“All the other options” were possible, said Van Herck after Friday’s singles matches.
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But Bemelmans, a stylish left-hander and serial drop-shotter, rose to the occasion, particularly in a feisty third set where the already raucous atmosphere went up another notch. It s an advantage we have to take.
Smith, hoping to guide Britain to their first title since 1936, has been heavily indebted to Murray’s brilliance since taking over as captain with the Scot contributing 15 of the side’s 19 points since he returned to the squad in 2013.
After Murray had saved a set point in the 10th game of the third, the decisive break came in the next as Bemelmans was broken to love to move Great Britain closer to victory.
Murray was able to recover, though, as he came from set-point down to hold and then break immediately before seeing out the set and grabbing an all-important point for Great Britain.
Team Belgium consist of Goffin, two-time ATP victor Steve Darcis as well as the relatively unknown duo of Ruben Bemelmans and Kimmer Coppejans, the latter of which will only feature in the doubles rubber. Two-time Grand Slam Champion and Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray will lead Britain as it attempts to capture its first title in 79 years.
To no-one’s surprise, Murray later leveled the affair by easing past the 108th-ranked Ruben Bemelmans 6-3 6-2 7-5, boosting his record in the competition this season to 9-0.
Joining Edmund in Team GB are Dominic Inglot and brothers Jamie and Andy Murray.
Goffin said he was ready to play in Saturday’s doubles if necessary, his five-set win having taken less than three hours.
Edmund broke Goffin’s serve three times to win the second set in 27 minutes as Goffin double-faulted on set point after doing the same at the end of fifth game.
Murray couldn’t resist a moan at the Belgian crowd for the noise they were making as he stepped up to serve, much to their chagrin.
Goffin tested Edmund’s nerve by winning three games in a row, but the 20-year-old passed it with flying colours, clinching the set with an ace. But Murray can surely expect a hostile reception in Belgium this weekend.
Murray insisted the ire of the locals is only firing him to an achievement that will rank with anything he has won in the sport to date.
“I didn’t actually hear I’d been given the second warning”, he said.
Edmund could not stall Goffin’s march after he had levelled the match and the home favourite raced through the fifth set to seal an impressive comeback.
“We’re looking forward to getting the people involved”.
Team captain Leon Smith, who also had words with Ramos, has backed his star man to cope with anything that is thrown at him – on the court or off it.
“Kyle was really heavy with every forehand”.
The two Scots will once again join forces in Ghent on Saturday in the doubles – more often than not the key rubber in Davis Cup ties. “I believe we can win the tie, but it’s going to be tough, for sure”. In the Davis Cup this year Britain have won only one point – when Ward beat John Isner in the first round in Glasgow – when their talisman has not been on court. “But (it was) still a very hard decision”.
“The tension is normal”.
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He admitted that it will be something completely new, with a first-round match at this year’s French Open the only vaguely comparable thing that he has gone through. “I don’t see any problems there”.
