Tennis final to go ahead in Belgium with increased security

“Hopefully they’ll be able to do that in Ghent this weekend”.

The global Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Saturday it was greatly concerned by the raised terror alert but preparations for the final were continuing.

“The team are very much looking forward to departing for Ghent tomorrow and, unless otherwise advised, we are determined to go [to the final]”, the spokesman added. FTF chief executive Gijs Kooken said he has yet to receive a signal from the Belgian government that it is not safe to organise the tournament in Belgium.

The French national anthem, La Marseillaise, was played before Premier League games in England and Wales at the weekend, while Scottish side Hamilton Academical wore France strips in their 1-1 Ladbrokes Premiership draw against Aberdeen yesterday as a tribute to the Paris attack victims.

Global Tennis Federation president David Haggerty reiterated the security of players, fans and staff was its highest priority, and that dialogue with the relevant authorities is ongoing.

“Ghent is still at Level 3 security, the same as London, Brussels is Level 4”.

Murray has been the driving force behind Britain’s run into the country’s first Davis Cup final since 1978, winning all eight of the rubbers he has played – six singles and two doubles – against the United States, France and Australia. For Belgium, this will be its first finals in 111 years.

The three-day final is due to start on Friday at the 13,000-seat Flanders Expo in Ghent, 35 miles north west of Brussels.

The British team are unlikely to be in Ghent early enough to take advantage of their first scheduled training session today, which was down to start at noon at the Flanders Expo.

Murray goes into the event on the back of losses to Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka at the ATP World Tour Finals, but Henman expects him to lead the team to victory.

Not surprisingly, sniffer dogs and explosive experts will be attendance at the venue. Spectators can anticipate body searches and will have to leave their bags in lockers outside the entrance to the venue as a security measure.

Former British number one Tim Henman, though, has cancelled his plans to attend the final. Latest Foreign Office advice suggests citizens “avoid places where there is a high concentration of people, particularly in the Brussels region” but the British Association of Tennis Supporters said on Sunday that only one of the 150 people travelling with them had so far pulled out due to the current situation.