British Davis Cup team set for Belgium

Throughout the past century, geographical dominance in the Davis Cup has accurately reflected the depth and quality of talent available to respective countries. The usual contestants all disappeared early as France, the Czech Republic, and defending champion Switzerland all lost before the semifinals. We may not get the outcome we want, but it won’t be through lack of trying or lack of care from anyone in the team. While there are no changes to start times for the match at the city’s Flanders Expo Centre, where the Britain team were scheduled to practice tonight, no-one will be permitted access to the venue with a bag or holdall, while no food or drink will be permitted into the venue.

“Great Britain are the favourites, in my opinion, because they have Andy in the team”.

Belgium, on the other hand, stick with the familiar trio of Goffin, Steve Darcis and Ruben Bemelmans, whilst Kimmer Coppejans completes the line-up, despite not having played a match in the semi-finals. James Ward was not so sure.

Unsurprising, following his two losses in two matches against Australia, Evans has not made the cut for this weekend’s squad, with Kyle Edmund coming in instead.

Since 1981, however, when Davis Cup organisers created a 16-nation World Group, with less successful nations split into regional Zone Groups, the GB record has been unremarkable. Belgium is playing at home.

It was, he said, a chastening experience, but one which he said he has fully put out of his mind. It was suddenly from this point that a Davis Cup championship for Great Britain didn’t seem like such a insane idea. But, you know, we’re here.

Nobody denies that those days have passed – as witnessed by the fact that Andy Murray is the only member of the “Big Four” to appear in 2015’s knockout stage.

“The programme focuses on how to deliver simple fun skillbuilding sessions – the types of games that Andy and Jamie loved to play when they were kids, but it can also show creative ways to introduce kids to competition”.

“He’s won Wimbledon, the US Open, Olympic gold”. Murray simply enjoys the team ethic.

“As catastrophic a result as it was for John Lloyd and his British team, Lithuania played well that weekend”.

Singles: Andy Murray(2) vs. David Goffin(16)Murray leads the head-to-head 2-0. Murray is definitely the favorite here. That probably won’t be enough for Goffin to be able to upset a determined Murray.

“Goffin needs to play on a high level to give Belgium a chance, but Britain is the favorite”. “You just deal with it when it comes to it”. But it’s a small edge.

Is the state of British tennis sans Murray (remember, that would have rendered his brother Jamie ineligible too) really that bleak?

“I know it’s a different picture in Brussels and of course there are natural concerns for people who were either opting to stay there or travel through there, but all I can say, and the team can say, is that it is very, very normal in Ghent”. That is to say, if there is a fifth match. He wants to win the Davis Cup like us, but maybe more: he wants the trophy at home. The two countries have met in Davis Cup competition 11 times.

However, their most recent clash came back in 2012 and it was Belgium who emerged victorious that time on hard court in Glasgow.

But the world doubles No. 7 is unbeaten in three Davis Cup ties with his brother Andy – and the two thrilling wins over the French and Australians this year.