Mike Belkin - Davis Cup

Davis Cup

Belkin first played Davis Cup for Canada in 1966 in two ties as Canada advanced to the Europe Group quarterfinals. Against Finland in the first round, Belkin won the second rubber over Rauno Suominen 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. He also won a dead rubber as Canada defeated the Finns 4-1. In the next round however, Canada went up a strong French team at Roland Garros stadium. Belkin lost the opening rubber 1-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6 to François Jauffret. Belkin also lost the final, dead, rubber in 5 sets to Pierre Darmon as Canada was swept 0-5.

The following year Belkin defeated Mike Sangster 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the opening rubber against Great Britain in Europe Group first round action, played in Bournemouth on clay. Britain won the next four rubbers however, including the doubles 12-10 in the fifth, with Roger Taylor and Bobby Wilson overcoming Belkin and Keith Carpenter.

In 1968, Canada again fell at the first hurdle, losing the first round of North and Central America Semifinal action against Mexico. Played in Mexico City on clay, Mexico swept Canada 5-0. Belkin lost the second rubber 14-16, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 to Joaquim Loyo-Mayo. He again partnered Carpenter in the doubles, a match lost in straight sets.

The following year Canada defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in the first round of Europe Group, with Belkin winning all 3 rubbers. In a tie played in Scheveningen, first he defeated Niklaus Fleury 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 in the second rubber. He and Harry Fauquier then won the doubles rubber in four sets. Then, in the deciding fifth rubber, Belkin beat Jan Horduk 6-1, 6-1, 6-2. In the next round, Canada faced the Soviet Union, in Moscow, and lost 1-4. Belkin took the only rubber off the Soviets when he beat Tomas Lejus 7-9, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 9-7. In a fifth, dead, rubber, Belkin retired down 2 sets to Alex Metreveli.

In 1970, Canada won two ties before succumbing to Brazil in the Americas Inter-Zone final. To reach that final they first beat the Caribbean and then New Zealand in the North and Central American Group. They swept the Caribbean in early June in Winnipeg on clay, with Belkin defeating Lancelot Lumsden in five sets in the 2nd rubber and teaming with John Sharpe to win the doubles in straight sets. They then a week later beat New Zealand 3-2 in at the same venue. Belkin lost the first rubber to Brian Fairlie in straight sets. He then teamed with Sharpe to win the doubles. Belkin then won the deciding rubber over Onny Parun 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Against Brazil in São Paulo, Belkin leveled the tie at a win apiece when Belkin beat José Edison Mandarino. He and Sharpe however lost the doubles tie in 5 sets, despite being up 2 sets to 1. Belkin then beat Tomas Koch in four sets to again level the tie. John Sharpe was trounced by Mandarino in the final however, 1-6, 0-6, 2-6.

In 1971, Canada lost its only tie of the year, 2-3 to Mexico in Mexico City. Belkin won the second rubber over Loyo-Mayo in four sets, to level the tie. He and Sharpe lost the doubles, however, in four sets, to give the Mexicans the lead. Belkin won the fourth rubber over Marcelo Lara to, again, level the tie at 2-2. In the decider, Sharpe, facing Loyo-Mayo, won the first set but proceeded to lose the next three to lose. The following year saw the same foe and exactly the same result, a 2-3 lose, this time at a tie held in Vancouver (at Jerico Tennis Club). Belkin again beat Loyo-Mayo, this time in rubber 1 and in five sets. Canada again lost the doubles rubber, as Belkin and Dale Power lost in four sets. Loyo-Mayo then defeated Anthony Bardsley in straight sets to give the win to Mexico. Belkin beat Raúl Ramírez in a dead, fifth rubber.

Belkin concluded his Davis Cup career retiring from rubber 1 against Iván Molina of Colombia, having lost the first set 7-9. Canada lost the North and Central America Group preliminary round tie 1-4. Belkin's career Davis Cup win-loss stands at 14 and 7 in singles and 3 and 5 in doubles, with all matches played outdoors on clay.