Great Britain's Davis Cup team delay departure to Belgium

Image: Great Britain were scheduled to leave for Belgium on Sunday

Great Britain's Davis Cup team have delayed their departure to Belgium for next week's final by 24 hours, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has announced.

The team had been due to head for Belgium on Sunday but are now expected to travel on Monday.

The decision comes after Belgian capital Brussels was put on its highest security alert level of four on Saturday and it remained in place on Sunday afternoon with Prime Minister Charles Michel saying that a terror attack "like in Paris" was feared.

The Brussels Metro transport system, schools and universities will remain closed on Monday when Michel is set to provide an update on the threat level, which stands at level three outside Brussels.

The Davis Cup final between Belgium and Great Britain, who will be led by Andy Murray, is scheduled to be played at the Flanders Expo in Ghent, only 35 miles from Brussels, from Friday to Sunday next week.

Advertisement

The 13,000-seat venue is sold out for all three days of the final with more than 1,000 British fans due to attend.

The LTA has been taking advice from the Foreign Office, which on Saturday issued new guidance for Britons visiting Belgium, advising against visiting places where there is a high concentration of people.

Also See:

A statement read: "The LTA is in regular dialogue with the ITF on event security relating to the Davis Cup final. We are also taking advice from the Foreign Office and will continue to closely monitor the situation.

"The safety of everyone in the British contingent, including our players and fans, remains our number one priority."

Image: Flanders Expo in Ghent, venue for the 2015 Davis Cup final

The International Tennis Federation also said on Saturday that it had "great concern" over the raised terror threat in Belgium.

ITF president David Haggerty said on Saturday morning: "Over the last week, the ITF has been in constant contact with the relevant authorities, the Royal Belgian Tennis Federation, the Lawn Tennis Association and our risk assessment company, and this dialogue continues today.

"We are aware that Belgium has raised the terror alert level for Brussels. This greatly concerns us but, at the present time, we are still continuing with preparations for the final.

"What I said last weekend is true today: security of players, fans, media and working staff remains our highest priority."

The change of travel plans should not affect Britain's preparations for the final, as they would not have been able to practise on site in Ghent until Monday.

The team have stayed together in London for a day of practice on clay, with all members understood to be happy to travel to Belgium on Monday.

The alert level in Ghent is category three, the same as London, and sporting events have been held there this weekend including the Ghent Six, a large annual cycling competition.