Novak Djokovic says Great Britain is favored against Belgium in the Davis Cup final this weekend. World No. 2 Andy Murray has won all of his matches this season in Davis Cup play (six singles rubbers and two doubles matches with his brother Jamie).
Britain hasn’t won the Davis Cup since 1936, and the last time they reached the final was in 1978, losing to the United States. Belgium is hosting the tie in Ghent on indoor clay starting Friday.
Andy Murray will play singles and likely play doubles with Jamie Murray, who ended this year ranked No. 7 in doubles. Kyle Edmund is scheduled to be the No. 2 singles player, and doubles specialist Dominic Inglot might play on the second day if Britain is up 2-0.
Belgium is led by David Goffin. The world No. 16 has also won all of his matches in Davis Cup action this year, but he recently faced Andy Murray in Paris and lost 6-1, 6-0. He's joined by Steve Darcis, a 31-year-old veteran, who clinched the tie over Argentina in the semifinals. Belgian Ruben Bemelmans played with Darcis against Argentina and could play doubles on Saturday.
"Considering the fact that Andy Murray is in the team, everything he has done for Great Britain this season in Davis Cup, it's fair to say that Great Britain is favorite with him in the team," Djokovic said. “Of course, now they're going to play away which makes it different in Davis Cup because of the crowd, different atmosphere that you get to feel in Davis Cup. I know how it is. I had that fortune to win the Davis Cup title in 2010 with Serbia at home and played a couple of finals, semifinals...
"Goffin needs to play on a high level to give Belgium a chance, but Britain is the favorite."