Andy Murray kept Britain in contention in the Davis Cup final when he beat Belgium’s Ruben Bemelmans in straight sets to leave the two nations level at 1-1 after the opening singles Friday.
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As is so often the case, it was therefore left to Andy Murray to get Great Britain’s first point on the board, and the world number two duly obliged with a 6-3 6-2 7-5 win over Ruben Bemelmans. Murray will team with brother Jamie for Saturday’s key doubles rubber against Belgium who may make a change to their doubles pairing which for now is still Steve Darcis pairing with Kimmer Coppjeans. “I played five sets yesterday and four sets today”, said Goffin.
Picking three singles players means, barring injury or illness, Andy Murray will have to play on all three days and Great Britain are 6/1 for a 3-2 win as they aim for a first Davis Cup title since 1936. “I knew he would get it going”, responded Andy.
“I’m ready to give everything”. There was controversy in the third set of Murray’s match when the world No2 was given a point penalty for an audible obscenity.
The new tactic yielded results quickly, as the team had the chance to break on three occasions in the third game, and Goffin eventually converted the final chance with a smash.
Having shared victories with his brother at Queen’s Club in the quarter-finals against France and at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena in the semi-finals against Australia, he also appreciated how special the achievement is, and how it will be further enhanced if the team win the cup for the first time in 79 years.
“He played really heavy and I was surprised”.
Two breaks of serve were enough for the 28-year-old Murray to pocket the first set against Bemelmans, and he broke again at the start of the second to stamp his authority on the rubber. We fought hard for each other.
Each team’s No 1 singles players meet, first up, at the Flanders Expo Centre in Ghent on Sunday and it would be a fearless or foolish man who would bet against Andy Murray taking the point he requires to secure this title.
“It’s not a problem if I have to play five sets tomorrow”.
“It’s fantastic to go out there and play with Andy, as it has been in the previous ties”.
Andy Murray plays tennis for a living, and he doesn’t plan on being afraid of doing his job.
Scot Smith said: “There’s so much still to play for and although winning the doubles hasn’t decided the tie, it has put us in a good position”.
“I believe in myself”, said Murray.
Murray is No. 2 in the world while Goffin is ranked No. 16. “We have two chances to try and win it tomorrow and if you had offered us that at the start we would have taken it”.
“I said he didn’t need to compensate because I feel the crowd for a Davis Cup final was very respectful”, said Van Herck.
And, after reflecting on his doubles triumph alongside his brother on Saturday afternoon, Murray was now refocusing on Sunday’s clash.
Murray still completed his ninth successive win the Davis Cup this year – and then admitted he relished the feisty environment.
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“Sometimes some wins like this give you more confidence, when you’re not playing your best level, but you are playing with your heart”.
