World's No. 2 Andy Murray is the key to Great Britain's hopes of winning its first Davis Cup since 1936.
Murray's presence potentially is a great advantage ... for Great Britain's opponent, former No. 1 women's player Kim Clijsters says.
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After all, Murray can be "broken emotionally and mentally," she adds.
The Brits will take on Belgium in Ghent next week for the Davis Cup title. Murray enters the event with his state of mind in question.
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Murray exited the ATP World Finals without getting out of the round-robin portion. The tennis star suffered what the Guardian described as a "perplexing defeat in two sets" to Stan Wawrinka that knocked him out of the event.
Murray was hitting balls in the empty arena long after his loss.
"Outside, the temperature tumbled towards freezing. Murray's mood was as dark as the wind-whipped night," the Guardian reported. "The rhythm wouldn't click for him, and he was angry, kicking a racket away after one disjointed rally with his coach, Jonas Bjorkman, in which he struggled to get the ball in the court."
That is exactly what makes the retired Clijsters, a native of Belgium, confident of its Davis Cup chances. She hopes her countrymen can take advantage of any frustration Murray expresses in the tie.
"Clijsters - a Fed Cup winner for Belgium in 2001 - believes the improving David Goffin can make life difficult for Murray, who exited the ATP World Tour Finals in London last week after losses to Rafael Nadal and Stanislas Wawrinka," she told Het Nieuwsblad, via Allsport.com.
She is advising the Belgium team to try to "get under the skin" of Murray when he faces a pressure situation.
"I'd say Belgium have a 50 per cent chance of winning the Davis Cup," Clijsters told Het Nieuwsblad. "Much will depend on how Goffin deals with the pressure. But Murray will feel plenty of pressure as well. I think Murray can be broken emotionally and mentally."
As surprising as Clijsters' comments might be, Murray has a history of melting down in matches, so much so that he once had the nickname of "Bamm-Bamm, according to the Sunday Express.
And the Scot admitted he is still frustrated over his ATP World Finals play.
"Yes obviously to have something like that just round the corner is good. But right now I am very disappointed," he said. "It's a huge event, obviously."
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