Youngster Kyle Edmund, ranked 100th in the world, has been chosen to face David Goffin in the opening match of the Davis Cup final with Belgium. Andy Murray, Jamie Murray and James Ward will also be part of the team after captain Leon Smith decided to leave out Dominic Inglot, a doubles specialist, and select three players that are more suited to singles matches. Andy Murray will face Ruben Bemelmans in Friday's second match in Gent. The doubles match will be played on Saturday, with Steve Darcis and Kimmer Coppejans taking on brothers Andy and Jamie Murray.
Then on Sunday Goffin will play Murray and Bemelmans will take on Edmund. The British 20-year-old player will become only the sixth tennis player in the 115-year history of the event to make his debut in the final of the competition. The British team will play the final for the first time since 1978, and have not won the event since 1936. The matches will be played on clay, a surface which, at least in theory, would give the hosts a better chance of winning. Belgium and Great Britain have met 11 times in the Davis Cup, Britain won seven ties while Belgium took four wins. The last meeting was in 2012, when Belgium won 4-1.
Captain Leon Smith said: "It was always going to be a difficult decision who would start at the weekend but the good thing was it coincided with the number two singles players coming into good form. James won a challenger in India, Kyle had won a challenger in South America. It was actually a really good situation to be in. I think where Kyle's ranking sits now, and he's very comfortable on this surface, is why we're starting that way. But still a very difficult decision." David Goffin, Belgium's number one player, said: "I don't know Kyle a lot. I think he has great potential. On clay he could be a really good opponent tomorrow. He won challengers on clay court and I think he is really talented."
Here are the odds for the Davis Cup final at Bet365:
Belgium win - 1.28
Great Britain win - 3.75
11/30/15, 11:11:36 PM
