Murray overcame a point penalty for swearing as well as some baiting by rowdy Belgian supporters to keep Great Britain on track for Davis Cup glory, after Kyle Edmund was unable to capitalise on a two-set lead in the earlier rubber against David Goffin, going down 6-3, 6-1, 2-6, 1-6, 0-6.
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He could have picked Ruben Bemelmans, who impressed against Andy Murray in singles on Friday, but instead plumped for world number 16 Goffin – who, like Murray, will now have to play on all three days of the tie. “The two nations played all their matches at home this year”.
The world number 108 found himself with set point on Murray’s serve in the tenth game.
On Friday there are two singles matches, followed by a doubles match on Saturday and another two singles on Sunday.
Another early breakthrough got the second set off to a positive start and this time Bemelmans struggled to compete with the British number one, Murray using the lob to sensational effect as his opponent looked to mix his game up.
Now, you can dress this up anyway you like but the bottom, somewhat uncomfortable truth for the GB team, is that Murray (A) will play in both singles matches and the doubles, the latter with his admittedly accomplished doubles brother Jamie. “So I’m surprised (the umpire) could hear what I was saying”.
Captains can change their picks and Belgium’s Johan van Herck has indicated that he could take advantage of that option.
It’s Great Britain versus Belgium in the Davis Cup final.
“Okay, there was noise, but there will always be noise”.
“I didn’t actually hear I’d been given the second warning”, he said. “I believe that we prepared as best we can”, Murray said.
The Scot had to save a set point two games later, enraging the Belgian fans with his bellowing celebration, but he then blasted his way through the two final games of the contest.
For the opening two sets, Goffin’s performance had been about as flat as the landscape, and it looked as though Edmund was moving in on what would have been one of the greatest upsets in the history of Davis Cup finals, if not the greatest.
Smith plumped for Edmund, who was looking to become the first debutant to win a live rubber in a final, after watching him win a second-tier Challenger title on clay in Buenos Aires two weeks ago. I knew I had the game to beat him and I was playing well enough. Despite the straight sets win, it was a much more entertaining match than most expected. “You’re playing for your country, you’re playing for your teammates”. Obviously he will be devastated that he could not convert his position, and will probably feel he has let the team down, but he should not have that attitude.
After that, he raced through the first two sets. Kyle was really heavy with every forehand.
Tears welled up in Edmund’s eyes as his match ran away from him in the fifth set, and he said: “I started very well”. I lost a bit of confidence in my movement. I tried to stay calm, to manage it very well.
“I believe in me and Jamie as a doubles team”, Murray said.
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Goffin and the crowd sagged, with Edmund subsequently racing to a 5-0 lead. He has a quick arm and forehand. “I think he has everything to go to the top”.
