Belmont gears up for U.S. vs Belgium in Davis Cup

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Belmont considers it one of the biggest events they've hosted since the 2008 presidential debate.

The Davis Cup pits the U.S. men's tennis team against Belgium Friday through Sunday at the university's Curb Event Center.

The executive director of USTA Tennessee, Michael Chamberlain, says fans should expect an event that more closely monitors a soccer game than what you see at a customary tennis tournament.

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"It's very unique," Chamberlain said. "It's not like any other tennis event."

With the Davis Cup in town for the first time in 40 years, the Curb Event Center transformed from a basketball arena to a hardcourt surface. Ticket holders peered through the windows on the concourse as the men practiced there Tuesday afternoon.

"This is probably the biggest sporting event that I will ever be able to see, I think," said Andrew Jacobsohn, a lucky Belmont student able to attain a student ticket into the 5000+ seat venue.

The United States has never lost to their opponent Belgium in Davis Cup play (4-0). However, the Americans have not won the cup since 2007 and not advanced past the quarterfinals since 2012.

The intimate setting will allow fans for an up-close view of the matches, and Brian Baker, a Nashville native and assistant at Belmont, sized up the event as a one-of-a-kind tennis atmosphere.

"There's probably a guy that's gonna have like a drum," Baker said. "It's like the soccer matches."

"Definitely a small venue so they'll be hearing us a lot more than a big 15,000 seater," Jacobsohn said.

With talented young players like Jack Sock, John Isner and Sam Querrey on the roster, optimism is as high as it's been in years that the United States will make a deep run in the Davis Cup.

The winner of the match this weekend will advance to the World Group Semifinal in September.