Reuters
Ghent (Belgium), Nov 28: A fired-up Andy Murray showed his class to draw Britain level with Belgium on day one of the Davis Cup final after David Goffin’s escape act from a two-set deficit had given the hosts the lead here Friday.
The 28-year-old World No. 2 Murray, who has almost single-handedly put Britain on the brink of their first title since 1936, duly delivered another point, beating 108th-ranked Ruben Bemelmans 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 on the indoor clay courts.
Murray’s hunger to capture the team trophy has been evident all year with inspirational displays against the US, France and Australia and he wore his heart on his sleeve again as he withstood a Bemelmans fightback to clinch victory.
At 2-2 in the third set and the noise levels deafening inside the 13,000-seat arena built within a charmless warehouse on the edge of medieval Ghent, Murray was even docked a point for an audible obscenity.
He then slipped 2-4 behind and fought off a Bemelmans set point at 4-5 before clinching a straight-set victory that enabled him a little more recovery time for Saturday’s doubles rubber with older brother Jamie, most likely against Steve Darcis and Kimmer Coppejans.
“I had no idea about either of the warnings because you can’t hear anything on the court,” Murray said of the raucous atmosphere produced by a sell-out crowd. “So I’m surprised (the umpire) could hear what I was saying.”
Murray’s seventh singles win in Davis Cup this year left the final evenly-poised, although Britain would already be virtually home and dry had debutant 20-year-old Kyle Edmund finished off World No.16, Goffin.
The opening singles of the tie, which was regarded as a ‘must-win’ rubber for hosts Belgium, was turning into a humiliation for Goffin when he trailed the World No. 100 by two sets.
However, lifted by the chants of the home fans, the 24-year-old recovered from two sets down for the first time in his career to win 3-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0.
When the Briton won the opening game of the third set he looked poised to become the first debutant to win a live rubber in a Davis Cup final, but Goffin recovered his senses in the nick of time to put a tiring Edmund in his place.
“The pressure was more on my shoulders because we needed this point against Kyle,” Goffin told reporters. “I was a little bit worried because Kyle was playing unbelievable. He just had nothing to lose and was hitting the ball to all corners .”
“The experience of David and also the environment at some point did take a toll on Kyle,” British captain Leon Smith said. “He (Kyle) probably had to win it in straight sets or even in four.”
