GHENT, Belgium — It was a "must-win" rubber for Belgium to have any hope of becoming Davis Cup champions for the first time but David Goffin came perilously close to humiliation before beating British debutant Kyle Edmund from two sets down on Friday.
The opening skirmish of the final on a claycourt inside the charmless Flanders Expo began with a 12-minute game, then saw Goffin completely overwhelmed by a free-swinging 20-year-old for more than an hour before recovering his senses to win 3-6 1-6 6-2 6-1 6-0 to send the home fans crazy.
"It was not easy.