Belgium v Great Britain: All you need to know ahead of Davis Cup final
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Updated 25/11/2015 at 18:31 GMT
Great Britain can end their 79-year wait for Davis Cup glory by toppling Belgium in Ghent.
Britain's Andy Murray rests during a training session ahead of the Davis Cup final between Belgium and Britain
Image credit: Reuters
WHEN IS IT?
The final takes place from Friday November 27 - Sunday November 29.
WHERE IS IT BEING PLAYED?
Ghent, Belgium. The East Flanders city is just 35 miles from Brussels, a capital which remains under lockdown over fears of a Paris-style terrorist attack.
However, the final is still scheduled to go ahead, with beefed up security stationed at the 13,000-capacity Flanders Expo arena. Clay is the nominated surface.
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(L-R) Britain's Dominic Inglot, Kyle Edmund, captain Leon Smith, Andy Murray, James Ward and Jamie Murray hold a joint news conference ahead of the Davis Cup final
Image credit: Reuters
WHAT IS THE FORMAT?
The Davis Cup consists of five best-of-five-set matches - four singles rubbers and a doubles. Typically, two players from each nation are picked to contest two singles rubbers each - one on Friday, the other on Sunday - with those players often roped into doubles action on the Saturday as well.
Friday: Two singles rubbers.
Saturday: Doubles rubber.
Sunday: Reverse singles rubbers.
SQUAD NEWS
Andy Murray has travelled with the Great Britain squad, and has already banked some practice hours on clay despite his involvement in the ATP World Tour Finals. The British number one fell at the group stage in London, but that will swiftly be forgotten if he carries GB to a rare title. He is likely to partner brother Jamie in the doubles, with Dominic Inglot on standby.
Adopted Brit Aljaz Bedene, originally from Slovenia, is ineligible to play due to a change in Davis Cup rules which prevents players from representing two different nations. Bedene has lodged an appeal, but a decision was deferred until March. That means James Ward and Kyle Edmund will battle it out for the second singles spot alongside Murray.
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The key men in the Davis Cup Final: Andy Murray and David Goffin
Image credit: Imago
There are no surprises in the Belgium line-up, with Kimmer Coppejans, Ruben Bemelmans, David Goffin and Steve Darcis given the nod. World number 16 Goffin was destroyed 6-1 6-0 by Murray at the Paris Masters earlier in November, but remains the hosts' best hope of conquering the Brit on clay.
WHY SHOULD I WATCH?
GB have a huge shot at making history. Put simply: if Andy Murray plays near his best - including in the doubles - then the worst scenario is a 3-2 win. But Murray's had a long, sapping season and travels to Ghent on the back of three matches at the ATP World Tour Finals - contests that weren't particularly gruelling, but were - potentially crucially - on a different surface.
Murray spent time pounding the clay in the build-up to London, suggesting his mediocre showing was down to juggling court preparations, and will have to hope he's ready for competitive matches on the red dirt. It might be his weakest surface, but a run to the French Open semi-finals - when he rallied to scare Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller, before bravely bowing out - means he is still the tie's standout player by a considerable margin.
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Belgium's Kimmer Coppejans, Ruben Bemelmans, David Goffin and Steve Darcis pose after a press conference ahead of the Davis Cup World Group final between Belgium and Britain, in Brussels on November 17, 2015
Image credit: AFP
CAN I WATCH IT ON TV?
UK viewers can catch the match live on Eurosport - TV guide available here.
International viewers can view their TV options here.
ARE TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE?
From the Davis Cup website...
This is a sold out event. There will not be any tickets on sale at the venue and anyone without a ticket will not be allowed access to the venue area.
BETTING ODDS
Great Britain: 2/7
Belgum: 11/4
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