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Davis Cup 2015: Kyle Edmund thrown into heat of final against Belgium

Before Andy Murray enters the action, youngster to make debut because of form on clay 

Paul Newman
Ghent
Friday 27 November 2015 00:33 GMT
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Kyle Edmund serves during practice in Ghent
Kyle Edmund serves during practice in Ghent

At the tender age of 20 Britain’s Kyle Edmund might not be too aware of the Davis Cup’s rich history, but that could be just as well. On Friday the world No 100 will become only the sixth man to make his debut in the final of world sport’s largest annual international team event since the abolition of the challenge round in 1972.

Moreover, if Edmund beats David Goffin, the Belgian No 1, in the opening rubber here in the 13,000-capacity Flanders Expo arena, he will be the first debutant ever to win a live rubber in the final. As he may also have to play a deciding fifth rubber on Sunday, Edmund might not like to hear about Paul-Henri Mathieu, who in such circumstances lost to Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny from two sets up in 2002. It took the 20-year-old Frenchman years to recover from the experience.

Edmund, nevertheless, comes across as a man with a wise head on young shoulders. Asked if he felt intimidated by the prospect of what lay ahead, he replied: “It’s just exciting, really. For me personally it’s my first match in the Davis Cup for my country. The fact that it’s a final is exciting in itself. At the same time it’s a team event and the team comes first. My job is to give my best and give my all.”

Leon Smith, Britain’s captain, said he had selected Edmund ahead of James Ward as Britain’s second singles player alongside Andy Murray on the strength of his recent form – he won a Challenger title on clay in Buenos Aires only 12 days ago – and his ease on the surface, the Belgians having chosen clay for this final.

Andy Murray shares a joke with fitness coach Matt Little

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. It’s a new experience for me. It’s something I’m going to have to learn as I go through the match. But it’s a good problem and it’s exciting.”

While Edmund’s selection was not unexpected, Smith sprang one minor surprise when he also included Ward in his four-man team at the expense of Dominic Inglot, who was in the squad as a doubles specialist for the quarter-final and semi-final but never got on court because Andy and Jamie Murray were chosen to play on the Saturday.

“There was no way that Andy and Jamie wouldn’t be playing this rubber,” Smith explained. “They’ve played with such quality in the last two ties. As soon as we made that decision, it’s much better to have more singles options, because who knows what might happen over the next couple of days? It’s good to have options for Sunday.”

Smith might be thinking that Ward will be his insurance for the fifth rubber on Sunday if Edmund freezes on the big occasion. His selection ensures that Andy Murray will again have to play on all three days of the tie, as he did against France and Australia in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.

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). The only point Britain have won this year without Murray was when Ward beat John Isner in the first round in March.

“I’m pumped,” Murray said. “There’s nerves there, obviously. That’s really a positive thing. When I’m not nervous is normally when I worry a little bit. It’s obviously a big opportunity for all of us. But I believe that we have prepared as best we can. I trust everyone in the team, from all of the staff to all of the players.”

Leon Smith, Britain’s captain, has gained singles options by relying on the Murrays in the doubles

Murray said he “should be fine” to play on all three days. At least his first task may have been made easier by Belgium’s team selection. Ruben Bemelmans has been named to face Murray today in preference to Steve Darcis, the Belgian No 2, who is probably being saved both for Saturday’s doubles – in which he may well be paired with Goffin – and a potential deciding fifth rubber on Sunday. Darcis has played in four deciding rubbers for Belgium and won them all.

Johan van Herck, Belgium’s captain, insisted that he would be trying “100 per cent” to win every rubber, but Bemelmans, who has never played against or practised with Murray, might feel like a lamb being thrown to the slaughter. Only a week ago the world No 108 was competing in an inter-club tournament in France.

Van Herck explained his omission of Darcis by pointing out that it would be “a long weekend”. Bemelmans, asked how he might beat Murray, smiled. “I think I probably know better how he plays than he knows me,” he said. “Maybe I have a slight advantage there.”

Belgium are attempting to win the Davis Cup for the first time in their history. Britain have won it nine times, but since their last triumph, in 1936, have reached only one final, when John McEnroe and friends beat Buster Mottram, Mark Cox and the Lloyd brothers in California in 1978.

The Murrays, meanwhile, can become the second set of British brothers to end Belgian dreams in a final. In Belgium’s only previous appearance in the final, at Wimbledon in 1904, Reggie and Laurence Doherty secured victory by winning the doubles. How the 1,000-plus British fans who will be here would love a similar outcome on Saturday.

Davis Cup Final draw

(Belgium players first)

Friday’s opening singles

D Goffin v K Edmund;

R Bemelmans v A Murray

TV 12.15-1pm, BBC 1; 1-6pm BBC 2

Saturday’s doubles

K Coppejans/S Darcis v J Murray/A Murray

Sunday’s closing singles

Goffin v A Murray

Bemelmans v Edmund

Captains may change their line-ups up to one hour before the start of each day’s play

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