GHENT, Belgium — Britain is one point away from lifting the Davis Cup title for the first time in 79 years after winning the doubles against Belgium on Saturday.
Brothers Andy and Jamie Murray beat David Goffin and Steve Darcis 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to give Britain a 2-1 lead in the final going into the reverse singles on Sunday.
Andy Murray could seal Britain’s victory in Sunday’s first match against Goffin.
"It’s far from over," Murray said.
Goffin has not won a set in two previous meetings with Murray and lost 6-1, 6-0 in the Paris Masters last month. But the two have never met on clay.
"On a clay court I have some weapons to play a good match," said Goffin, who has played nine sets in two days.
"It’s not a problem if I have to play five sets tomorrow. I will be ready," Belgium’s top player said.
Murray is No. 2 in the world while Goffin is ranked No. 16.
"It was good to get that one done in four sets," said Murray, who has played two sets less than Goffin.
The brothers fought off seven break points in the key fourth game of the fourth set and cruised from that point as the Belgian spirit sagged. The British pair broke serve one more time and Andy Murray fired a service winner on their second match point to put it away.
The teams split the opening singles on Friday.
Goffin and Darcis had never played together in a tie before, while the Murray brothers improved to 4-0 in the competition.
"The experience of playing doubles together, the experience of playing doubles the whole year round … was the little difference today," Belgium captain Johan van Herck said. "We had our chances to do more in the first three sets.
"It’s a difficult day tomorrow. But as a team we have to believe, we have to stand up, we have to fight. There’s a huge task ahead of us."
Belgium is seeking its first Davis Cup title. Britain is seeking its 10th, though it hasn’t won the team competition since 1936.
Murray showed just how fired up he was after winning the first set. He jumped around wildly, clenching his fist and pointing it at British supporters.
"To play in a Davis Cup final with your brother, and to win a point for your country is obviously great," he said. "We may never get the chance to do that again. So have to enjoy that."
A double-fault by Jamie Murray gave the Belgians their third break point and they used it when Goffin fired a volley winner for a 2-1 lead in the second. Goffin also clinched the set, hitting an off-balance volley while bending down and with his racket next to his shoulder. But the unorthodox shot was a winner, and Belgium was back in the match.
With sloppy play on both sides, the third set saw five breaks of serve before Andy Murray closed it out with a service winner.
Some of the best tennis came in the second game of the fourth, as Britain recovered from a 0-30 deficit. Andy Murray fired consecutive service winners to make it 1-1 despite some inspired play by the Belgians.
The break came in the next game following a double-fault by Darcis and a volley error by Goffin. Wasting seven break points in the next took the fight out of the Belgians.
"You could argue it will not decide the tie, but it’s a good position to be in, winning the doubles," Britain captain Leon Smith said. "They did very, very well today.
"I would rather be having two shots (at winning) tomorrow rather than one. We go away and make sure that Andy and whoever goes out for the second singles is absolutely ready."