Andy Murray pulled Britain level 1-1 with Belgium in the Davis Cup final in Ghent on Friday by defeating Ruben Bemelmans 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.
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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.
Murray lost concentration amid the hubbub and Bemelmans broke to lead 4-2 but was immediately pegged back. He also had to save a set point after double-faulting in the 10th game. That fire continued in the next game as an emphatic forehand victor gave him a 6-5 lead and gave him a shot to serve for the match. And although the Briton got a quick break in the opener, Bemelmans played the first of what would be a frequent winning play against Murray, a flawless drop-shot.
Edmund’s effort in his debut Davis Cup appearance was an impressive one, but it is Murray who, not for the first time, and not the last this weekend, continues to lead by example as soon as he dons the British colours.
The 20-year-old Edmund got the nod after convincing captain Leon Smith in practice. An experienced head in the Davis Cup, the 31-year-old has won 17 of his previous 26 singles contests but only once in seven previous doubles affairs.
“To play in a Davis Cup final with your brother, and to win a point for your country is obviously great”, he said. I was just trying to focus on trying to block out the atmosphere, the occasion, and just play tennis, which is something I do every day. I hit thousands and thousands of balls. Indeed the Belgian himself said that Edmund’s game had “everything to go to the top”. Then came the small drama of the third set.
The fourth set wasn’t straightforward, mind you.
The first game went to six deuces and Edmund saved two break points to win it in 12 minutes.
The forehand that had provided 14 winners in the first two sets produced just four in the third and fourth as he was quickly hauled back to two sets all, and a fifth set loomed for only the second time in his career.
The Belgians sprang something of a surprise by bringing their number one singles player David Goffin, no doubt inspired by his comeback against Kyle Edmund on day one, in to partner Steve Darcis. “But then immediately I was playing well”. He just had nothing to lose.
But Darcis chose that moment to fling in a poor service game that allowed the British to level at 2-2. Perhaps what we were seeing was the influence of Frenchman Michael Llodra, who had been hired for the tie as a specialist doubles coach. “I’m aware that will be a very tough match to win”, said Murray.
The series comes amid heightened security following the Paris attacks and the Brussels lockdown.
Organizers have warned spectators coming to the 13,000-seat arena to take extra time in arriving because of time-consuming security checks. A large section came from Britain, and many Scottish fans wore kilts. The king and queen of Belgium were among them, while tennis royalty was represented by Kim Clijsters.
At the draw on Friday, Darcis and Kimmer Coppejans were slated to play the doubles but it was always likely Van Herck would replace the latter.
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Britain holds a 7-4 advantage over Belgium, but Belgium won the most recent competition in 2012.
