Andy Murray gives Britain Davis Cup title after 79 years

Britain’s Andy Murray reacts after winning a point against Belgium’s David Goffin during their Davis Cup final tennis match at the Flanders Expo in Ghent, Belgium, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015. AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

GHENT, Belgium — Andy Murray gave Britain its first Davis Cup title in 79 years when he beat Belgium’s David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 in the first of reverse singles Sunday.

The win gave Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series and the final singles match was not played.

Britain is the only nation to have competed in all Davis Cup editions since 1900 and its 10th title makes it the third most successful nation after the United States (32) and Australia (28).

But it was a long way coming. Britain last won it in 1936 with Fred Perry as its star and last played in the final in 1978.

Murray, ranked No. 2 in the world, is unbeaten in Davis Cup play this year.