Brave Britain Fall Short To Belgium

Every sportsman dreams of being their country’s hero, and twenty-one year David Goffin had the chance to be just that. When he guided Belgium’s Davis Cup team to a world group play off, sealing victory over Great Britain at the Braehead Arena.

With world number four Andy Murray again absent from the British line up, it was always going to be an uphill task against a higher ranked Belgium team containing two top hundred players. It was another step up for GB Captain Leon Smith, as he watched the experience of Steve Darcis and Olivier Rochus narrowly prevail over Josh Goodall and Dan Evans in Friday’s singles,giving the visitors a commanding lead after day one

Established doubles duo of Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins had kept the tie alive on Saturday, after overcoming Ruben Bemelmans and debutant Goffin, and after news of Rochus’s withdrawal through injury Britain again believed they could cause an upset. 

     

A tough day for Goodall in his second davis cup tie

Despite this Goffin was still ranked 144 places ahead of opponent Josh Goodall, and the Belgium player looked the more confident from the start by intimidating his opponent’s serve clinching the early break.

Goffin who recently qualified for the Miami masters last month, then continued to show his potential dictating the play and taking time away from Goodall, before taking the opening set by six games to four.

 

A controversial line call in the first game of the second set saved Goodall from another early break, as his dangerous serve stayed beneath its best. But Goffin unfazed by the occasion never showed his lack of experience, as he broke just two games later to silence of the flat Braehead crowd.

Goodall running out of ideas, tried to mix up his game by coming to the net. But his inspired opponent answered everything he threw at him, while his big serving came to his rescue on Goodall’s few break points.

The Brit was again forced to save break points at the start of the third, but Goffin once more broke in game three of the set and looked to be on his way to the victory. But Goodall still had the energy for one last push, breaking straight back before saving six break points and hang on to the tie.

However Goffin once again regained momentum, as he saw out the match 6-4 6-4 6-4 to move Belgium into a world group play off. Britain will remain in group 1 but can take real promise away from this tie, after pushing Belgium all the way producing some highly entertaining tennis.

              Results

                         Friday 6^th April

S Darcis (Bel) bt J Goodall (GB)   6-7(2) 6-3 6-4 6-4

O Rochus (Bel) bt D Evans (GB)   3-6 6-4 7-6(7) 6-4 

                        Saterday 7^th April

C Fleming and R Hutchins (GB) bt R Bemelmans and D Goffin (Bel)   4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4

                     Sunday 8^th April

D Goffin (Bel) bt J Goodall (GB)   6-4 6-4 6-4

R Bemelmans (Bel) bt D Evans (GB)   6-4 6-4