Lille (France): Lucas Pouille drubbed Belgium’s Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 in decisive fifth rubber to clinch a 10th Davis Cup title for France in front of a passionate crowd here Sunday night.
Belgian ace David Goffin had levelled the final at two matches all after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-2 in straight sets in Sunday’s opening reverse singles, but a revitalised Pouille propelled France to a first Davis Cup triumph since 2001.
Pouille was beaten convincingly by Goffin in Friday’s first singles, but the World No.18 shook off that defeat to swat Darcis aside in 94 minutes.
“There’s nothing better than winning as a team, with my mates, in front of the fans, my family and my friends,” Pouille told ‘French TV’. “We’re going to celebrate and make the most of it. I’m proud of my team.”
France’s triumph received a presidential seal of approval, with French head of state Emmanuel Macron posting on Twitter: “Bravo to all the winning team which has made all of France proud.”
It was a third victory as captain for Yannick Noah, who returned for a third stint in charge in 2015 after two spells as skipper in the 1990s.
Pouille broke Darcis at the first attempt to lay the foundation for a memorable triumph. That proved enough to wrap up the first set, with three further breaks in the second firing Pouille and France to the brink of the title.
Darcis, the World No.76 was powerless to stop a rampant Pouille as the 23-year-old dismantled the Belgian in the third set – winning 25 of 34 points – to end France’s run of three straight finals defeats.
Earlier Goffin withstood early pressure to beat Tsonga. He saved a set point while serving at 5-6, as Tsonga was left to rue his inability to capitalise on any of six breakpoints in a marathon first set.
World No.7 Goffin snatched a 75-minute opening set with a blistering backhand return in the tie-break. Tsonga then surrendered his serve in the second set with a costly double fault as Goffin surged 4-2 ahead before seizing a two-set lead.
Goffin stormed to a double-break lead in the third set as Tsonga’s resistance crumbled, and closed out the match with minimal fuss, but Darcis was unable to reproduce previous heroics against an inspired Pouille.
This was France’s 10th Davis Cup title, a tally only surpassed by the US, the record 32-time champions, and Australia, on 28.
Agence France-Presse
