Davis Cup Final Live Thread

[Henman Bill]

First topic message reminder :

Well at one stage it was in doubt due to terrorism, that seems to have faded away and looks like it's going ahead. The rest of this article courtesy of BBC:

Davis Cup final: Belgium v Great Britain
Venue: Flanders Expo, Ghent Dates: 27-29 November
BBC coverage: Watch on BBC television, the BBC Sport website, Connected TVs, tablets, mobiles and app and listen on Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra. Full details.
Kyle Edmund will make his Davis Cup debut in the final after he was selected as Britain's number two singles player to face Belgium.

Edmund, 20, will play David Goffin in the opening singles match at 12:30 GMT on Friday, followed by Andy Murray against Ruben Bemelmans.

Jamie Murray will join brother Andy for the doubles on Saturday.

Captain Leon Smith has retained James Ward for the reverse singles should the tie go to a fifth and final rubber.

The best-of-five tie takes place over three days at the Flanders Expo, with 13,000 spectators expected each day - including more than 1,000 British fans.

Great Britain are in the final for the first time since 1978 and are hoping to win their first Davis Cup since 1936, while Belgium have yet to win the competition.

Edmund will become only the sixth man in the 115-year history of the Davis Cup to make his debut in the final.

Davis Cup final draw
Day One David Goffin v Kyle Edmund; Ruben Bemelmans v Andy Murray
Day Two Kimmer Coppejans/Steve Darcis v Jamie Murray/Andy Murray
Day Three David Goffin v Andy Murray, Ruben Bemelmans v Kyle Edmund

[Guest]

Let's hope Murray now wraps this up 6-4 or 7-5.

[Haddie-nuff]

There have been times in this match when Andy has simply been outplayed.
The Belgian is producing some superb stuff

[lags72]

We know that the lower-ranked guys can't make any impression (not in recent years at least) on the big boys where Slam & Masters titles are concerned.

But the sheer depth of quality in men's tennis is always revealing nonetheless. Can you imagine the generally unrecognisable Bemelmans rocking up at some local amateur Club level championship ...? It's hard to imagine anyone taking a single game off him

[Haddie-nuff]

Totally agree, Ive never heard of him but what a revelation.
True, doubtless he is playing out of the top drawer because of who he is playing but credit to him.. he is so entertaining. He is showing how, if you mix up the game, you can rattle your opponent. Try it on Novak

[lags72]

Bemelmans - on this current form - tells us all we need to know about how unbelievably difficult it is to a) make it to the very highest level of the sport, and b) stay there.

[Haddie-nuff]

I agree totally. We do not give enough credit to those who are at the top and have been there for so long. Their work ethic, dedication and commitment is incredible really. We take them all for granted, and when they slip down the rankings we expect them to give us a reason as to why.
What a tough career they have carved out for themselves.

[Haddie-nuff]

Well done Andy but credit to your opponent for putting up such a fight.
The score line does not do the match justice.

[Guest]

Bemelmans - on this current form - tells us all we need to know about how unbelievably difficult it is to a) make it to the very highest level of the sport, and b) stay there.

The top players make it look simple but it is not. Quite often it is small margins but the players themselves when they step out on the court know the difference. Mano a mano. Murray beats most players regularly. But the top three (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic) beat Murray regularly in the important matches. That's why few junior slam champions go on to make much of an impact in the senior level. Oliver Golding never got beyond a ranking of 300 odd and then quit.

[lags72]

Well a lively third set there. I would rather see a worthy opponent put on a good show - as did Bemelmans today - than being thrashed 2,1 and 0.

GB remain big favourites to win the DC for the first time since anyone can remember, but this afternoon proved it's no walk in the park.

Despite Bemelmans' fighting effort, it just goes down in the record books as another loss for him ; same for Kyle Edmund sadly, who at least went the distance.

Well played Andy and a great debut by Kyle.

[Guest]

Belgium doubles team is Goffin & Darcis - two very big servers.  I think they may have the advantage if their 1st serve percentage remains high.

[lags72]

The Murrays sure have a fight on their hands here ......

[temporary21]

Jamie needs to shore up here

[temporary21]

Jamie really letting it down now

[temporary21]

Rubbish game. Gb about to lose the dc

[temporary21]

Rubbish game. Gb about to lose the dc

[temporary21]

Jamie's back. Thank god

[temporary21]

Gods sake. Jamie broken yet again. These two are a bad volleying team

[Guest]

Rubbish game. Gb about to lose the dc

I agree that the doubles is pivotal in deciding the overall outcome of the dc. I would make Goffin & Darcis slight favorites given the home crowd advantage.

[erictheblueuk]

If you've got rubbish ground strokes just bunt the ball back and rush the net, seems to be Jamie's tactic.

[Guest]

Seems that GB have won the third set. 2 sets to 1 to GB.

[temporary21]

Jamie's serve yet again

[Guest]

Come on GB

[lags72]

The boys should make it to the finish line now.

They've been on their least favoured surface, away from home, their opponents have put up a strong fight at times, so all credit to the Murrays.

[lags72]

Andy & Jamie

[temporary21]

Gratz lads, great match.

Goffin or Andy have the chance to be heroes now.

One BIG point to note is that Goffin wont have much of a fatigue advantage now

[Guest]

Well fantastic from the Murrays, in particular Andy.

Well what an amazing opportunity now for GB and Andy.  Certainly it would be the biggest achievement for British Sport for a long long time.

[JuliusHMarx]

Wow - on the brink!

[lags72]

"Great Britain, Davis Cup Holders" : sounds a little weird, so I better not say it - yet.

Oops .....I just did.

[Guest]

Not so long ago GB (2010 & 2011) were playing in group two of the Euro-African zone.

[Guest]

I don't want to tempt fate but I would say this would be an achievement equivalent to Murray winning Wimbledon.

[Jahu]

Go Andy Go.

Would be a good end of the year gift for his not so good year.

[Jahu]

I don't want to tempt fate but I would say this would be an achievement equivalent to Murray winning Wimbledon.

Wimbledon was for Scotland and personal History.

This is for UK Empire.

So please no political stuff here, it's only sport

P.S: Where is CC btw? Has he been deported from London to Scotland? 

[Jahu]

Wow - on the brink!

Though you keep your nationalistic side well suppressed, I will go out and buy a can of Greene King IPA and image I'm having a beer with you at JD Wetherspoon to celebrate the Davis Cup win 

[sirfredperry]

Can't see Goffin getting more than one set against Andy who looked tremendous in the doubles yesterday, particularly on serve. This has so far gone the way most thought it would. Belgium would fight hard, but Andy would win his first singles and GB would take the doubles.
Beating the USA was the biggest achievement for GB, as they were never going to win the doubles and needed to find a point from somewhere else, with James Ward coming back from two sets down to beat Isner. It was that match that has made everything possible.

[CaledonianCraig]

I don't want to tempt fate but I would say this would be an achievement equivalent to Murray winning Wimbledon.

Hmm it depends on how you are looking at it? From a British tennis viewpoint then perhaps. From a personal Andy Murray viewpoint I don't think so.

[lags72]

I don't want to tempt fate but I would say this would be an achievement equivalent to Murray winning Wimbledon.

Hmm it depends on how you are looking at it? From a British tennis viewpoint then perhaps. From a personal Andy Murray viewpoint I don't think so.

Andy himself gives his own thoughts on this - albeit from a more general perspective - in his BBC column :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/34929093

[CaledonianCraig]

Best of luck Andy.

[Aut0Gr4ph]

Here we go. Good luck Andy!

[Aut0Gr4ph]

Goffin already looking a lot more settled and composed than on Friday, no that that's saying much. Probably easier being the underdog from a pressure perspective.

[CaledonianCraig]

The one thing in Goffin's favour (apart from home support) is that is is his favoured surface and perhaps Andy's least-favoured surface.

[LuvSports!]

COME ON FED... wait sorry old habits. Come on Murray!

[Aut0Gr4ph]

Cracking play by Goffin to see off break point. Hotting up nicely!

[Aut0Gr4ph]

The one thing in Goffin's favour (apart from home support) is that is is his favoured surface and perhaps Andy's least-favoured surface.

I think the switch from indoor hard to clay was probably the hardest thing for Andy. Should be acclimatised now though. Regardless of surface, Goffin needs to play out of his skin to stand a chance.

[Aut0Gr4ph]

Gritty hold from Andy. Belgian crowd trying to rile him, but not sure that's going to work. He tends to like a bit of needle from the crowd.

[Aut0Gr4ph]

Goffin's 2nd serve taking a beating. He needs to seriously up his first serve percentage. Andy breaks to love.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wow what an incredible winner. Murray leads 5-2.

[Aut0Gr4ph]

Wonder how crucial the first set is here. Don't think Andy's lost a match this year after winning the first set. If Andy can close this set out, I can see Goffin's belief starting to waver.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wonder how crucial the first set is here. Don't think Andy's lost a match this year after winning the first set. If Andy can close this set out, I can see Goffin's belief starting to waver.

Not just that but the physical element must creep in. Goffin played five sets on Friday and four sets yesterday so has already played two more sets than Andy who you would say has higher fitness levels than Goffin. If Goffin loses this set then he is going to have to put in a monumental effort to retrieve the situation.

[Aut0Gr4ph]

Don't want to jinx, but this is not the Murray we saw at the WTF. Looking very focussed indeed. However, Goffin saves 3 set points and keeps the set alive.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray seals the first set 6-3.

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