By Chris Oddo | Friday, November 27, 2015
Andy Murray brought Great Britain level with Belgium on Friday by taking down Ruben Bemelmans in straight sets.
Photo Source: Davis Cup
Andy Murray levelled the 2015 Davis Cup final at one rubber apiece with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Ruben Bemelmans on Friday in Ghent.
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Murray’s victory, achieved in two hours and 24 minutes on the red clay of the Flanders Expo, means that doubles will take center stage on Saturday. Andy and his brother Jamie Murray will face a Belgian tandem that has yet to be determined, but either way, Andy says his side will be more than prepared for a Belgian side that will look to gain the edge in its quest for first ever Davis Cup title.
“I think obviously big match tomorrow,” Murray said. “We don’t know who they’ll play but we have good tactics for all of them. We’ve seen all of them play quite a bit of doubles before. It will be a tough match but me and Jamie have played some good doubles before and hopefully we can do the same tomorrow.”
The Murray brothers have won critical doubles points in the last two rounds of Davis Cup (in wins over France and Australia), paving the way for a British squad that is bidding for its first Davis Cup title since 1936.
Murray, who improved to 9-0 in Davis Cup rubbers in 2015 with his win over Bemelmans, struck 27 winners against 15 unforced errors and was in control of the match for much of the way.
Murray traded breaks with Bemelmans in the first set before winning four of the final five games to take the opener. In the second set Murray was not broken and took the final three games.
The third set was far more competitive but Murray responded to falling 4-2 down by winning five of the final six games to clinch.
Bemelmans hit 15 of his 34 winners in the third set but could not keep the advantage as Murray surged late.
“The third set was tricky,” said Murray. “I had a few chances in the beginning of the set, didn’t get it and then when the new balls came out he started going for his shots a bit more. He hit a few lines, but I fought hard in the end, and [it was] good to get off in straight sets.”