ITF: Davis Cup final to go ahead next week in Ghent

BRUSSELS — The Davis Cup final between Belgium and Britain will go ahead next week despite security concerns following the Paris attacks, the International Tennis Federation said on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

Belgium's soccer friendly with Spain, scheduled for Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in Brussels, was canceled amid safety concerns, but the ITF was confident that the final in Ghent, 55 kilometers (35 miles) from the Belgian capital, will not be affected.

The three-day final starts on Nov. 27 at the Flanders Expo. A sell-out crowd of 13,000 is expected.

"The ITF, Royal Belgian Tennis Federation, and associated partners are continuing with preparations for the Davis Cup ... with the emphasis on security operations," an ITF statement said.

"The ITF is aware of the cancellation of the Belgian versus Spain international friendly football match. The ITF understands that it was the Belgian FA that took this decision after consultation with the Belgian government. Other events in Ghent scheduled this week, including a cycling race and a large trade fair, are going ahead as planned."

David Goffin leads the Belgium team, which was announced on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), against a Britain team spearheaded by Andy Murray.

Murray thrashed Goffin 6-1, 6-0 at the Paris Masters this month, but that was on an indoor hard court. The Davis Cup final will be on indoor clay.

Goffin is joined by Steven Darcis, Ruben Bemelmans, and Kimmer Coppejans for its first Davis Cup final in 111 years. It's the same team which beat Argentina in the semifinals.

With Murray in a Britain team unchanged from the one which beat Australia in the semis, were his brother Jamie, James Ward, Kyle Edmund, and Dominic Inglot.