France, Belgium split Day 1 of Davis Cup final - UBITENNIS

France, Belgium split Day 1 of Davis Cup final

By Cody Fitzpatrick
3 Min Read
zimbio.com

The No. 1’s made easy work the No. 2’s on Day 1 of the Davis Cup final, with David Goffin of Belgium and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France both notching straight-set victories at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France.   

Goffin, who lost in the final round of the ATP Finals just Sunday, beat Lucas Pouille 7-5, 6-3, 6-1. And Tsonga swiftly defeated Davis Cup standout Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. This leaves the tie even at 1-1 heading into the weekend.

France, nine times the winners of the Davis Cup, last took the trophy in 2001. Belgium are bidding for their first title, though they were finalists in 2015.

The day’s opening set was a clean one. The first break point didn’t come until 5-5 on Pouille’s serve. There, the Frenchman missed an easy backhand into the net, giving Goffin the chance to serve for the set. Up 5-4, Goffin dropped a soft volley to set up triple set point, though he’d need only one serve to finish the set.

In the first game of Set 2, Pouille double-faulted to give up a break. Goffin then held to take a 2-0 lead. Pouille saved three break points in the next game, one by curling an ace up the ad side of the T. He eked out the game for 1-2 with a forehand volley, but Goffin went on to win the set 6-3 for a two-sets-to-none advantage.

The Belgian then went up 2-0 in the third with a backhand volley winner. Later on, the he broke for 5-1 and the chance to serve for the rubber. On an inside-out forehand, Goffin held to love to win the match.

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Tsonga, while up 3-2 in his first set, had a break point, but botched it by missing a routine backhand slice. The Frenchman held for 4-3 in the next game, but complained to the umpire about the noise coming from his Belgian neighbors in the stands.  After the changeover, Tsonga broke down Darcis’s backhand to break. Tsonga then served out the set, winning it on a line challenge, 6-3.

To start the second set, Tsonga broke Darcis’ serve with a lunging backhand volley. The Frenchman then broke again before holding to love to get to 4-0. He later held to love again to secure the second set 6-2.

In the third, Tsonga stole a break for 2-1, putting the finish line in sight. Darcis then double-faulted into a 1-4 hole. Tsonga finished the match by breaking for a breadstick.

Doubles Saturday is set to feature Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Richard Gasquet — not Nicolas Mahut — representing France, and Ruben Bemelmans and Joris de Loore for Belgium.

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