France wins the mixed doubles match to clinch a 2-1 win over Norway in the United Cup quarter final - UBITENNIS

France wins the mixed doubles match to clinch a 2-1 win over Norway in the United Cup quarter final

By sampaolo
4 Min Read

France won the decisive mixed doubles match to claim a 2-1 win against Norway in the United Cup quarter finals at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney. 

Casper Ruud cruised past Adrian Mannarino 6-1 6-4 after 1 hour and 17 minutes. Ruud won 88%of his first serve points, hit 10 aces and did not face a break point. The Norwegian player broke twice in the second and fourth games to win the first set 6-4. He started the second set with an early break in the opening game and served out the win on his first match point. Mannarino beat Ruud 6-4 6-2 at the 2019 Rolex Paris Masters. 

“I think just early breaks both sets, serving well from my side. I don’t think I faced a break point. That’s a great stat for my standard of serving, so just really pleased with the level first of all and putting Norway back on the board. I lost to Adrian a few years ago so it’s nice to have revenge”, said Ruud. 

Garcia battled past Malene Helgo 6-2 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-5) in 2 hours and 33 minutes, although she missed a match point in the tie-break of the second set. Garcia cruised through to a 6-2 lead with two breaks of serve in the second and seventh games. She did not face a break point until the tie-break and hit 7 aces. Helgo saved two break points to force the match to the tie-break. The French player earned a match point at 6-5 in the tie-break of the second set but Helgo won the final three points to win the tie-break 8-6. Garcia earned a break in the fourth game to open up a 4-1 lead. Helgo broke back in the seventh game to draw level to 4-4. Garcia earned an early break to take a 2-1 lead. Helgo pulled back on serve for 4-5, but Garcia sealed the win on her second match point. 

“It was a crazy match. Malene is a player I didn’t know but she hit the ball so well. I went through all the emotions out there and I had to find a way through. Today it was almost too much, but in the end I got the point”, said Garcia. 

Caroline Garcia and Edouard Roger Vasselin beat Casper Ruud and Ulrikke Eikeri 7-5 6-4 to set up a semifinal clash against Poland, led by Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz. 

Garcia and Roger Vasselin saved all seven break points they faced and did not drop their serve. Roger Vasselin hit an ace, an unreturned serve and a backhand shot at 4-5 to save three break points for 5-5 at deuce. France earned the break in the 11thgame to take a 6-5 lead. The French team dropped just three points on serve in the second set and broke serve in the third game to close it out 6-4. 

“Tomorrow is going to be a day off. We are not that young anymore, especially me. Tomorrow I will try to rest, enjoy Sydney maybe and then come back strong for Saturday’s semifinal”, said Roger Vasselin. 

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