Davis Cup fans not deterred by heightened security in Brussels
GHENT, Belgium -- Three Scotsmen walked into a pub here on Thursday and, no, that’s not the start of a joke.
Amid a security lockdown mandated by the government of Belgium to protect its capital from anticipated terror attacks, British tennis fans have nevertheless poured into the country this week, ahead of the Davis Cup final starting on Friday.
Among them were Jamie MacDonald, Euan Forbes and Stuart McLean, a trio of friends with links to Stirling University, a college between Glasgow and Edinburgh that has over time become the unofficial cheerleading corps for the Great Britain team.
With the chance to see their nation lift the trophy for the first time in their lifetime — Britain has not won the biggest team prize in men’s tennis since 1936 — they were undeterred by security concerns urging the avoidance of crowded spaces such as sports events and proceeded with long-anticipated travel plans.
Brussels, Belgium’s capital and the European Union’s political heart, is on its highest terror protocol and has soldiers with automatic weapons patrolling central streets, a reaction to information that the architects of the Paris attacks two weeks ago planned similar carnage in the city. Ghent, where the final will be held, is a 30-minute drive away.
“Of course it is a situation that makes you think carefully,” said Forbes, a 29-year-old management consultant who traveled from his current base in Qatar to join his pals. “We had some of the younger members decided not to come, because understandably their parents were concerned, but others quickly took their place.”
The Stirling University Barmy Army will have 34 people chanting, dancing and singing songs, when No. 1 Belgian David Goffin and No. 2 Brit Kyle Edmund begin the match Friday. They will likely be joined by about 1,500 others voicing support for the visiting team.
When you think of British tennis you think Wimbledon, but this team’s fans are a world removed from the genteel ethos of reserved politeness to be found in southwest London. During the team’s run to the final they routinely generated a delightfully boisterous atmosphere more akin to a top-level soccer match.
“My sister was concerned about me traveling here. I never knew she cared so much,” joked McLean, a 25-year-old trainee accountant. “But I had made up my mind, and we love to get loud and support the team. We have heard about the situation in Brussels, but even though it is so close to Ghent, things are not as tense here.”
The Brits are solid favorites due to world No. 2 Andy Murray, who will play two singles and partner with his brother, Jamie, in Saturday’s doubles. Edmund makes his Davis Cup debut in Friday’s first singles, while Belgium will use Goffin and Ruben Bemelmans in singles and Steve Darcis/Kimmer Coppejans in doubles.
“The situation has been difficult for everyone making their travel plans,” Leon Smith, the Great Britain captain, said Thursday. “But I know they wouldn’t miss it. (Our fans) are sensational at what they do, and I’m sure it will be a great atmosphere.”
Murray is undefeated in singles action during this year’s event, but Britain also had the benefit of a supportive crowd, thanks to playing each of its previous three rounds at home, two of them in Scotland, from where the Murray clan hails.
"We feel like we have the chance to be part of history,” MacDonald, 28, said. “The key for us was when we heard them say that we make a tangible difference with our cheering, so we couldn’t let them down.”
There remains tension in Brussels, even with schools having reopened Wednesday and the metro system easing back to life after four days of being shuttered. But the high terror alert will remain in place until at least Monday.
The home side hopes that by continuing its surprising run through the competition it can lift the spirits of a nation that has experienced grave concern over the past week.
“This weekend is about sports,” Bemelmans said. “I hope that people don’t think too much about what is going on. I hope we can give the people smiles on their faces.”
There have been suggestions that security concerns will dampen the atmosphere at the Flanders Expo, an odd venue that seats 13,000 and is situated in an industrial park next to an IKEA and between two freeways. Belgium coach Johan Van Herck hopes that is not the case.
“(Home court) is an advantage we have to take,” he said.