Andy Murray leads Britain’s charge

Belgium host Britain in the Davis Cup final in Ghent this weekend in a matchup no-one expected and an atmosphere no-one wants.

The picturesque Flanders city is just 55 kilometres (35 miles) from Brussels, still reeling from the fallout of the terrorist attacks on Paris that killed 130 people and injured hundreds more.

The Belgian government has declared the highest level of terror alert in the capital city as the hunt for those responsible for the Paris atrocities continues.

Both teams, though, are in Ghent and saying that, despite all the fears and anxiety, the focus is fully on tennis and history-making.

Britain are seeking their 10th Davis Cup win in all, but first since 1936 when Fred Perry ruled the roost. Belgium’s only previous appearance in the final came 111 years ago when they lost to what was then the British Isles.

The central figure in the Friday to Sunday clash at the 13,000-capacity Flanders Expo is undoubtedly British number one Andy Murray.

Ranked second in the world, he has been the inspiration behind his country reaching the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1978, winning all eight rubbers he has played — six singles and two doubles — against heavyweights United States, France and Australia.

Should he win both his singles, he would be just the third player — after John McEnroe and Mats Wilander — to win all eight Davis Cup singles matches in the same year.