Brothers Andy and Jamie Murray carried Britain to the brink of a Davis Cup semi-finals berth after they beat France in the doubles rubber to take a 2-1 lead ahead of today’s reverse singles.

Andy shrugged off a hip injury following a tumble on the slick grass as the Murray brothers registered a 4-6 6-3 7-6 6-1 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nicolas Mahut at a sun-kissed Queen’s Club in west London.

There had been some doubts whether the picturesque venue, renowned for being prim and proper, was the correct choice for hosting a Davis Cup tie.

However, a raucous crowd, draped in Union Jack flags and face paint, fervently roared on the Scottish brothers.

A nervous Britain were off the pace in the opening set and surrendered the early lead but, thereafter, were dominant and completed victory when Jamie smashed past his stranded opponents.

Andy received treatment to his groin and hip following a slip during the third set but the double grand slam champion said he should be fit to compete in today’s singles.

“It’s sore but there’s only one more match then I can rest after that,” the 28-year-old added.

Britain just need to win one of two singles matches this afternoon against a strong French team – which also includes Gilles Simon and Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet – to reach their first Davis Cup semi-final since 1981.

The winners will face either Kazakhstan or Australia in the semi-finals in September.

Yesterday, veteran Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth combined to defeat Kazakhstan and keep Australia’s hopes alive after their young guns flopped on Friday.

Australia were 2-0 down after hot-headed tyro Nick Kyrgios and 19-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis wilted on the grass-courts in tropical Darwin.

But Hewitt, 34, and 68th-ranked Groth ensured the quarter-final would head into a third day by grinding out a tense 6-4 7-6 6-2 win over Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov.

Quarter-finals
Britain lead France - 2-1
Kazakhstan lead Australia - 2-1
Argentina bt Serbia - 3-0
Belgium bt Canada - 3-0