Roger Federer backs Britain, Andy Murray to win Davis Cup

The city’s Metro system was shut all weekend and remained closed on Monday, along with schools and universities.

Some British fans have already decided against travelling but ITF president David Haggerty has been reassured by what he has seen in Ghent. Although both teams have been practising on the specially constructed indoor clay court, there is still much work to be done before the 13,000 fans – including some 1,300 from Britain – arrive for the first day’s play on Friday.

“It is very serious”. We had to delay the trip by a day which wasn’t ideal.

He has played eight out of the nine rubbers Great Britain has won in 2015.

There were concerns that the final might not go ahead, with GB looking to lift the trophy for the fist time since 1936, but the ITF released a statement on Monday that the showpiece event had been given the green light, with security stepped up due to the current crisis. It doesn’t matter that we don’t play often together outside of Davis Cup because we know each other so well. Great Britain are the favourites for me, I think, with Murray on the team and the awesome doubles team.

“But in situations like this it’s great that we have such capable people that are able to give us the best advice and everyone, I think, is very comfortable in the team. I wanted to play on the biggest courts in front of lots of people … the Davis Cup has given me the chance to do that this year”. ‘I think it’s one of the main goals we had, to get the whole country behind us. Take the semis against Australia after a gruelling US Open Series, in a tie that sandwiched a five-set marathon doubles win between two singles wins.

He said: “We’ve been following guidance and seeing what develops”. Coppejans (doubles ranking No. 501) might be our best bet but the Belgium team might go with Darcis (doubles ranking No. 596). We’re following all the guidance and we’ll continue to do so.

“Given the atmosphere and the environment for the match in Belgium, 90 per cent of the support is going to be locals, I think that really will focus his mind”. They have a fantastic security team here.

The talking point remains who will the captain pick to help the Murray boys win the cup: battled-hardened Ward or 20-year-old Edmund, who has not played one Davis Cup match.

Captain Leon Smith named a five-man squad last week, which he must reduce by one ahead of the draw on Thursday.

Coach Nick Weal said: “It’s not going to be any different to the other ties”. He froze a little bit, which was understandable. Another surface. I just have to forget this match and think about the matches of this weekend’.