Davis Cup final: Kyle Edmund loses to David Goffin despite two-set lead Davis Cup final: Belgium v Great Britain Venue: Flanders Expo, Ghent Dates: 27-29 November BBC coverage: Watch on BBC television, the BBC Sport website, Connected TVs, tablets, mobiles and app and listen on Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra. Full details.1
Britain fell behind in the Davis Cup final as Belgium s David Goffin came back from two sets down to beat Kyle Edmund in Ghent.
Goffin, the world number 16, won 3-6 1-6 6-2 6-1 6-0 against 20-year-old Edmund, who took a surprise two-set lead on his Davis Cup debut.
Andy Murray plays Ruben Bemelmans in Friday s second singles match at the Flanders Expo.
Britain are trying to win the team title for the first time since 1936.
The best-of-five tie takes place over three days, with Andy and Jamie Murray set to team up in the doubles on Saturday.
Around 1,300 travelling fans were in the arena on day one, amid tight security following the recent high state of alert in Belgian capital Brussels.
Edmund emotional after defeat
The Briton looked in complete control as he took a two sets to love lead
The British number two was distraught at the end of his Davis Cup debut, after a spectacular start had turned into a collapse with the loss of 14 of the last 15 games.
You re playing for your country, you re playing for your team-mates, said the Yorkshireman. You feel like you ve let them down.
I ll look back on it and I ll say I did my best. But you re right in the moment, you re emotionally attached to it.
You re just disappointed you couldn t do it for your team.
Asked if he would be able to play again on Sunday if required, Edmund insisted: I ll be ready to go.
GB miss out on glorious start
David Goffin had not lost a set in Davis Cup singles this year until playing Edmund
Edmund became the sixth man in 115 years to make his Davis Cup debut in the final, and for two sets looked like becoming the first debutant to win a live rubber.
He saved two break points in a gripping opening game that lasted 12 minutes, and went on to dominate for the next hour with his huge forehand.
Goffin, 24, needed 34 minutes to get on the scoreboard at 5-1 down and his game all but disintegrated under heavy hitting as Edmund took seven straight games, and a two-set lead.
A wayward forehand from the Briton early in the third handed Goffin the break, and at last a lead, and the Belgian grew in confidence as Edmund wilted.
More from the Davis Cup Britain competed in the first ever Davis Cup in 1900 and has played every year since, spending decades in the doldrums before reaching the final in 2015. So what is the story of Britain in the Davis Cup? Well, wonder no more. Here s our iWonder guide.2
The forehand that had provided 14 winners in the first two sets produced just four in the third and fourth as he was quickly hauled back to two sets all, and a fifth set loomed for only the second time in his career.
Goffin had four five-set wins to his name, and with the crowd now well and truly energised he reeled off 14 of 15 games to claim a first victory from two sets down after two hours and 47 minutes.
I was cramping up, Edmund added.
I lost confidence in my movement and it was bugging me.
Goffin said: Kyle played an unbelievable first two sets. He was really aggressive with his forehand. I tried to stay calm, to manage it very well.
People expected me to win the match, and that s what I did.
Belgium 1-0 Great Britain
Match summary Day one David Goffin beats Kyle Edmund; Ruben Bemelmans v Andy Murray Day two Kimmer Coppejans/Steve Darcis v Jamie Murray/Andy Murray Day three David Goffin v Andy Murray, Ruben Bemelmans v Kyle Edmund The Flanders Expo was quietened in the first two sets by Kyle Edmund s fast start Edmund s forehand gave him 14 winners in the first two sets Over 1,000 British supporters have travelled to the Davis Cup final A giant cardboard cut-out of David Goffin in the crowd proved a surreal sight Goffin lost just three games in the final three sets as he completed his comeback
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Related
References
- ^ Full details. (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Here s our iWonder guide. (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ BBC Sport Tennis (www.bbc.co.uk)
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