British Davis Cup team delays travel plans

The British Davis Cup team have delayed travelling to Belgium until Monday amid ongoing security fears, but the players remain committed to playing in the final in Ghent.

The terror alert level in Brussels, where the team were due to fly to, was raised to the highest category on Saturday because of a "serious and imminent" threat of a Paris-style attack.

The search for a man believed to be one of the masterminds of the atrocities in the French capital continues in the Brussels area.

Soldiers have been patrolling the streets and the city's metro system was shut for a second day on Sunday while several sporting events were cancelled.
Ghent is only 55 kilometres (35 miles) from Brussels and the British Foreign Office has updated its guidance for the country, advising visitors not to go to places with large numbers of people.

The final is being played in the 13,000-seat Flanders Expo, which is sold out for all three days of the final, which begins on Friday. More than 1,000 British fans were expected to attend to see if they can celebrate a first Davis Cup title win since 1936.

International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty said on Saturday he was "greatly concerned" by developments but that preparations for the tie would continue.

Led by world number two Andy Murray, the five-strong British team spent the day practicing on clay in London with the travel plans to Belgium postponed from Sunday until Monday.

The alert level in Ghent is category three, the same as London, and sporting events there have been held this weekend including the Ghent Six Days, cycling competition.
Source: AFP