Evans and Glasspool in the doubles final. Here is a walkthrough of today’s matches.

The Battle of the Brits has brought together the top 8 male players in Great Britain and 6 doubles teams. The final of the singles event will be held on Sunday.

Semifinal #1: Evans def. Murray 1-6 6-3 10-8

3-time Grand Slam champion Murray started off the match playing the most aggressive he has played all week. The velocity of Murray’s forehand was extraordinary, and it was too much for Evans to handle in the first set.

As Evans often does so effectively, he found a way back into the contest using his slice backhand. Helped by a slight dip in Murray’s performance, Evans took the second set 6-3.

The only thing to separate the two was a few poor errors in the final few points from Murray. Evans took full advantage of them to go on and win the championship tiebreak.

Murray will put this week down as a positive one when he has had time to reflect. To have not played competitively since November and to return to tennis with a semi-final appearance at the Battle of the Brits is some achievement and a step in the right direction.

We will next see Murray in action at the Washington Open in August. 

Semifinal #2: Edmund def. Norrie 6-7(2) 6-4 10-8

Compared to Norrie’s loss to British No.1 Evans in the group stages, he was able to vary his serve much more to unsettle Edmund. World #77 Norrie’s forehand was firing which ultimately proved to be the deciding factor in the first set.

Edmund dug in. As he said in his post-match interview, “I’m fighting and seem to be finding a way”. That pattern is seen in many of his matches at the Battle of the Brits so far this week.

One break of Norrie’s serve would secure the second set for Edmund.

It was neck and neck up to 8-8 in the final set tiebreak. Edmund hit a stunning backhand crosscourt winner to set up a match point, which he converted with another sublime backhand down the line.

Doubles Final: Murray/Skupski def. Evans/Glasspool 0-6 6-2 10-6

In what was a peculiar first set where Team Soul started off slow, Evans and Glasspool took the first set without dropping a game.

Murray and Skupski would not be the accomplished doubles pairing they are without working their way back into this semi-final though.

The final set tiebreak ignited some superb tennis from Team Soul, using their aggressive patterns of play to bombard Team Peaky Blinders with lots of pressure. They prevailed 10-6 to be crowned Best Brits in the doubles event.

Day 5 Video

We have reached the final day of the inaugural Battle of the Brits. Check back in tomorrow to find out who will be crowned Best Brit in the singles and for our final recap right here on Lob and Smash.