FRANCE ADVANCES TO DAVIS CUP TENNIS SEMIS, TO FACE SERBIA IN REMATCH OF 2010 FINALS

Written by: Staff on 8th April 2017

FRANCE ADVANCES TO DAVIS CUP TENNIS SEMIS, TO FACE SERBIA IN REMATCH OF 2010 FINALS

epa05895260 Lucas Pouille of France celebrates winning against Kyle Edmund of Britain during their Singles match for the Tennis Davis Cup World Group quarter final between France and Britain in Rouen, France, 07 April 2017. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT |

By Ricky Dimon

After just two days of action this weekend, the semifinal on the bottom half of the Davis Cup draw is already guaranteed: it will be Serbia paying a visit to France in a rematch of the 2010 final.

France, which lost at the final hurdle seven years ago on the road against Serbia, is one round away from a return trip to the title tie after finishing off Great Britain on Saturday afternoon. Benefiting from home-court advantage on the red clay of Rouen, the Frenchmen clinched a 3-0 victory by winning the doubles rubber. Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut edged Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot 7-6(7), 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 after three hours and 20 minutes.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be able to give the winning point for our team,” Benneteau assured. “We’re going to celebrate tonight.”

“(It’s) really frustrating,” Inglot lamented. “It’s tough when you’ve worked really hard the whole week and you feel like you’ve let [the team] down a little bit.”

Nenad Zimonjic (R) and Viktor Troicki (L) of Serbia celebrate winning against Pablo Carreno Busta and Marc Lopez of Spain after their doubles match for the Tennis Davis Cup World Group quarter final between Serbia and Spain, in Belgrade, Serbia, 08 April 2017. EPA/SRDJAN SUKI

Serbia joined France in the semis when Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki defeated the Spanish partnership of Pablo Carreno Busta and Marc Lopez 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 on the indoor hard court of Belgrade. That result was preceded by singles wins for Troicki and Novak Djokovic on Friday.

“It was always a possibility that the tie would be over on Saturday when you play a strong team like Serbia,” Spain Conchita Martinez admitted. “It also helps when you play at home on this fast surface with overwhelming fan support. When someone serves and plays so well like Troicki did against us, you are always going to be under pressure.”

“We expect a spectacular atmosphere against France and a tough match, too, as they have a bunch of top quality players and outstanding fans who have a long history in the competition,” Zimonjic forecasted. “We have always been one big happy family, with each and every member totally committed to the Davis Cup team. I now wish my players good results on the ATP Tour and hopefully we will be at full strength in the semifinals.”

On the other side of the World Group draw, Sunday singles will decide the two ties. Australia is ahead of the United States 2-1, while Belgium owns a 2-1 lead over Italy.