Spain and France advance into next round of Davis Cup
- 3 hours ago
Spain made light of the absence of Carlos Alcaraz as they swept into a winning 3-0 lead in their Davis Cup qualifier against Switzerland in Biel on Sunday.
Spain led 2-0 after Pedro Martinez and Roberto Carballes Baena won singles matches on Saturday. On Sunday, Martinez joined forces with Jaume Munar to carve out a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win over Dominic Stricker and Marc-Andrea Huesler in the doubles.
Before the Swiss won a dead rubber in the reverse singles, the Spanish had neither dropped a set nor even faced a break point. They head to Denmark for the second qualifying round in September.
France also booked their place in the next phase as Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Benjamin Bonzi came from behind to beat the Brazilian pair of Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Orleans.
Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils had given France a 2-0 cushion in the singles on Saturday but Herbert and Bonzi were forced to work hard after they dropped the opening set.
The French pair served and returned better in the second to level the match before easing through the decider to book a trip to Croatia in September.
Belgium edged Chile 3-1 in Hasselt.
Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen put the hosts ahead when they beat Tomas Barrios Vera and Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the doubles.
Zizou Bergs clinched the tie with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win over Cristian Garin.
After holding serve in a marathon 10th game in the third set, Bergs galloped round the court in celebration even racing round the net where he collided with Garin, sending the Chilean flying.
After Garin picked himself up and Bergs apologised, the Belgiam broke to 15 to seal a tie against Australia in the next round.
In the last undecided tie, Canada fought back against Hungary in Montreal. the visitors had won the opening two singles.
On Sunday, Liam Draxl and Vasek Pospisil beat Peter Fajta and Mate Valkusz 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in the doubles before Gabriel Diallo crushed Fabian Maroszan 6-1, 6-3 in the first of the reverse singles. Alexis Galarneau was to face Marton Fucsovics in the deciding rubber.
Jannik Sinner’s Italy are the two-time defending champions having won the event in 2023 and last year.
Agence France-Presse
