Intro:

Fabio Fognini gave Italy a 1-0 lead on the opening day of their World Group Davis Cup quarter-final against Great Britain on Friday (4th April), while Britain's Andy Murray was leading in the second singles rubber when bad light halted play.

Script:

Italy and Great Britain are hoping to clinch a long-awaited place in the last four of the Davis Cup, but rain delayed the start of play by two hours in this fixture.

Fabio Fognini was made to struggle when he took on James Ward.

Ward powered into a 3-0 lead in the first set before Fognini recovered to take it 6-4.

A similar pattern emerged in the second set but this time Ward managed to snatch four games in a row to level at a set apiece.

Fognini had to receive medical treatment before the third set got underway.

And it appeared to work, as the Italian then broke early to lead by two sets to one.

Ward put up little resistance in the fourth as Fognini once more seized the initiative.
Sealing a , 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win

Eighth-ranked Andy Murray then had a chance to level the tie when he took on Andreas Seppi.
It proved to be a tough contest and Murray was made to work hard before breaking in the seventh game and going on to claim the opening set by six games to four.

Murray then allowed Seppi back into the match.

The Italian matched Murray point for point to lead 5-4 in the second.

Bad light eventually stopped play, The match will resume on Saturday (5th April) ahead of the doubles rubber.