Andy Murray's friend and former Davis Cup teammate, Tim Henman, has revealed that winning the competition "is not something that Andy would have dreamed about as a youngster".
Should Murray propel Great Britain to victory against Belgium on a clay court in Ghent in what is Britain's first final since 1978, it would be a momentous, historic and emotional occasion. What it wouldn't be, Henman suggests, is a fulfilment of one of Murray's long-held ambitions.
In Henman's view -- and few in the sport have a closer understanding of Murray's thinking -- Murray's aspirations in his youth would have been focused solely on winning Grand Slam titles, rather than a triumph in the team competition.
"I think if Andy were being honest, he would admit that winning the Davis Cup was not something that he would have dreamed about as a youngster. I think he would have been dreaming about winning Grand Slams, but not about winning the Davis Cup," Henman said.
No one can doubt Murray's commitment to Britain's Davis Cup team this season, with the Scot even floating the idea of skipping the ATP World Tour Finals, played on a hard court in London, to improve his readiness for Belgian clay.
In the end, Murray decided that he would play in London after all, where he failed to reach the semifinals after taking just one win from three group matches, though he spent most of the build-up to the event training on clay rather than on a hard court.
This season, like never before, Murray has dedicated himself to the Davis Cup as well as to his solo career, leading Great Britain to victories against the other three Grand Slam nations -- defeating the United States in the first round, France in the quarterfinal and Australia in the semifinal.
"Andy's always been proud to represent his country," said Henman, who will be appearing at the Champions Tennis at London's Royal Albert Hall in December.
"And then, all of a sudden, the way that it has opened up this year in the Davis Cup, it has to be one of his biggest goals. This is, realistically, going to be the best opportunity he will have in his career to win the Davis Cup.
"What Andy has been doing in the Davis Cup has been phenomenal."
Even before Murray dismantled David Goffin at this month's Paris Masters, dropping just one game, Great Britain were heavily favoured to win the tie.
"They've beaten some good teams to get to the final, but now they could very easily be facing Spain or Switzerland," Henman observed. "Playing Belgium is an amazing opportunity."
Henman believes that this year's run in the Davis Cup "certainly won't have done Andy's relationship with the British public any harm.
"Having said that, Andy is the sort of guy who is always going to divide opinion, but as everyone knows it's not a popularity contest. It's about Murray being the best he can be, and he's certainly doing that."