This reflected a nervousness from lesser-experienced Goffin, and a determination from the Scot – whose main goal of this season has been victory at the Davis Cup.
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“I think the rest of the year when you’re playing, you don’t get atmospheres like that in any event that we play”. We all get on with each other and respect each other. “I still think we have a very good chance in both of the matches tomorrow”.
World number two Murray, whose return to the Davis Cup team in 2013 sparked Britain’s rapid rise from the depths of the competition, has won 11 live rubbers in this year’s run, matching Ivan Ljubicic’s total for Croatia in 2005.
Brothers born in Scotland led Great Britain to its 10th Davis Cup championship in history, third on the all-time list behind the United States (32) and Australia (28).
On his first match point, he netted a backhand, but on the second, in a microcosm of the match, he withstood everything that Goffin threw at him before leaving him a helpless spectator as a flawless lob dealt the final blow.
On his second championship point, Murray navigated the low ceiling and high expectations with an immaculate strike sending a swarm of his teammates mobbing him in an eruption of pure joy.
Two-time grand slam champion Murray’s performance was impressive.
His patriotism was obvious as he joined in the British nation’s celebrations by winning the gold medal in the singles competition at the Olympics of 2012, clearly inspired and emotionally charged in the moment as many around the nation were. “Nothing may ever top this now”. “In the doubles, Davis Cup is always tough, never easy, just because of the way doubles is played”.
Andy insisted the job is not yet done, though, and, were he to lose to Goffin, Belgium would become favourites to win their first Davis Cup title.
McEnroe had a 12-0 record in 1982 and Michael Stich had 11 wins in 1993. If the win is secured in straight sets at 3-1, however, then the tie will still be completed despite the overall result not being affected.
There were two further courtside interruptions on his second serve as he prepared to defend a break point in the fifth game, but again Murray had the experience to shrug them off and keep the game level. But the two have never met on clay.
This advantage will be unassailable if Murray defeats Goffin this afternoon and on the evidence of their recent meeting, the Scot will be heavily favoured to seal a famous triumph.
He wasn’t expected to win but after he breezed through the first two sets it looked like a massive upset was on the cards. Wasting seven break points in the next took the fight out of the Belgians. “They did very, very well today”. It helps me give a little bit more effort.
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Goffin and Belgian captain Johan van Herck admitted there was no living with Murray in his nearly single handed mission to win the cup for Britain. “Not just because he’s my brother but because he’s an exceptionally good tennis player”.
