By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 29, 2015
Andy Murray capped a perfect Davis Cup season defeating David Goffin to clinch Great Britain's first Davis Cup in 79 years.
Photo credit: Paul Zimmer/Davis Cup
The silver 231-pound Davis Cup gleamed over his shoulder in the corner of the court.
Andy Murray made one final flick to hoist it into history.
Racing to his left, Murray lofted a backhand lob winner on his second match point, flung his racquet aside then collapsed the red clay court as his British teammates swarmed him in joy.
The man who spent a season carrying British Davis Cup hopes on his shoulders reclaimed the Cup with one last stirring lift.
Playing with the fearlessness of a ghost buster, Murray defeated David Goffin, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3, sealing Great Britain's 3-1 victory over host Belgium to clinch Britain's first Davis Cup championship in 79 years in Ghent.
Video: Murray Brothers Put Great Britain One Win From Davis Cup
"It feels amazing. I never thought we would have the opportunity to do this. I can't believe we did it," said Murray wearing the Union Jack wrapped around his shoulders. "It's been an unbelievably tough, tough year. Won some big matches. Everyone who has played, played an unbelievably high level... I can't believe we did it."
Murray knows about eradicating ghosts haunting his nation. He beat Novak Djokovic to capture the 2013 Wimbledon title ending a 77-year British title drought at The Championships and snapped another British winless streak in commanding style.
The 28-year-old Scot, who joined forces with brother Jamie to win the crucial doubles match yesterday, accounted for 11 of the 12 points Great Britain produced this season defeating the United States, France, Australia and Belgium to reclaim the Cup for the first time since 1936.
That year a couple of legends named Fred Perry and Bunny Austin led the Brits to a 3-2 victory over Australia in the final staged on grass at the All England Club. This year, Murray solidified his status as a future Hall of Famer carrying Britain back to Davis Cup glory.
Brothers born in Scotland led Great Britain to its 10th Davis Cup championship in history, third on the all-time list behind the United States (32) and Australia (28).
Murray wrapped up a perfect Davis Cup season with an 8-0 singles record in the competition, joining John McEnroe as just the second man in history to post an 8-0 record in a Davis Cup championship season.
Each man was tested in the early stages. Goffin punished a pair of forehands down opposite sidelines to save break point in his first service game. Murray kicked a second serve into the Belgian's backhand drawing a tight return to save break point for 3-2.
Listed at 5-foot-11, 150 pounds, the wiry Goffin gives up 35 pounds and substantial reach to the 6-foot-3 Murray. The Scot hits a heavier ball and showed it cracking a backhand return winner to break at love for 4-2.
Placement and timing are Goffin's strengths, but he struggled to find finishing power. Murray sliced a backhand, spun, then sprinted to the opposite sideline flicking an outrageous full-stretch forehand pass to back up the break.
Digging in, Goffin fought off three set points to hold. On his fourth set point—the first on his own serve—Murray smacked a forehand winner snatching a one-set lead after 49 minutes.
Carrying a 1-22 lifetime record vs. Top 10 players onto court, including an 0-9 mark versus the elite this year, the Belgian knew he had to press the issue a bit against the world No. 2.
Squeezing the court with his speed, Murray made the world No. 16 sweat through nearly every service game. Still, Goffin, hung tough warding off two break points in working through a 12-and-a-half minute hold for 2-1.
Thumping through a two-ace game, Murray issued his third love hold of the second set for 4-all. Spooked by Murray's speed, Goffin botched an easy drop shot with the Scot nearly off the court. Cumulative pressure turned a fissure into a full-blown break as Goffin shanked a forehand to face an eighth break point. A 17-shot rally ended with Goffin netting a forehand down the line, Murray broke for 6-5 raising a clenched fist toward the British bench.
Serving for the set, Murray rallied from 0-30 down then turned set point into exclamation point. Playing defensively throughout a 25-shot rally, Murray sprinted right and ripped a running forehand winner crosscourt to seize a two-set lead with a stunner. Standing motionless, Murray soaked in the moment then acknowledged the eruption from his teammates with a clenched fist.
Credit Goffin for his grit. He saved two break points to start the third then broke for the first time all day when Murray slapped a forehand into net. The break sent the red swarm of Belgian fans, including former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters, into a bouncing chorus of screams, drums and horn-blasting frenzy.
Murray muted the crowd with a crackling backhand pass followed by a Goffin error to break right back for 1-2. Cranking a backhand return crosscourt, Murray broke at love for 4-3. Great Britain was two games from reclaiming the Cup.
On his second championship point, Murray navigated the low ceiling and high expectations with an immaculate strike sending a swarm of his teammates mobbing him in an eruption of pure joy. Murray emerged from the scrum and trotted over to the Belgian bench to shake Goffin's hand, a classy parting gesture from a man who had all the right answers.
A decade after Murray made history as the youngest Briton to play Davis Cup at age 17, he delivered a victory for the ages. Carrying his team on his back, Murray was still wearing the Union Jack on his shoulders as he reflected on the journey.
"I'd imagine everyone will be on fire tonight," Murray said. "It's been an unbelievable road to get here. We've got to enjoy this because we may never get an opportunity to do this again as a team. We should celebrate tonight."