Murray leads Britain to historic Davis Cup win
Andy Murray sealed Britain’s first Davis Cup title in 79 years with a brilliant 6-3 7-5 6-3 defeat of Belgium’s David Goffin in a fever-pitch atmosphere at Ghent’s Flanders Expo on Sunday.
With hundreds of British fans decked out in union flags roaring on the Scot and thousands of baying Belgians urging on Goffin, Murray’s nerve held firm to subdue an inspired opponent and give the visitors a winning 3-1 lead.
It was a fitting climax for the 28-year-old to provide the winning point, having won all 11 rubbers he played in during the campaign as the British defeated heavyweights United States, France and Australia before the clincher against Belgium.
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The win over Goffin made him just the third player, after John McEnroe and Mats Wilander, to win all eight singles in the same calendar year since the Davis Cup World Group started in 1981.
It also underpinned Murray’s place in tennis history following his headline-making wins in the 2012 US Open and Olympics, and at Wimbledon the following year.
The match-up of the two national number ones came after both had won their opening singles on Friday.
Murray had teamed up with brother Jamie the following day to defeat Goffin and Steve Darcis in the doubles.
It was do or die for Goffin and Belgium against the world number two, who had yet to drop a single set against the 16th ranked Belgian in previous games.
Murray won the first set with ease, but was taken all the way in the second before charging back from an early break in the third to clinch the win for Britain.