Davis Cup final: Andy Murray's 'trust' in brother Jamie rewarded

Andy Murray says he never doubted brother Jamie as the siblings teamed up to put Great Britain within touching distance of Davis Cup glory.

The pair overcame some shaky moments to beat Belgium's David Goffin and Steve Darcis 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-2 and give their country a 2-1 lead heading into the last day of the final.

The hosts now need to win both reverse singles in Ghent on Sunday with the younger Murray brother knowing a win over Goffin in the first of them will be enough to give GB the trophy for the first time in 79 years.

Andy was by far the better player in the doubles rubber but said he always expected Jamie to come good.

"I trust Jamie on the doubles court so much," he said. "Even if he started slow, I knew he would get it going.

"He loves playing in big matches. He tends to perform very well on big occasions.

"So I just trust him when he's on the court, when he's next to me. That's not just because he's my brother, but because he's an exceptionally good tennis player. That's why we've played well together this year."

It was the brothers' third Davis Cup rubber win of the season and the duo remain unbeaten in the competition as a team.

That record looked under threat when Belgium, having levelled the match at one set all, moved a break up in third.

But Jamie was happy with their response.

He said: "We didn't panic. We stayed composed throughout. We fought hard for each other. We got our rewards."

It was at 2-1 down in the third that captain Leon Smith spoke to his coaches Louis Cayer and Nick Weal and together they implemented a change in tactics - Andy staying back when Jamie was returning and also targeting the Belgians' man at the net.

It worked. As Andy said: "It was a good change".

The younger Murray will now take to the court on Sunday afternoon (1200 GMT) with history on his racquet.

With that in mind, he was keeping a lid on his emotions after doubles success.

"To play in a Davis Cup final with your brother and to win a point for your country is obviously great. We may never get the chance to do that again. So I have to enjoy that.

"But I don't feel that sort of high right now. I feel pretty calm. I know there's a long way to go."

Murray's clash with Goffin could be followed by a decisive fifth rubber in which either Kyle Edmund, beaten from two sets up by Goffin on Friday, or James Ward could play with Darcis, who has won the fifth rubber four times previously in his career, most likely to take to the curt for the hosts.

Looking ahead to Sunday's action, Murray added: "It's far from over.

"I'm not getting ahead of myself. I know how good a player Goffin is. You don't get to be ranked 15 in the world in today's game with the depth that there is if you're not pretty good at the game.

"Even if I was to lose against Goffin, I think we have a very good chance in the fifth rubber, whoever plays for them."

Captain Leon Smith echoed those sentiments.

"There's so much to be played tomorrow," he said. "Potentially two big matches.

"You could argue it will not decide the tie, but it's a good position to be in, winning the doubles. They did very, very well today.

"But I would rather be having two shots tomorrow rather than one. We go away and make sure that Andy and whoever goes out for the second singles is absolutely ready."