Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Andy Murray’s season got more complicated as Belgium announced it would stage the Davis Cup finals against Britain on clay, a strategic move which will increase the advantage for the host nation.

Murray, who led Britain into its first Davis final since 1978 at the weekend, had said he would be prepared to skip the ATP World Tour Finals being played in London the week before the November 27-29 Davis final in order to make what he says is always – for him – a difficult adjustment to the dirt.

But the ATP quickly issued a warning to the world number three, reminding him in no uncertain terms that participation upon qualification  for the rich end-of-season event in London’s O2 arena was mandatory and sanctions would prevail should he skip it without a medical or injury reason.

Murray believes he will not have enough turnaround time to switch from indoor hardcourt to clay, a surface will tend to bother his delicate back. The Davis Cup tie will be played in the Flanders Expo hall, with a 13,000 capacity for tennis which just meets the minimum of 12,000 required by the International Tennis Federation.

Murray will be trying to limit his autumn indoor schedule, planning to play in Asia at only the Shanghai Masters next month and would then compete at the Paris Bercy Masters which ends a week before the start of the eight-man London season wrap-up.

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.