Davis Cup: Inspired Kyle Edmund fires Great Britain into semi-finals with victory over Dusan Lajovic

Updated 17/07/2016 at 22:22 GMT

Kyle Edmund produced a dominant and hugely-impressive performance to power past Dusan Lajovic of Serbia in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 7-6, and secure Great Britain’s place in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup.

Great Britain's Kyle Edmunds celebrates beating Dusan Lajovic of Serbia in their Davis Cup clash

Image credit: Reuters

The 21-year-old knew that victory in the fourth rubber would seal victory for Britain, who led 2-1 after Edmund's win over Janko Tipsarevic in the first singles clash and Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot's victory in Saturday's doubles.

Far from struggle under the pressure, however, the world number 67 achieved his goal in convincing fashion.

Edmund had to cope with appalling conditions as rain pounded the red clay in Belgrade, but he had too much power and intensity as he beat Lajovic, ranked at number 81 in the world, to give Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead.

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The final rubber was played out, with Janko Tipsarevic beating James Ward 6-2 3-6 7-5 to make the overall score 3-2.

In the other quarter-final matches, France beat the Czech Republic 3-1 while Argentina beat Italy 3-1. Neither of the dead rubbers were played out in those ties.

The fourth quarter-final is between USA and Croatia, with the tie level at 2-2 in Oregon ahead of the final rubber which sees Jack Sock play Borna Coric.

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was again in attendance amid the Serbian storm as Edmund’s serve backed up his break in the sixth game of the opening set and he closed it out with two huge aces.

Edmund takes opening set with stunning ace

Lajovic battled hard from the back of the court but could never match Edmund’s dominant groundstrokes, and the local man saw his serve taken apart again in the seventh game of the second set.

Edmund ruthlessly capitalised on every opportunity he created for himself until his serve went awry when attempting to close out the match at 5-4 up in the third as Lajovic roared back.

As it was, Edmund ended up having to fend off two set points in a gutsy hold before coming through a dramatic tie-break to seal a stunning win for Britain away from home.

Edmund seals stunning victory for Britain in Serbia

Britain will likely be able to welcome back three-time Grand Slam champion Murray for their semi-final encounter with Argentina in a more familiar environment at home in September - a tie which should give Britain a decent chance of making the final for the second year in succession.

It was a coming-of-age victory for Edmund - who shared an emotional embrace with Smith and his team-mates at the end of a gruelling weekend - and one which produced Britain's first Davis Cup World Group tie win on clay without Murray since 1982.