Andy Murray fittingly clinched a first Davis Cup by BNP Paribas title for Great Britain since 1936 as the world No. 2 beat David Goffin in straight sets to secure a 3-1 victory in the final against Belgium.
Murray impressively finished the year unbeaten in 11 Davis Cup rubbers as he produced his best on Sunday to beat world No. 16 Goffin 63 75 63 in two hours and 54 minutes before falling to the clay in pure emotion.
The victory sparked rapturous scenes amongst the British team and travelling support at the Flanders Expo as they celebrated a moment the country has been awaiting for 79 years when Fred Perry won the deciding rubber to beat Australia at Wimbledon.
Murray said: “It's obviously an amazing feeling. I imagine it will take a few days before it really sinks in. But I probably haven't been as emotional as that after a match that I've won. I've been pretty upset having lost matches before, but I'd say that's probably the most emotional I've been after a win.
“It's incredible that we managed to win this competition. I didn't know that would ever be possible. It's great.”
Murray was fired up from the start in his 98th and final tour match of the season. After saving a break point in the fifth game, he created three break points of his own in the following game courtesy of some impressive defence and a stunning trademark backhand cross-court return put him 42 ahead.
Murray was in control from the back of the court and a double fault by Goffin gifted his opponent two set points. Both were saved before Goffin held but Murray had no issue in serving out the set as he put away a forehand winner.
British fans could be forgiven for thinking Davis Cup glory was inevitable at this point with Murray holding a 61-0 record after winning the first set in 2015, but Goffin proved more than a handful in the second set. Murray also showed signs of frustration, at one point yelling at brother Jamie, who was eating a snack beside the trophy at the back corner, to come back to his courtside seat.
With the home support louder than ever, Goffin stayed in the set until 55 when he shanked a forehand wide to give Murray a break point and then dumped a forehand into the net at the end of a lengthy rally.
Murray faced some pressure when attempting to serve out the set at 0-30 but a big serve brought up set point and he sealed it in style with another rasping forehand cross-court pass on the run which left Goffin standing in shock.
Murray had only once lost from two sets up – at the age of 18 against David Nalbandian at Wimbledon 2005 – but Goffin, to his credit, continued to fight hard. Breaks were exchanged early in the third set before Murray edged ahead with another break for 43.
An historic triumph was then sealed as Murray broke the serve of Goffin once again, hitting a stunning lob on his second match point to become the first player since USA’s Pete Sampras in 1995 to win three live rubbers in a Davis Cup final.
Great Britain captain Leon Smith said: “It has to be one of the best [British sporting] achievements of all time. It’s incredible for all of us to watch how he's [Murray] managed to win that many rubbers, that many wins, especially when you look back at the tie in France and also the Australia match, obviously a lot of fatigue, he managed to find a way through. It was absolutely incredible.”
While there was obvious disappointment for Goffin, he remained proud of the effort that Belgium put in this year to reach a first Davis Cup final since 1904.
Goffin said: “I think it was a good match, but Andy was really solid today. I gave everything. I have no regrets. I think after a match like this, and a tie, we can all be proud. Even if we lost the tie today, we played an unbelievable season in Davis Cup. I think Andy and Great Britain deserves the trophy today.”
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