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Andy Murray ends Britain's 79-year wait for 10th Davis Cup title

Leon Smith's side take unassailable 3-1 lead for famous victory

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Jacquie Beltrao reports from Ghent after Great Britain won the Davis Cup

Andy Murray ended Great Britain's 79-year wait for a 10th Davis Cup title by defeating Belgium's David Goffin 6-3 7-5 6-3 in Ghent on Sunday.

Despite the fact that Goffin was playing on clay - his preferred surface - and in front of a boisterous 13,000 capacity crowd at the Flanders Expo centre, two-time major winner Murray put his opponent to the sword to complete victory for Leon Smith's side.

Dunblane-born Murray has already restored British tennis pride with his US Open triumph in 2012 - the first Grand Slam title for a British player since Fred Perry in 1936 - and his momentous Wimbledon victory the following year.

He also became the first British winner of Olympics singles gold in 2012, but a Davis Cup clincher on Sunday, handing Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead in the final, completed a remarkable turnaround for a team that have risen from the brink of relegation to Europe/Africa Group III in 2010.

World No 2 Murray has now won all 11 rubbers he has played in - eight singles and three doubles - after Britain powered past heavyweights United States, France and Australia before seeing off upstarts Belgium en route to glory.

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Andy Murray says Great Britain's Davis Cup win will take a few days to sink in

"It's been an incredible few years," said an emotional Murray, who became the first man to win three live rubbers in a Davis Cup final since American Pete Sampras in 1995. "I can't believe we did it, I never thought we would. I play my best tennis when I play for my country.

"The atmosphere was phenomenal. I imagine we'll have a party tonight."

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Barry Cowan was full of praise for Great Britain's Davis Cup winning team

The 28-year-old Scot, who had never lost a set to Goffin and in their last meeting in the Paris Masters three weeks ago won in under an hour for the loss of just one game, broke to love for a 4-2 lead before serving out the opening set on his next service game.

More concerning news for Goffin was that Murray had enjoyed a perfect 61-0 record for the season having won the first set.

Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates a point during the singles match against David Goffin of Belgium
Image: Murray was in world-beating form against Belgium in Ghent

World No 16 Goffin, who made his name by reaching the last 16 at the French Open three years ago as a lucky loser, somehow found a way to cling on after a handful of lung-busting rallies in the third game of the next set.

At 5-5, some heavy hitting on the forehand side handed Murray a break-point chance which he gratefully accepted as a weary Goffin could only find the net.

Andy Murray celebrates with Leon Smith against David Goffin of Belgium on day three of the Davis Cup Final
Image: Murray celebrates with Great Britain captain Leon Smith (right)

And despite falling 0-30 behind, the 28-year-old summoned his remarkable powers of recovery to bring up a set point after 75 minutes, and sealed it with a blistering cross-court forehand winner on the run following a 25-shot rally.

The Belgians, who were looking to bounce back and win the competition for the first time in its 115-year history, knew the writing was on the wall for their man Goffin, who won a five-set thriller against 20-year-old debutant Kyle Edmund on Friday.

But Goffin saved two break points in the first game of the third set before breaking Murray for the first time in the next.

David Goffin of Belgium hits a forehand during the singles match against Andy Murray of Great Britain
Image: Goffin was unable to cope with Murray's powerful groundstrokes on the indoor clay

Murray, however, hit straight back thanks to a show-reel of winners from the back of the court, and a break to love in the seventh game put Britain on the brink of glory.

A wild forehand from Goffin brought up two match points on his next service game, and although Murray netted the first, he got the job done in spectacular style with a sensational lob, before falling to the clay and being mobbed by captain Smith and his team-mates.

Victory against Goffin in the first of Sunday's reverse singles makes him just the third player - after John McEnroe and Mats Wilander - to win eight singles ties in a single calendar year since the Davis Cup World Group began in 1981. 

Andy Murray celebrates winning the second set during the singles match against David Goffin
Image: Murray can't hide his joy after clinching the second set

Skipper Smith highlighted star turn Murray for particular praise, saying: "It is amazing. It is as good a feeling as I could possibly imagine.

"Andy has shown himself to be an absolute superstar again. He will be the first to say it is a team thing, but what he has put himself through this year, in particular, has been astonishing.

Andy Murray of Great Britain reacts after winning his match to secure the Davis Cup
Image: Murray realises his dream of winning the competition

"Yet again it was a brutal match, even thought it was straight sets - it was tough going and he rose to the occasion on the big points.

"I am so, so proud of him but I am proud of everybody."

Great Britain will start their defence of the Davis Cup against Japan in Birmingham from March 4-6, 2016.

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