Andy Murray Leads Great Britain Into Davis Cup Final Against Belgium This Weekend

by Staff | November 26th, 2015, 11:42 am
  • 94 Comments

Andy Murray will try to join his fellow Big 4 cohorts by winning the Davis Cup title. This weekend Murray and Great Britain travel to Ghent to take on Belgium for the 2015 Davis Cup crown.

In singles Friday, Murray will open against Ruben Bemelmans while 19-year-old Kyle Edmund makes his debut against David Goffin.

With Murray the favored to win both singles on the red clay, Edmund will have an uphill battle to with either of his. That could leave the tie in the doubles which features both Andy and Jamie Murray against Kimmer Coppejans and Steve Darcis.


“It’s just exciting really,” said Edmund. “It’s my first match of the Davis Cup for my country. This is definitely going to be the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of, probably the biggest occasion. It is a new experience for me. It’s something I’m going to have to learn as I go through the match. But it’s a good problem and it’s exciting.”

The Belgiums opted to go with Bemelmens over Darcis who once beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.

“The weekend’s going to be long,” said Belgian coach Johan Van Herck. “I think with all the information I’ve had over the last two weeks practising, the information we have regarding the matches, the way we want to attack the matches, the way we see the weekend going, we thought it was the best decision to put Ruben tomorrow, and we’ll see after that who will play on Saturday and who will play on Sunday.”

Great Britain is trying to win its 10th Davis Cup title, first since Fred Perry helped to claim the trophy in 1936. Belgium are into their second Final, their first since losing to Great Britain in 1904.

“To win the biggest team competition in tennis, having beaten the other three Grand Slam nations, would be a huge victory for everyone in the team,” said Murray. “It would be well deserved as well. It’s taken a lot of time and hard work from many players, many of the staff, coaches, physios, everyone. It’s taken five years.

“When you win a Slam or a big competition, it’s obviously years in the work, but this is a bit different,” he continued. “The last five years it’s been a progression from a pretty low place in world tennis, to playing for the biggest team competition. It would be big for everyone involved for sure.”

BELGIUM v GREAT BRITAIN
Head-to-head: Great Britain leads 7-4
This is the 12th meeting between Belgium and Great Britain, but only their 2nd since 1963. Belgium won their last meeting 4-1 in Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Glasgow in 2012, with 3 members of the Belgium team nominated for this year’s Final – Ruben Bemelmans, Steve Darcis and David Goffin – all winning rubbers.

Great Britain has not defeated Belgium since 1963, when it won 5-0 on clay in Brussels. That year Billy Knight and Mike Sangster each won 2 singles rubbers, while Tony Pickard and Bobby Wilson won a 5-set decisive doubles in the 3rd rubber.

This rivalry is 111 years old. British Isles won the first meeting between the 2 nations in the World Group Challenge Round Final in 1904, when the Doherty brothers, Laurence and Reggie, won the decisive 3rd rubber in a 5-0 victory at Wimbledon (Worple Road).

Great Britain has a 4-2 win-loss record against Belgium on a clay court, while Belgium won the only previous indoor encounter between the 2 nations in their 2012 meeting at Glasgow’s Braehead Arena.

Venue: Flanders Expo, Ghent (clay – indoors)
R1: David Goffin (BEL) v Kyle Edmund (GBR)
R2: Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) v Andy Murray (GBR)
R3: Kimmer Coppejans/Steve Darcis (BEL) v Andy Murray/Jamie Murray (GBR)
R4: David Goffin (BEL) v Andy Murray (GBR)
R5: Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) v Kyle Edmund (GBR)


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94 Comments for Andy Murray Leads Great Britain Into Davis Cup Final Against Belgium This Weekend

calmdownplease Says:

Oh my!
Davis Cup is almost upon us, my dears!
And I simply cannot WAIT

And It’s going to be a

B.L.A.S.T!

;0)


calmdownplease Says:

Er that might have been the wrong word choice there however..

;0)


Margot Says:

Oh so staff think Andy is a member of “the Big 4” then. Ho hum……….
Egad and gazooks! Looking at the team, all down to Andy then, for a change, not.


calmdownplease Says:

The Big 4 is now like ‘gadzooks’

It meant something more in the past (and in the past it meant Andy WAS part of it) but doesn’t fit our present situation;

Now, there is only the ONE.

Words come be reused in other similar contexts when needed too, like ‘WEAK ERA’

Andy is the only ONE of the former FOUR that hasn’t fulfilled his potential, Aristotle style.
So he MUST step up to the plate and save tennis next year
It’s a tough ask but the world is at stake!!!
Or something like that
;0)


J-Kath Says:

Calmdownplease

U are right…right now there is only one.

U are having a bad dream to assume that Andy is the only one who hasn’t fulfilled his potential…first one has to assess what is Andy’s potential? First question: What measurement needs to apply? Being No. 2 ….or is the assumption that Andy will not hold that position against Rafa, Roger, Stan?

My assessment – and it is only an assessment (but is it any less valid than someone else’s?) is that he will hold the No. 2 position in 2016.


J-Kath Says:

And guess what one of the famous English Lloyds will be there – cheering for the Belgians no doubt.


Purcell Says:

A momentous occasion (in tennis terms) and one can only hope for the best. Do have a sneaking fancy for Goffin however, both his tennis and his pale and interesting looks.


RZ Says:

I think Edmund recently beat Darcis at a clay challenger event, which might be why they are going with Bemelmans.


RZ Says:

Thankful today, will be even more thankful if Team GB pulls this off. Back the Brits!


James Says:

Likely to be 2-1 for Britain after 2 days. Then goffin has a chance against Murray especially if Murray’s matches go long (which is entirely possible in davis cup on clay).

regardless, Doubles will be crucial for belgium.


Margot Says:

Kath and RZ: won’t be able to watch DC so please give an extra loud cheer on my behalf :)
Come on Team GB


J-Kath Says:

Will try Margot….if there’s nothing to cheer about will clutch the crystals like crazy.


Giles Says:

GO TEAM GB!
😜🤑😜🤑😜🤑😜🤑


calmdownplease Says:

Well Kyle Edmund take a bow!

Must take back my critique it has to be said but it will be a challenge to do this over 5!
Goffin clearly didn’t know what to expect


calmdownplease Says:

he breaks!

he could win it for us in this match basically!


calmdownplease Says:

It was a good idea to take them to SA.


calmdownplease Says:

HE BREAKS again on a double fault!!!!!!!!!!!
Take us home EDDIE!


Daniel Says:

Where do we ger live scores. Davis Cip site is not showing?


calmdownplease Says:

Poor old David..

What AM I SAYING?

KILL HIM KYLE!


Daniel Says:

Nevermind, found it.
Wow, he is 1 game for going 2-0 up. If he wins this GBncan close the deal in 3-0 on Saturday.


calmdownplease Says:

PERFECT TIME FOR A COLLAPSE DAVID

THANK YOU!

Hope it lasts for another set.

Sorry Daniel I don’t know where
if you can mask your signal why not go onto the BBCIPLAYER website and just watch it instead?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbctwo


Daniel Says:

At work now, they block sports sites. Typing here by phone.

Thta would be great if they can close it on Saturday and Andy can rest and recharge for next year. He’ll not play dead rubber.

Just do his business qin next match and go for glory. Hope DC brings great things for him, even Berdych this year beat Nadal in AO after DC win.


Giles Says:

As I said before you are obsessed with Nadal, Daniel. Lol


Daniel Says:

No Giles os just to show that everybody had a breakthrought after DC and Berdych didn’t beat Nadal since forever. I was more making fun with the “even Berdych”.

Right now, sorry But Nadal who?! Until he proves he can win something big again he is just in decline. 1 Masters final out of 14 Major touneys played this year (4 Slams, WTF and 9 Masters) shows it.


calmdownnplease Says:

Forget berdych Daniel (but thank you anyway)

I want this to have a Novak-Effect!

For obvious reasons
But we haven’t won it yet


Daniel Says:

Damm, too good to be truth, now a break down in fourth set. hope he can get back or charge everything for fifth set.


calmdownnplease Says:

Damn Goffin should win it now
It needed to be a wam bam thank you mam kind of deal

Oh well


elina Says:

^^^ Explains Roger’s successful year.

Since 2007, he’s mainly only done well in tournaments (outdoors) when nadal is MIA or eliminated early by someone else.


Giles Says:

Daniel. You really make me laugh sometimes with your silly comments. “But Nadal who”? Hahaha. To answer your question – Nadal the Great. You know the Nadal who has 14 Grand slams, the Career Golden Slam etc etc. And don’t you forget that. He has had a bad 2015 but I truly believe he’ll be back. And then I will post this thread for reference. Ok?


skeezer Says:

^^^^yeah too bad Nadal wasn’t that good to continue in draws no? Those qaulies, 100+, and wild cards. If only he could have played Fed then all would be ok, no?


RZ Says:

Great start by Edmund but too bad he couldn’t keep up the momentum (or maybe Goffin started off nervous?). The way this first match went, it might be a wake-up call for Goffin. Length of the match wasn’t long enough for it to be tiring for him. So I expect the reverse singles with Andy to be tough.

Still, 2 inspired sets by Edmund. Bodes well for the future.


Giles Says:

^^^^ True, where is fed when you need him! Lol


Giles Says:

Who is Albert Ramos Vinolas? Oh yes he’s the Spaniard who beat fed recently. Lol Lol


Daniel Says:

Ok Giles, let’s keep this as a reference.

I give Nadal a 6 months deadline and think if He doesn’t get his act together for RG 2016 and wins it, bye bye for him.

He is turning 30 and he doesn’t have the game to be as succesfull as Fed is in his 30+, Wimby to me he is done and USO as well. There is always going ro be soneone who can overpower him there.

His only real shots are AO and RG and even so he nows suffer from the Federer syndrome even more, someone will have to take Novak out because he ain’t beating him any time soon. Expect that 7-0 is going to be surpass real soon;-)


Daniel Says:

Murray winning fast, serving for second set 6-2. Just what the doctor order. Spend the least energy possible and save himsef for tomorrow and Sunday. In the end his effort will be worth it. Than get ready to be a papa and win a Slam in 2016


Giles Says:

Daniel. You’re FOS. Firstly you say you’re a fedfan which is a pack of lies, you only try to convince the fedfans here that you are just so they will communicate with you and accommodate you. You are an out and out joker fan. There is no harm in that, just stop the lies pleeeeeaaaasse!!
And stop trashing Nadal!
😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
You think you’re the oracle? Nothing is further from the truth, you’re just a joker bandwagoner.


RZ Says:

Come on Andy! Let’s not go into a 4th set here.


RZ Says:

Well done Andy!! 1-1 is where we expected to be today. Now onto doubles tomorrow.


J-Kath Says:

Margot – Andy did it – but was a tight 3rd set …crystals for 10 minutes. PS: Kim looked beautiful. Hope you are around for doubles Sat. and reverse plays Sunday.


Daniel Says:

KKK, Calm Down Please Giles!!!;-)

Boy you really don’t follow this site do you? I am here since 2005 and was always a Fed fan, but I like several players, like Djoko right after and Murray as well, specially when he start playing the way he should under Lendl. DelPortro, Safin, Kuerten, Kei, many many others. The only one I don’t like is Nadal for several reason which I posted many time before here.

I am not trashing Nadal, I am calling like I see it and I was say: “I think”, “is my opinion”, etc. Federer had to endure way more bad things when he was down in 2011and 2013 and even the year and we take it fine, most of us.
I am nott an oracle, sometime i get it right, for example I said in the beginning of the year Djoko would win 3 Slams and Nadal 0 and say that he is in decline since 2014 (even when he won RG), because he was sin finals already back than, when many said this year would be like 2012. Said that Djoko winning minimum 2 because he was showing signs back in the end of 2014.

I’ll keep right what I think and base on latest facts as well, if you get s angry don’t read it because it ain’t getting better, unless Nadal starts winning important titles, otherwise is ladder down.

Another prediction just for you, Djoko will win minimum 2 Slams next year and Nadal 0 again, actually I don’t see Nadal beating Djoko ever again in a big match(maybe he gets a three set in Doha), unless injuries happen for Djoko.


elina Says:

Devout Roger fans claim oh so so many reasons to single out and “dislike” Nadal but it really just boils down to one.


calmdownplease Says:

Of course it does ‘Elina’ lol


Humble Rafa Says:

Nothing more proud for Britain than a Scotsman winning them DC.

Also, with a singles gold and Davis Cup, Mr. Judy has more patriotic cred than someone from a neutral country.


calmdownplease Says:

Similarly, there is nothing more proud for Spain than a Catalan winning Davis Cup and many slams for them.
Scotland is part of Britain still and was actually part of Britain before it was even Scotland
So suck on THAT Bi*ch!


Giles Says:

Daniel. My prediction for next year is that joker WILL NOT win the French Open.


Humble Rafa Says:

Calmdownplease is having a bad day,especially now, that Goffin is getting ready to nail the coffin.


skeezer Says:

“Devout Roger fans claim oh so so many reasons to single out and “dislike” Nadal but it really just boils down to one.”

Once again Rafa fans claim its roger fans fault for anything negative about their dear fav. Give it a rest. There have been more than a fair share of dislikes and digs from rafafanatics about Fed. Ya know the one about 17.

I know its been a tough year for Rafa fans, how about spending your typing efforts cheering him back to revelancy instead of wasting it on meaningless under handed comments? He’s really not that bad of a player.


Giles Says:

Hey skeezer. 23-11 is really not that bad at all.


elina Says:

Inevitably the Rogerator has arrived but alas his comments should be directed to the one who brought up Nadal to begin with. As usual a Roger fan all consumed with his Daddy.


skeezer Says:

^quite the contrar….you remarked.


Daniel Says:

Damm, Brits break for a 4-2 leadin third set only to be broken right back. This set seems crucial.


Daniel Says:

Another break and Murray serving for third set.


Daniel Says:

Murray is playing great, serves, returns and some awesome volleys. Showing all is talent.


Giles Says:

Well done Team GB. One more.


Daniel Says:

Yeah, Murray to win tomorrow and close the deal


J-Kath Says:

Daniel

Am hoping the 5th rubber will be played and James Ward replaces Kyle (as Kyle is evidently not bothered if that happens). PS: Doesn’t mean I don’t want Andy to lose against David.


Humble Rafa Says:

Old Lady country as DC champs. Era of weak tennis countries has arrived.

#weakcountries
#elizabethdreamcomestrue
#goffingoestocoffin


jane Says:

I think team GB have this now. Can’t see Andy losing his match. He pummelled Goffin in Paris.


Daniel Says:

Agree Jane, Andy is fired up. The way he was jumpng after they won first set shows it.


J-Kath Says:

Hope Daniel & Jane are right. Trying to forget the snide smiles and the etceteras in Paris between Goffin and Coach where the implication was that Goffin was a lot more than the sum of his defeat to Andy….find it difficult to believe Goffin felt happy with being a “laid-back” defeated player …but…certainly the grins exchanged between him and his coach seemed inappropriate. What was there to be pleased about? That they’d put in a clay court and Andy would be struggling. Heck I don’t know – but it all seemed peculiar.


J-Kath Says:

Margot – Did you get to see the doubles?


RZ Says:

Go Team GB!!! Just one more win to go…


RZ Says:

What does everyone think of the decision by the Belgians to put Goffin in for doubles? I know it’s done regularly by other teams (e.g., Andy in doubles, Fed and Stan last year) but Goffin really doesn’t have any doubles credentials like those other guys. I just don’t see how that benefited the Belgians at all, unless Goffin wanted to hit against Andy on the clay ahead of their match. (Did I just answer my own question?)


Humble Rafa Says:

If Scotland becomes independent, does the DC stay with Britain and the Queen?


Addy Says:

Team GB one more to go…


Kewin Says:

Another one to go Team GB!!!!


J-Kath Says:

RZ

Think he should have used their usual doubles guy …who sat on the bench with a face long enuf to turn milk sour.


madmax Says:

elina Says:
Devout Roger fans claim oh so so many reasons to single out and “dislike” Nadal but it really just boils down to one.

November 28th, 2015 at 8:27 am

elina,

try not to generalise will you? People like you will never understand. I will speak for myself to make the record clear. Federer is my favourite, always has been, but respect to Nadal and to Novak. Don’t like the grinding game of Nadal. Not my thang. Does not mean that I don’t appreciate his achievements.

I speak for myself. Don’t try to be our voice elina. You are happy to devalue federer’s achievements which is why your posts hold little value.


Daniel Says:

Second set vital, Murray 1-0 if he takes this no way he loses.


Daniel Says:

Wow, what a running shot to win the title.


Giles Says:

Oh? Title won already?? Lol


Purcell Says:

Sadly madmax, there are also other people on here who speak for Fed fans as though we have no right to have our own opinions and no right to support the players of our choice. Elina’s just joined the club.They cannot appreciate their own favourites without disputing the achievements of other players. They subject us to lengthy lectures on how wonderful their own player is, on and off the court whilst conveniently forgetting to mention their less than exemplary behaviour in both areas. Oh then we’ve got the statistics bores, the GOAT bores, the weak era bores and here’s a new one……the ‘how dare Goffin and his coach have a chat and a smile, it seems so snide and inappropriate.’
Anyway, I hope you’re enjoying Davis Cup if you’re able to watch. As a Brit, I’m hoping they win and I’m pretty confident of the result. It would be so special for Murray and his team. Andy has done so much for British tennis. However I’ve had to turn the sound off as Castle’s sycophantic commentary is too much for me and there’s been so little appreciation of Goffin’s play. I’ll add that if Goffin had not had to support Darcis’s sporadic play in the doubles the outcome may, and I say may, have been different or we may have gone to a fifth which would have given us even more pleasure as tennis fans. In any event, that doubles was infinitely more entertaining than anything that we saw at the WTF.
Cheers.


Daniel Says:

Murray 1 game away


Daniel Says:

2 points away, second serve.


Daniel Says:

Double MP!!


Daniel Says:

Wow, what a lobby to close it!! Super congrats Murray and Brits. The hero!! Love it


RZ Says:

Well done Team GB MVP Andy Murray!!! Now even Murray has been part of a Davis Cup winning team!


Giles Says:

Well done Team GB.
Well done Andy Murray!


Purcell Says:

Congrats Andy and team. A tear in the eye.


RZ Says:

Also have to give a ton of credit to the other Team GB players who did their part to give the team this opportunity: James Ward for winning the crucial point against the U.S. earlier this year and last year in the first round too; and the whole team who played against Russia in 2013 and came from behind to clinch that tie to help them to the world group (Dan Evans, James Ward, Colin Fleming, and Johnny Marray).


Markus Says:

Great! That’s a very apt word to describe Andy Murray as a tennis player. He may not reach the level that the Big Three has achieved but this just makes his achievements all the more laudable and impressive, winning the greatest prizes in his sport, Wimbledon, Olympic gold and the Davis Cup during the period where three of the greatest players are in.


Chrisford1 Says:

Agree with Markus – while living in an era of 3 true Legends – Andy managed to do the Trifecta. The three feats in sport Britain wanted the most from a tennis player. Win Wimbledon after an ages long drought. Win Olympic gold for Britain in 2012. Finally, spearhead a UK Team to get a Davis Cup after 80 years.
Best British player ever. No doubt.
Maybe, like with Djokovic, the Davis Cup trophy will clear his head, help unleash the fearsome talent Andy possesses. Andy is gifted – can play at a champion level, potentially, as much of as Nole, Rafa, or Fed do.
Props to the rest of the British Davis Cup team. As RZ says, besides Jaimie of course, a lot of unsung players did the slog to carry the UK Forward in early rounds of Davis Cup before Andy came in at the end to close the deal.


Purcell Says:

Forgot to say commies to Belgian fans. Hope Goffin continues to work his way up.


RZ Says:

@Purcell – me too. I’d love to set his DC final as a springboard for greater things for Andy and the rest of the Brits of course, but also for David Goffin.


skeezer Says:

Andy is the very best to come out of Brit(Scot?) in a looonnnggg time. Previously it was Henman, who teased even more with potential but Andy has broken through. Congrats to Andy, his fans and GB. Queen has to be smilin :-)


jane Says:

congrats to andy and team! also woot (!) for andy fans around here…specially margot.


Honfleraise Says:

Margot: Had to drop by to say hi :-) and that I was over the moon when Andy clinched the Final. Thought about you and Alex – bet you are on Cloud Nine. and have got the bubbly out. What a day for British tennis. Do you think he will be knighted in the New Year Honours?


J-Kath Says:

Margot – He’s already promised to play DC in March!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


RZ Says:

Giles, thanks for sharing those tweets.


danica Says:

That picture of the two wee boys is precious.
Congrats lads one more time ;)


Giles Says:

RZ. You’re very welcome.


Lodhi Says:

Pleased to see skeezer still actively participating in discussions on tennis-x. It’s clear that skeezer will continue to be a force to reckon with on tennis-x even after Fed retires.

Andy winning the Davis cup, Fed reaching the finals regularly, skeezer commenting on tennis-x frequently, indeed these are good times.

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