Belgium terror alert hits Great Britain’s bid to win a first Davis Cup for 79 years
Great Britain’s preparations for a first Davis Cup final since 1979 have suffered a setback after their journey to Belgium for this week’s showdown was delayed by the threat of terrorism.
Andy Murray and team-mates had been due to travel to Ghent on Sunday but national chiefs the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) postponed the trip amid heightened security concerns in the country.
The Belgian government kept Brussels on maximum alert, with the capital’s metro network closed and residents warned to avoid crowded areas, having raised the threat level on Saturday.
“The safety of everyone in the British contingent, including our players and fans, remains our No1 priority,” said the LTA.
Around 5,000 British fans are expected to travel to Ghent – 35 miles north-west of Brussels – for the three-day tie, which starts on Friday.
The ITF has admitted it is concerned by the security situation but insists that, as it stands, the final is still set to go ahead.
Belgian ministers have warned that they fear a “serious and imminent attack”. Police are hunting for terrorists they suspect to have masterminded the night of attacks on Paris earlier this month.
Some of the country’s sporting events, such as a football match between Lokeren and Anderlecht almost 50 miles away from Brussels, were called off on Saturday because it was deemed high-risk.
Britain’s five-man squad hope to travel today, having spent yesterday practising on the clay courts of Queen’s Club in west London.
The final is to be held on clay at the indoor Flanders Expo venue, which has a capacity of 13,000.
World No2 Murray is joined in the British team by brother Jamie, with whom he is likely to play the only doubles rubber, Dominic Inglot, Kyle Edmund and James Ward.
The Scot has been in London for the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena, where he failed to progress from the round-robin stage for the fourth time in six appearances.
Britain have won the Davis Cup nine times but not since 1936, when a team including Fred Perry and Bunny Austin earned a 3-2 victory over Australia in the final at Wimbledon.