Davis Cup debut for Edmund, alongside Murray

Goffin has never faced Edmund before but Murray is predicting a tough match for the Belgian he beat 6-1, 6-0 at the Paris Masters recently. The 20-year-old from Yorkshire, who has been handed a dramatic Davis Cup debut by captain Leon Smith for the tie, takes on World No 16 Goffin first up in today’s finals.

Occasionally the home fans pushed the limits of fair play but Murray refused to criticise the crowd who made the opening day of the final such a colourful spectacle.

Edmund is still undeniably out of his depth against Belgium’s no. 1 David Goffin, however. Belgium is bidding to win its first title. In fact I would go much further. He prevailed despite receiving a point penalty for an audible obscenity, a moment that temporarily lifted Bemelmans. The threat level dropped Thursday. Brad Gilbert, the highly rated analyst and coach, wrote on Twitter that he was reminded of another redhead with a giant forehand: former French Open champion Jim Courier.

But Ward, like Bemelmans, could be classified a journeyman.

Edmund, meanwhile, is an up-and-comer. He was, in his favour, fresh from a Challenger title won on clay in South America-a big, strong presence eager to make his mark against Belgium’s best, the No16 ranked David Goffin.

The first game certainly backed Smith’s decision to go with Edmund. He was forced to save a couple break points as he escaped a 12-minute service game to open up the proceedings.

Goffin and the crowd sagged, with Edmund subsequently racing to a 5-0 lead. A tired Edmund found himself serving to avoid a bagel in the final set, and he started off well winning the first point and getting it to 30-all.

Was a comeback on the cards?

The atmosphere needed no artificial boost and it would have been only natural for nerves to be coursing through Edmund’s body as he stepped up to serve. I was two sets to love up. The confidence from Edmund was being sapped at an untimely rate.

However, Murray quickly combated that and took the opening set 6-3. Edmund committed 11 unforced errors in the third.

“He played every forehand really heavy from the beginning”, Goffin said during the post-match on-court interview.

Tears earlier welled up in Edmund’s eyes as his match ran away from him in the fifth set, and he said: “I started very well”. Can the Scot’s stamina hold up in the face of such physical and mental pressure?

Edmund vowed to learn the lessons of his defeat, saying: “I was dominating the first two sets”. “He was really aggressive with his forehand”.

“I think obviously big match tomorrow”, Murray said. But we’re playing on a clay court – that’s the way I look at it. I believed I could win. But Murray can surely expect a hostile reception in Belgium this weekend.

“So that’s probably why I was upset at the end because I knew I had the chance to beat him”.

He adds that the doubles match on Saturday will be “the pivotal match”.

In the fifth set, Edmund claimed a total of 10 points.

But captain Van Herck spoke very clearly as he insisted: “I think is very important that the final takes place and not only just for the security”. “You’re playing for your country, you’re playing for your teammates”.

“You are going up against a guy that is not ranked that high but moving up… they are more risky”.

“I’m experienced enough now to not allow it to bother me, and try to use it to my advantage as much as I can”, he said. But when you’re playing as part of a team, your job is more than just about preparing for yourself.