Davis Cup 2015: Andy Murray beats Thanasi Kokkinakis to give Great Britain 1-0 lead over Australia

Andy Murray has given Great Britain a 1-0 lead over Australia in the semi-final of the 2015 Davis Cup, easing past Thanasi Kokkinakis in straight sets. In front of a partisan crowd in Glasgow, the world number three eased past the 19-year-old Australian with a 6-3 6-0 6-3 win as Great Britain drew first blood in their attempt to win the competition for the first time since 1936.

Murray could feature in doubles action alongside brother Jamie against the duo of Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth on 19 September, before the singles showdown with Bernard Tomic a day later.

Kokkinakis, 19, has become a protégé of sorts to Murray, frequently training with the British number one in the build up to his 2015 Australian Open and French Open campaigns. The Australian teenager wowed Murray in practice sessions at Roland Garros in the summer but the gap between the two was stark in the Scot's homeland.

Murray broke his young opponent in the fifth game of the opening set, needing six break points to put away the spirited Australian after capitalising on a stray backhand. Kokkinakis pulled one more game back but was unable to prevent Murray wrapping up the set with a fourth ace.

While the teenager showed plenty of spark in the opener, Murray wasted little time extending his lead in the second set, breaking to love in just the third game. The Scot barely broke a sweat as his saw out the set without dropping a game as an exasperated Kokkinakis wilted.

The young challenger threw up some resistance at the start of the third, though, finally breaking Murray's run by claiming the first game of the final set. Murray responded by sending his opponent scurrying across court with a tremendous drop shot to pull level, holding serve in the next game to regain his lead and breaking his opponent for a third time. Kokkinakis continued to take a beating as Murray remained in control, sealing the win with an unstoppable return.