From BBC Sport

From BBC Sport

Great Britain won their doubles rubber against Turkey to claim an unassailable 3-0 lead and prevent relegation to the Davis Cup’s lowest tier.

Leading 2-0 after Friday’s singles, Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski eased to a 6-3 6-4 6-4 win against Ergun Zorlu and Haluk Akkoyun in Eastbourne.

The victory preserves Britain’s Europe/Africa Zone Group II status.

“This job is done but we have to move British tennis forward. This is just a start,” said coach Leon Smith.

“It gives you great confidence having that doubles team. You know that on Saturday you’ve got a great chance of getting a result with these guys.”

Turkey’s chances were not helped when key player Marsel Ilhan, who lost to Ward in the singles on Saturday, opted to pull out before the game due to mental and physical tiredness.

The 23-year-old was replaced by the inexperienced Ergun Zorlu, boosting the confidence of the British pair, who were already heavy favourites.

Fleming and Skupski, who are nicknamed Flemski and have two ATP World Tour titles, always looked in control, and ultimately stemmed a run of five straight defeats for Britain in the Davis Cup, stretching back three years.

The biggest threat to the British pair early on was a smash from Zorlu that hit Skupski on the side of the head but, although clearly a little shaken, the Liverpudlian was able to continue after a short delay.

And after a break in the eighth game, the first set was easily won by the home pair.

Fleming and Skupski made it four games in a row with another break in the opening game of the second set to take a stranglehold on proceedings.

We felt if we went out there and played to the best of our ability we could get the job done.

But, having been utterly dominant on serve in the first set, suddenly Skupski’s delivery was under threat and having moved to 0-40, the Turks promptly broke straight back.

More break points came and went for the British pair in the fifth game and they had to wait another four games to break through again.

One break was also all that was required in the third set to seal a success that was Britain’s first since September 2007 when they beat Croatia, in Tim Henman’s final match, to book a place in the World Group.

Skupski said: “The guys put us in a great position on Friday and we felt if we went out there and played to the best of our ability we could get the job done, and we were able to do that.”

Smith could give reserve Alex Ward a chance in Sunday’s two dead rubbers, which are reduced to best of three sets, but hinted he was likely to stick with James Ward and Baker.

Ken and Colin have been selected to play the doubles on Saturday in Britain’s Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II relegation match against Turkey.

Click on the link below to read about Ken’s thoughts on tomorrows Davis Cup match and how they have fared over the grass court season.

From BBC Radio Merseyside.

From BBC Sport

Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith has put his faith in James Ward and Jamie Baker for July’s must-win tie against Turkey at Eastbourne.

It will be Smith’s first match in charge and defeat would mean relegation to Europe/Africa Zone Group III, the lowest tier of the competition.

Ward made his debut in the defeat by Lithuania in March, winning one rubber, while Baker won his last tie in 2008.

Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski have been given the doubles spots.

British number one Andy Murray has made himself unavailable – he also missed the defeat by Lithuania in March – as he has made it clear he wants to concentrate on winning a first Grand Slam title.

Alex Ward, the British number 11, has been named as the reserve, while Dan Evans, who has lost the crucial rubbers in the last two ties against Lithuania and Poland, has fallen out of favour.

Smith said: “I am confident that this is a group of players which can win this tie. They’ve all shown good form during the grass court season and now the focus is on getting the result against Turkey.”

Britain will be expected to win but, in world number 118 Marsel Ilhan, Turkey boast by far the highest-ranked player in the tie who has shown decent form on grass this season.

The relegation play-off will be played between 9-11 July at Devonshire Park.