Davis Cup, Odessa

Result:

A Murray/Delgado (GB) lose to Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk (Ukr)

3-6 3-6 3-6

By Mike Burnett

THIRD SET:

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 3-6 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Stakhovsky serves for the match and a vital lifeline in this Davis Cup weekend. Britain hold the scores at 30-30 but the home side can sense victory and Stakhovsky serves out for the win. Ukraine now trail 2-1 in this Davis Cup relegation play-off. But with Murray playing in Sunday's opening singles match, will the Ukrainians be smiling for long?

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 3-5 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Delgado is clearly giving a whole new meaning to the phrase 'weak link' as the bald-headed Briton fails to hold serve for the third time in a row. Ukraine are just one game away from victory.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 3-4 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
The visitors are still determined to make this interesting as they pull a game back with a surprising break of Tereshchuk's serve.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 2-4 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Murray now falls foul as Britain lose their third game in a row. With Delgado already struggling on his serve, a blip in Murray's serve makes this match unwinnable. Murray concedes the game with a double fault, just to add to Britain's troubles.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 2-3 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
It's a crushing blow for Britain as Ukraine manage to save five break points to hold serve. The home side clawed back to deuce from 15-40 down and stuck in there before Delgado's return into the net gives Ukraine the game.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 2-2 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Well, Britain's lead in the third set was shortlived as Delgado fails to handle the pressure. Murray is clearly trying to help his partner out as much as possible but cannot stop the chrome-domed Briton blasting two shots into the net and allowing Ukraine to break back.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 2-1 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Splatters of rain from the sky seem to have changed the whole direction of this match with Britain's play starting to look very unclouded. Britain take the lead for the very first time in this match as Murray converts the break with a forehand winner down the line.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 1-1 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
It's umbrellas galore in the crowd which could turn this match into a long drawn-out affair for all the wrong reasons. Still, no rain delay has been announced yet and Murray makes short work of his service game as the Brits concede just one point on their way to levelling the scores.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 0-1 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Not much fight in the British pair now, although Murray has changed sides with Delgado for Stakhovsky's service game. It still doesn't stop the home side go one-up.

SECOND SET:

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-6 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Despite the previous game's rousing display, the Brits are broken and Murray concedes his serve to hand Ukraine a crucial 2-0 lead in this doubles rubber. Of course, it remains to be seen how worried the visitors will be, given that Murray will be confident of victory in Sunday's opening singles match.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-5 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Murray is in sublime form, reaching practically into the crowd to return a lob into the very corner walls of the court and setting up Delgado with the winner. It is a display like this that earns Britain two break points but Ukraine once again battle back to seal their service game.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 3-4 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Again, it all depends on whether Delgado can get through his service game - not a particularly promising prospect, given his performance so far in this match. Delgado gets off to a good start - after a dramatic rally the bald-headed Briton's backhand volley comes too fast for Stakhovsky, who slams the ball into the net for 15-0. But Ukraine soon battle take the scores to deuce before Tereshchuk lobs long to hand advantage to Britain, which is quickly taken.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 2-4 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Stakhovsky moves Ukraine one step closer to the second set with a comfortable service game.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 2-3 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Britain win their first service game of the second set, showing there's some life in this doubles partnership yet. Ukraine battle to deuce but Murray and Delgado pin Stakhovsky to the baseline and put pressure on his forehand before the Ukrainian eventually slips up.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 1-3 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Murray is determined to prove it is not all one-way traffic as British duo claw back a break. Murray seals the game the low forehand return which Tereshchuk can only knock into the net.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 0-3 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
So it's up to plucky Delgado to stop the GB rot? No, that was never going to happen. Delgado has looked under pressure on his serve all during the match and can do little to stop Ukraine cruising to a 3-0 lead.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 0-2 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Ukraine look set to ensure there is plenty to play for in Sunday's singles as they march closer to doubles victory. Another strong service game for Tereshchuk consolidates the home side's break in the previous game.

Murray/Delgado 3-6 0-1 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
New set and a new beginning for GB? No, Murray's serve is looking flat and shaky and, at 40-30, the Scot drills two consecutive shots into the net to give Ukraine game point. Tereshchuk then blasts a backhand winner down the line (past Delgado) to convert the break.

FIRST SET:

Murray/Delgado 3-6 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Stakhovsky makes short work of this service game as Ukraine keep their Davis Cup hopes alive by taking the first set. On balance, they deserved it with Britain's duo yet to gel and Delgado struggling with his service returns.

Murray/Delgado 3-5 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Against all my cynical expectation, Delgado puts in an industrious service game as the Brits race to 30-0. Tereshchuk still shows what he's capable of as he blasts a crosscourt winner between the two Brits but Delgado and Murray still hang on to force Ukraine to serve for the match.

Murray/Delgado 2-5 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Tereshchuk is looking pretty comfortable on his serve, helping Ukraine race to 40-15. Again it is up to Murray to salvage some pride with a cheeky lob return that Tereshchuk smashes into the net. But it is not enough to stop the home side sealing the game.

Now just Delgado stands in the way of Ukraine taking the first set... oh dear.

Murray/Delgado 2-4 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Murray keeps Britain hanging in there with a fast service game.

Murray/Delgado 1-4 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Just five games in and this doubles rubber is turning into a tense battle. This match is closer than the scoreline suggests with Britain squandering a break point. Stakhovsky rescues the game and ensures Urkaine's lead with an unreturnable serve and Tereshchuk seals the game with a smash after Murray's poorly executed short return.

Murray/Delgado 1-3 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Delgado continues his Davis Cup jinx by dropping serve and giving Ukraine a vital lead in the first set. This is a must-win match for the home team to keep their hopes alive.

Murray/Delgado 1-2 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Ukraine, cheered on by a large partisan crowd, make easier work of their second service game to move ahead once more.

Murray/Delgado 1-1 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
Murray opens the serving for Britain and makes light work of the task as the visitors pull the scores level.

Murray/Delgado 0-1 Stakhovsky/Tereshchuk
The Ukrainians are drinking at the last chance saloon and Stakhovsky appears to have spilt his drink as the home side go 40-0 down. But luckily Tereshchuk is there with the metaphoric mop as Ukraine claim the next five successive points to hold their opening service game.

0930 BST: It doesn't get more exciting than this - the players are out on court and have already stood to attention for their respective national anthems in front of a full house.

But clearly the highlight of the morning so far is Bruce Springsteen's Born In The USA blaring through the PA system.

Nope, spoke to soon, The Final Countdown by Europe has just followed - how apt.

0927 BST: Another gripping day of Davis Cup tennis begins with Britain looking confident after assuming a 2-0 win in the opening singles on Friday.

Captain John Lloyd replaced Greg Rusedski with Jamie Delgado for Saturday's doubles which if Britain won would give them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie.