That takes the tally of GB rubbers won by the Murrays to 10 from 11: James Ward won the other, and such was that rubber, beating John Isner in 15-13 in the final set in the first round this year, that he may still be chosen over Kyle Edmund for the fifth rubber tomorrow-if it comes to a decider.
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“It’s obviously a good situation for them when they’ve already gone one up, they can put out a player and just say, “Go for it”.
Andy Murray and Jamie Murray had to dig deep to get past the Belgian pair of Steve Darcis and David Goffin, but they got the job done in the end, putting Britain in pole position to win their first Davis Cup title since 1936.
Yet he indicated that he could stick with Edmund, who has impressed on clay recently. Even though it is being treated as just another match, a loss for the Belgians puts them in a rough spot with Andy Murray scheduled to battle David Goffin in the fourth rubber on Sunday.
“We go away and make sure that Andy and whoever goes out for the second singles is absolutely ready”.
Belgium named Darcis and Kimmer Coppejans as their doubles team at the draw on Saturday but it would be a surprise if they did not bring either Bemelmans or Goffin in. While Edmund said he felt like he had let his country down after his 3-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 defeat by the world No. 16, Smith was hugely encouraged by his performance and Britain’s captain will take his time before making his final decision.
Murray said: “Obviously, it was good to get it done in four sets and fantastic to win the match, but I don’t feel that high right now”.
“I didn’t hear any of the warnings because it was very loud between points”.
Great Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates during his match against Belgiums Ruben Bemelmans. Both captains are understandably keeping their cards close to their chests ahead of this one, but should the doomsday scenario occur and Murray fail to deliver in the opener, the hosts will fancy their chances.
He then slipped 4-2 behind and fought off a Bemelmans set point at 4-5 before clinching a straight-sets victory that enabled him a little more recovery time for yesterday’s doubles rubber with older brother Jamie.
There were five breaks in six games but the rock-solid presence on court was Andy Murray, who held throughout and served out the third set emphatically. “But I got it back pretty quickly, which was pleasing”. The Murray’s would grab it; not only breaking the Goffin serve, but grabbing the set 6-4. I knew if Kyle was playing like this, bravo, but if there was a small chance I had to take it.
A break of his serve early in the second set decided it and, when Jamie dropped serve again at the start of the third, a shock looked on the cards. Goffin picked off a tough return to break once more, but Darcis, the weaker serving link throughout, gave up his serve to love and, with two hours on the clock, Andy served out the set, 6-3. “He turned that, and that’s something I need to learn from”, Edmund told reporters. There was controversy in the third set of Murray’s match when the world No2 was given a point penalty for an audible obscenity.
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.
“Sometimes some wins like this give you more confidence, when you’re not playing your best level, but you are playing with your heart”.
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“I believe in myself”, said Murray.
