Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Richard Gasquet have given France a crucial 2-1 lead heading into the reverse singles after a 6-1 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4 victory over Belgium’s Ruben Bemelmans and Joris De Loore.
The French duo made a fast start to begin the third rubber as Herbert used his doubles experience and grand slams to his advantage. The French pair won the first five games with relative ease as Gasquet’s backhand proved to be devastating for the Belgians.
Bemelmans and De Loore failed to cover the middle which is one of the schoolboy errors in doubles. This ultimately costed the visitors as they lost the first 6-1.
However the pressure got to Herbert as he hit a number of double faults to hand the break to the Belgian pair. There were two more breaks of serve by either team in the match as De Loore started to find his feet in the match, especially with shots like these:
What. A. Point.
Brilliant stuff in the doubles rubber 🇫🇷🆚🇧🇪#DavisCupFinal pic.twitter.com/ZbJHin2Yoe
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 25, 2017
Bemelmans and De Loore began to play their best tennis and after an hour and 15 minutes they wrapped up the second set 6-3 to level the match at one set all.
The third set was the crucial point in the match as the match was getting heated and both teams were playing at their best tennis.
In the seventh game, Belgium earned the break as De Loore crushed a forehand onto Herbert’s head as the visitors lead by 4-3 in the third set.
As De Loore was preparing to serve in the next game he was booed by the Lille crowd as things were getting heated in this crucial set in a critical rubber for both teams.
However just as Belgium were going to cruise to a 2 set to 1 lead, Ruben Bemelmans failed to hit a first serve in as Herbert broke back to level the set at 5-5. Herbert had roared in hope to inspire the local crowd as they realised this was a critical point in the match.
As the third set went to a tiebreak, the French duo dominated the Belgians as Herbert and Gasquet worked in unison to provide a stunning 5-0 lead. Bemelmans and De Loore had no comeback as the home team grabbed the tiebreak 7-2.
Despite a 2 set to 1 deficit, the Belgians continued to fight and produce some of their best tennis under pressure. Herbert still managed to produce fatal errors as he was forced to save two break points in the sixth game.
After the Frenchman held, they immediately broke back after testing Bemelmans at the net. The Belgian couldn’t get to the smash as Herbert and Gasquet were one step closer to victory.
Herbert sealed victory to love as they showed great determination to fight off a stubborn Belgian team. France now take a 2-1 lead heading into the final day of the Davis Cup final.
If Jo-Wilfred Tsonga beats David Goffin in tomorrow’s fourth rubber, then France will win their 10th Davis Cup title and their first since 2001.
