Murray, the world number two and the inspiration behind Britain’s march into the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1978, will then take on lowly-ranked Ruben Bemelmans, who will take centre stage after playing provincial club tennis in France last week. Ruben Bemelmans has been named to face Murray today in preference to Steve Darcis, the Belgian No 2, who is probably being saved both for Saturday’s doubles – in which he may well be paired with Goffin – and a potential deciding fifth rubber on Sunday.
Advertisement
The outstanding British player of the modern era has been the inspiration behind the drive into the Davis Cup final, winning all eight of his rubbers – six singles and two doubles. According to the draw, the reverse singles feature Goffin vs. Murray and Bemelmans vs. Edmund, but that could change.
Great Britain are aiming for their first Davis Cup win since 1936.
Muck up here in Ghent and he will have failed in his totemic duty to lead Britain over the Davis Cup line for the first time in 79 years.
The central figure in the Friday to Sunday clash at the 13,000-capacity Flanders Expo is undoubtedly British number one Andy Murray.
Edmund, the 20-year-old from Tickton, near Beverley, faces a straight shootout with the more experienced James Ward for the right to play two crucial singles’ rubbers in support of world No 2 Murray. I think it was the highest break of the night to win.
The pair have never met before so I can see this one getting easier as it goes on for Murray, who is very adept at figuring out an opponent’s game during the course of a match. One was against Belgium in Glasgow in 2012, when Andy Murray did not play, while the other came previous year on clay in Italy. The court is good, the town is nice and, most importantly, I won at snooker. “I remember writing something on the flip chart before addressing players that we were going to be “a well prepared team on a journey back to the World Group”. I think it will be a little bit like a carnival.
“My job here is to try to win the tie, give my best effort – like me and, I believe, all of the team have done the last five years”. I’ve been in that position a lot of times in my career and I will be able to deal with it okay.
Private jets are another perk of being a tennis player when a governing body; in this case the LTA, has huge funds. “My first match of the Davis Cup for my country is exciting in itself”.
It makes a difference but playing in front of a home crowd can help or also hinder in an individual sport. But the former Wimbledon and US Open champion said that would be a mistake. “Once we got here and got into the hotel, came to the venue and saw what it was like here, I think that made everyone comfortable”. But once I did, you go in, make a plan of how you want to go on this journey with the players, how you want to prepare the team, and run the team, and most of the things I started back in 2010 at that glamorous Turkey tie have actually stayed.
However, it could just as easily be argued that a surprise win for Edmund would all but determine the tie after just one match, with Murray involved in the next three rubbers. If something happened to the other players, they wouldn’t have another singles player.
Advertisement
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a return to Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during their singles tennis match at the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London, Monday, Nov. 16, 2015.
