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Davis Cup Final 2015: Great Britain will find it tough on clay, warns Belgium’s David Goffin

Andy Murray plans to get some practise in on the surface before next month’s World Tour Finals in London

Paul Newman
Tennis Correspondent
Saturday 17 October 2015 23:05 BST
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Surface tension: David Goffin feels playing next month’s Davis Cup final on clay will help determine the outcome
Surface tension: David Goffin feels playing next month’s Davis Cup final on clay will help determine the outcome

With a population of just 11 million, Belgium has grown accustomed to punching above its weight in tennis. The country has produced multiple Grand Slam champions in Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, and next month its leading men will take on Britain in the Davis Cup final.

A key member of that team is David Goffin, the world No 16, which is a fine achievement for someone without the physical strength of most of his rivals, but the 24-year-old from Liège has not always earned the recognition he deserves.

“I’m in the world’s top 20 for the second year in a row, but last year that was not enough for Belgian people,” Goffin said last week at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. “Justine and Kim were both No 1 in the world, so after that it was tough. People were waiting for another No 1.”

The Davis Cup run has helped to change perceptions. Tickets for the final in Ghent from 27-29 November sold out in half an hour. This is just the second time Belgium have made the final; they lost to Britain at Wimbledon in their only previous appearance 111 years ago.

“Maybe for the first and second rounds the Belgian people didn’t come [to support] us, but when we played the semi-finals [against Argentina] the atmosphere was amazing,” Goffin said. “The crowd at the final will be key.”

Goffin admits luck has been on Belgium’s side this year. All their ties have been at home and their first two opponents fielded weakened line-ups: Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka were absent for Switzerland, Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil unavailable for Canada.

Staging a tie brings the right to choose the playing surface. It was no surprise when Belgium opted for indoor clay for the final. “It was an easy decision,” Goffin said. “I’ve been playing on clay every summer since I was five years old. Clay is an easy surface for us. That’s why after the hard-court season it’s easy after one or two days for us to play on clay, to slide on the surface.

“For Britain it’s tough to play on clay. They prefer grass courts, hard courts, fast courts. So even though Andy Murray played unbelievably on clay this year, it’s always tough for them to change surface.”

Murray, concerned his back has not reacted well when changing surfaces in the past, plans to practise on clay before next month’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, played on a hard court. He will then switch to clay in preparation for Ghent, where play starts five days after the O2 Arena final.

“In his head the cup is the goal of the year and he will give everything,” Goffin said. “It’s never easy to change surface every week.”

Despite Goffin’s excellence, the Belgium team lacks strength in depth. Their second singles player is likely to be Steve Darcis, the world No 81, with Ruben Bemelmans (No 86) and Kimmer Coppejans (No 116) expected to complete the line-up.

Britain are likely to be spoilt for choice in doubles, with Andy Murray, Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot probable options. The contenders for the second singles are Kyle Edmund (No 102), James Ward (No 157) and Dan Evans (No 263).

Goffin, who does not usually play in the doubles, thinks the pressure will be on Andy Murray, likely to play on all three days of the final weekend. With the two top singles players expected to win their opening matches and Britain favourites to win the doubles, much could depend on whether Goffin can beat Murray in the reverse singles. “I also have pressure because I have to win on Friday and then on Sunday I will be against Andy,” Goffin said.

In an age of physically imposing players with huge serves and crunching ground strokes, the 5ft 11in Goffin is an exception. “I have different weapons,” he said. “I am faster than the big guys and I can see the ball early. I don’t have a big serve, but I can counter in other ways.”

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