The Davis Cup final is being held in Ghent from Friday to Sunday and the 13,000-seat Flanders Expo is sold out for all three days of the final, with more than 1000 British fans due to attend.
Advertisement
With Murray the favored to win both singles on the red clay, Edmund will have an uphill battle to with either of his. “It’s taken five years”. “We had some of the younger members decided not to come, because understandably their parents were concerned, but others quickly took their place”.
“It’s just exciting really”, he said. It’s not going to be an easy match David Goffin. The fact it’s a final… More than one Ryder Cup golfer has articulated the anguish that comes with knowing a bad round hurts not only your brand value but your team and your country.
By the time Murray brothers join forces Great Britain will hopefully be off to a flier in their pursuit of a first Davis Cup triumph since 1936, with world No. 2 Andy the hot favourite against Ruben Bemelmans in the second singles match on Friday. It’s a new experience for me. “I don’t think he goes out of his way to present the game”. He has dropped doubles specialist Dominic Inglot, who partnered Jamie Murray to a close loss against the Bryan Brothers in their first round against the United States of America earlier this year.
In the next round, Canada’s top two players were both missing through injury and they then edged a mediocre Argentina side 3-2 in the semis. “It’s good to have options for Sunday”.
Andy and Jamie Murray seldom play together on the ATP Tour as Andy concentrates on his singles career.
Davis Cup is the World Cup of men’s tennis.
At the last two ties – the quarterfinal against France on the Queen’s Club grass, and the semifinal against Australia on a Glaswegian hard court – one family from Dunblane has gathered all of Britain’s points, and if Smith’s team is to win this title, the expectation is that the Murrays will again contribute all three.
He said: ” Throughout the year we’re having to deal with jetlag and travel.
“There are nerves obviously, but that’s a positive thing”. I think it will be a little bit like a carnival. It’s obviously a big opportunity for all of us. “I hope we can give the people smiles on their faces”. “But I’ve only played on the court for a couple of hours in freezing-cold conditions”.
“I serve bad (at) the end of the first set and also in the second set”, Ferrer said.
The make-up of the reverse singles, which will see world number 16 Goffin play Murray, could be changed, with Darcis and Ward potentially coming in to contest a decisive fifth rubber.
Belgium thought they had found a male player to carry the baton from former women’s world No. 1s Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, but great expectations proved to be a burden.
Edmund, who was playing claycourt Challenger events in South America until last week, was picked by captain Leon Smith ahead of the more experienced James Ward. There is no record of Murray and Bemelmans ever having spoken, let alone played one another. “I think I probably know better how he plays than he knows me”, he said. “I think it can really be an advantage”.
Advertisement
Edmund’s selection was not unexpected but it will be a massive step up as he looks to become the first debutant to win a live rubber in the Davis Cup final – a feat beyond 14-times grand slam champion Sampras for the U.S.in 1991.
