World No.2 Andy Murray won the second rubber in the David Cup Final for Great Britain, defeating Ruben Bemelmans 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. The tie is now level after David Goffin’s comeback from two-sets-to-love down against Kyle Edmund.
Murray held his opening service game to fifteen, before immediately breaking the Bemelmans serve. A forehand error into the net and a pair of double-faults betrayed early nerves for the man ranked 108. A final forehand long past the Murray backhand side saw the no.2 ranked player break for a two-love lead.
Bemelmans earned fifteen-thirty in the next game, after a Murray error and a clever drop-shot, before attacking a Murray second serve to earn a break point. A second stunning drop-shot, this time off the backhand wing saw Bemelmans return to serve early on. Bemelmans then held a massively entertaining service game, another perfectly disguised drop-shot winner, and a serve-volley point that Murray eventually won, were included in a hold to fifteen for the Belgian.
Bemelmans failed to keep the level up though, and Murray earned three break points at love-forty in game six, with two shanked forehands from Bemelmans aiding the Brit’s cause. A smash winner and a rally that ended with Murray on floor, ensured two break points were saved. Another forehand error on the third saw Murray reassert control in the set. Murray made no mistake in consolidating the break, holding to love to lead five-two.
Bemelmans held yet another entertaining game before Murray served out the first set to fifteen when Bemelmans netted a return.
Murray earned a break point with a beautiful drop-shot-lob combination in the first game of the second set. Bemelmans saved, but Murray earned another with after a backhand error from his opponent. Murray then passed a serve-volleying Bemelmans for the break in the second set. Murray held a length game spanning more than eight minutes with an overhead smash for the three-one lead.
Bemelmans held, and was to his credit working hard to get back into the set, pushing Murray into another challenging hold to thirty in game six. It was all thrown away though, as Bemelmans crumbled behind some tremendous Murray returning, the World No.2 crushing a backhand return cross-court with beautiful angle. Murray now had the double-break and served the second out to love for a all but unassailable lead.
Bemelmans got back on track by holding his first game in the third set, before Murray also held. Murray was upset by some of the Belgian crowd, and was given a code violation warning for an obscenity. He earned a break point, but Bemelmans gamely held for two-one.
Murray was docked a point at fifteen-love in game five with Bemelmans serving, Carlos Garcia the man behind the decision. Murray then came back from forty-love down in the same game to force break points. Bemelmans held again, and then surprisingly broke Murray in a tense game.
Murray quickly fell behind love-forty, and complained to Carlos Garcia regarding the actions of the home crowd between first and second serves, resulting in the chair umpire penalising the Belgian Davis Cup Captain for the crowd behaviour. Murray saved one break point but Bemelmans broke with a deep return near Murray’s feet that he could only push into the tramlines. Murray immediately earned break-back points with a stunning pass. Bemelmans then blew a forehand to put the match back on serve.
Murray held, and Bemelmans then played another sensational service game, including a tremendous half-volley winner to hold for five-four. Murray double-faulted in his next game handing Bemelmans a precious set point. But the World No. 108 played his return long, and Murray would survive.
Tennis can turn quickly, and Bemelmans was soon under pressure, a Murray winner, return winner, and an error from the Belgian brought three break points for Murray. Murray only needed one, picking off an ever-retreating Bemelmans to serve for the match.
Andy Murray: “The third set was tricky, when the new balls came out he went for his shots more… obviously the crowd were getting wound up but you have to use that to your advantage… big match tomorrow we don’t know who they’ll play but we have good tactics for all of them”
Great Britain Davis Cup Captain Leon Smith on Kyle Edmund: “I don’t think he could have started better than he did… two sets up its a new experience for him… you have to say at one stage fair play to David (Goffin) for finding a way back into the match.
On Murray/Bemelmans: ” I’ve never seen Bemelmans play that way before… it was very, very good
