Murray Focused On Davis Cup Final

He knows that without the world number two at 100 percent, the odds would swing the way of Belgium whose top player is world number 16 David Goffin. “We had some of the younger members decided not to come, because understandably their parents were concerned, but others quickly took their place”. More than one Ryder Cup golfer has articulated the anguish that comes with knowing a bad round hurts not only your brand value but your team and your country.

“My job is to give my best and give my all”.

Edmund recalled beating a local player, Stéphane Robert, in front of a noisy crowd at the French Open this year but admitted: “This will definitely be louder, a lot more people watching”. I think it’s all new for us, for both teams. “Of course, now they’re going to play away which makes it different in Davis Cup because of the crowd, different atmosphere that you get to feel in Davis Cup. But its a good problem-and it’s exciting!”

Edmund takes on Belgian number one David Goffin tomorrow and Andy Murray faces Ruben Bemelmans, before the Murray brothers come up against Kimmer Coppejans and Steve Darcis on Saturday. He has dropped doubles specialist Dominic Inglot, who partnered Jamie Murray to a close loss against the Bryan Brothers in their first round against the US earlier this year. “It’s good to have options for Sunday”.

If Murray wins three rubbers here he will be only the fourth man to win 11 in a singles Davis Cup year following John McEnroe (who won 12 in 1982), Michael Stich (1993) and Ivan Ljubicic (2005).

Incidentally, Perry won the Wimbledon singles title that year as well and no British man won the championship again until Murray in 2013. “To win the biggest team competition in tennis, having beaten the other three Grand Slam nations, I think it would be a huge victory for everyone”, Murray said. “Playing indoors tends to make things a little bit quicker, which helps obviously”, he said. “It’s a big opportunity for all of us, but I believe that we prepared as best we can”. “Looking at it as Belgium versus me is actually counterproductive to them, if that’s the case”. “I lived across from a tennis club, I played for Scotland many times, I played in British national championships”. I hope we can do the business over the next few days’. At least his first task may have been made easier by Belgium’s team selection.

Former Wimbledon champion Murray is then expected to take on David Goffin in Sunday’s opening singles rubber which could seal victory, however should it go to a decisive fifth and final rubber, either Edmund or Ward will be chosen for the high-pressure match.

Edmund, who won a second-tier Challenger title on clay in Buenos Aires this month to grab the attention of his team skipper, acknowledged he is entering the cauldron.

Yes, ok, the overall competition is in the form of a knockout, just like all tournaments but the World Tour Finals.

“The weekend will be long, ” van Herck said. “I’ve been in that position a lot of times in my career and I will be able to deal with it okay”, Murray said.

At the start of the year no-one was betting on Belgium reaching the Davis Cup final for just the second time, 111 years after they first did so.

“If he wins he’s virtually won the Davis Cup for Britain”.