In a tie where the winning team would automatically advance to the tournament final, France came back from losing men’s singles to win both women’s singles and mixed doubles, earning themselves a spot in Saturday’s showdown against the Americans.
I've got 2 pairs of tix to my match today. First fans to get to cross st of King & Murray & say password "bongo" to my mates gets them. Go!
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) January 6, 2017
Men’s Singles: Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
Federer wins 6-1, 6-4.
It was a battle of elder statesmen (Federer, 35 and Gasquet, 30) in the men’s singles rubber, with two old school players who employ conservative grips, platform-stance serves and one-handed backhands playing vintage, all-court tennis. But Gasquet (who ironically lives in Neuchâtel, Switzerland) never had a chance, as Federer, while sporting some serious five o’clock shadow, dominated the entire match, besting the Frenchman in just 56 minutes.
“Today was great. I think I had many more swings on the ball than against Zverev. I had a bit more time, and . . . I start to feel the ball better and better, and just moving the ball around the court better. So I’m just really pleased, and I’m surprised how well I’m playing so early already. I couldn’t be more happy right now,” Federer said in his on-court interview.
Women’s Singles: Belinda Bencic (SUI) vs. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)
Mladenovic wins 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
It was an evenly matched first frame, but Mladenovic won the important points, and thereby won the set 6-4. Bencic responded by breaking Mladenovic in the first game of the second, and proceeded even the rubber at one set each. Mladenovic, after three match points, won the decider 6-3 to set up a winner-take-all FAST4 doubles match.
Mixed Doubles: #Benderer (SUI) vs. #Gasquetovic (FRA)
#Gasquetovic wins 4-2, 4-2.
Bencic lost her first service game, giving France the only break they needed to take the first set 4-2. The second set was déjà vu all over again, with Bencic getting critically broken a second time, without sufficient chances to recover due to the abbreviated format.
It’s always special to play for my country. It’s such a big pride. Already to be in a final, to qualify that way today, it’s just great,” Mladenovic said post-match.
France will play the USA team of Jack Sock and Coco Vandeweghe in the final at 4 p.m. local time on Saturday.
