Brothers-in-arms for Britain against Belgium

Britain’s Andy Murray, right, and his brother Jamie Murray discuss tactics during their doubles Davis Cup final tennis match against Belgium’s Steve Darcis and David Goffin at the Flanders Expo in Ghent, Belgium, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015.

No doubt Murray will be encouraged by how Edmund won those two sets against Goffin by clumping his forehand.

At this point, team captain Leon Smith stood up in his courtside chair and looked at Louis Cayer, Great Britain’s specialist doubles coach, in the stands.

“Clearly, being 2-1 up gives us a better chance of winning”.

Murray knew he couldn’t afford to be complacent against his opponent as earlier Edmund lost in 5 sets to Goffin and nothing short of a win would be good enough for Great Britain.

The day began with the news Belgian Davis Cup captain Johan van Herck had brought his star man Goffin ahead of luckless youngster Kimmer Coppejans.

When Darcis was broken again, the Brits had victory in their grasp and Andy served out for the victory and can complete a Davis Cup triumph on Sunday.

In previous matches in this campaign, and most notably against France in the quarter-final, Jamie had been the steady hand on his brother’s shoulder, guiding him through the patterns that create the most efficient coverage of the doubles court.

“We may not get the outcome, but it won’t be through the lack of trying or caring from anyone in the team”.

But Andy Murray won’t be so bothered about that; what he cares about is winning this trophy for his team.

Goffin’s sharp volley victor with Darcis serving at 5-4 leveled the match and the roars of delight shook the steel rafters hanging low over the illuminated claycourt.

Against Ferrer at the O2 Arena in London, Murray was able to win with plenty of help from the Spaniard’s serve.

“Also I haven’t played for five, six months on clay – it is different”.

However, Goffin discovered his form just in time and Edmund wilted physically and mentally to go down 3-6 1-6 6-2 6-1 6-0 in just his second five-set match. “It was tough to manage but I stayed calm and waited for my chance”.

Andy Murray punched the air while his brother exhaled in relief after the brothers won a tense encounter, and made it nine points in a row for the Murray family in this year’s Davis Cup.

Three missed volleys and a double fault opened the door wide for the Belgians and they walked through it on their third set point.

Goffin hit back taking the next three sets, the final set 6-0.

While younger brother Andy has ploughed a furrow to Grand Slam, Masters and Olympic singles glory, Jamie has been ploughing a parallel furrow to the top of the doubles game-as proficient, quick and incisive a net player as you will find, and with a useful left-handed serve. “We’ll make sure Andy and whoever goes out for the second singles rubber is absolutely ready”.

Darcis and Goffin seemed determined to control the set on their serve the rest of the way, and they did just that, holding for love in the final game to tie things up. Only having to win one of those two is better than having to win both.

For the Murrays to subdue such talented opposition, and handle the sheer scale of the occasion, was as impressive as anything we have seen from them.