The nimble Goffin was unbeaten in Davis Cup singles in his last seven rubbers but he had played only once in doubles, back in the 2012 tie-against GB-and though the doubles rubber was lost, Belgium won the tie. “I think on clay court I have some weapons to play a good match”.
Advertisement
The first match of the day saw Belgium’s no. 1, David Goffin, take on Britain’s rising star Kyle Edmund.
“I have nothing to lose, it’s 2-1 in the tie”.
David Goffin still believes he can drag Belgium back into the Davis Cup final despite Saturday’s defeat to Great Britain in the doubles.
Murray showed just how fired up he was after winning the first set.
“It’s obviously fantastic to win the match”.
And Bemelmans’ fearless effort came to an end as Murray broke to love to lead 6-5 before clinching a 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory on his first match point. He prevailed despite receiving a point penalty for an audible obscenity, a moment that temporarily lifted Bemelmans. The threat level dropped Thursday. Serbia is the last country to win the Davis Cup title after being down 2-1 after the doubles rubber.
British captain Leon Smith has the option of bringing in the more experienced James Ward in his place if the final is still alive by then. He lacks any sort of variety but possesses bags of power through his serve, forehand and backhand.
Edmund said that he had felt he had the game to beat Goffin, especially as the match was on clay – a surface he enjoys playing on.
Thus, despite the outcome Friday, he always appeared to be the better choice. “It couldn’t have gone any better”, Edmund said. With Goffin serving, Darcis hit an overhead smash wide and the Britons gained a set point.
Was a comeback on the cards? Goffin was certainly impressive on Saturday as he threw up perfectly calibrated lobs and smacked down the deadliest of smashes. The Murrays broke serve in the next game, taking the first set, 6-4. Even the PA system continued to thump with music as the players readied for the fourth set.
With the Belgians producing a level of tennis few expected, Goffin playing particularly well, Darcis served out the set to love. Edmund committed 11 unforced errors in the third. “Yeah, that’s why we’ve played well together this year”. The Argentine duo of Carlos Berlocq and Leonardo Mayer won a five set war against the Belgian duo that ended in a fifth set tie breaker.
Edmund will wait and see if he is required to play again in what would be a fifth and deciding rubber on Sunday.
“Kyle played an unbelievable first two sets”, said Goffin. He was really aggressive with his forehand.
Andy Murray: “I will prepare like any other match for tomorrow”.
“From the beginning, I was a little bit tight also”. We got our rewards.
“I didn’t think they crossed the line, to be honest”. He said cramps in his legs affected his movements. The enjoyment you get out of winning as part of a team, I would say, is greater than on your own. But when you’re playing as part of a team, your job is more than just about preparing for yourself. 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.
“Kyle played very good tennis”.
“It’s going to be new for him as well”.
Such was the case in Ghent, when Belgium hosted Great Britain in this year’s final at the 13,000 capacity Flanders Expo.
Advertisement
Early in the second Belgium would finally have a break of their own however, with Goffin making the most of a weak Jamie Murray service game to hand his nation a 3-1 lead. That can be troublesome for Murray’s back. But I would rather be having two shots tomorrow rather than one. He recovered for 4-4, but Bemelmans earned a set point at 5-4.
