France returns to Davis Cup final, USA delays Croatia passage

Defending Davis Cup champion France is back in the final after sweeping Spain 3-0 this weekend. The Frenchman finished off the visitors on the indoor hard courts of Lille with a 6-0, 6-4, 7-6(7) victory for Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut at the expense of Feliciano Lopez and Marcel Granollers.

The home team preceded Saturday’s doubles result with singles wins by Benoit Paire (in straight sets over Pablo Carreno Busta) and Lucas Pouille (in five over Roberto Bautista Agut).

“This is the best tennis I’ve seen from my team in three years,” captain Yannick Noah assessed. “I didn’t have a beer for a week; I deserve my beer!”

“It’s quite possible it could be the last match of my career on tour,” said Benneteau, who retired after the U.S. Open but then got a late Davis Cup call. “And what a way to finish.”

Highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TexN-tYg1Ac

The Croatia vs. United States tie is not finished yet, as Team USA staved off elimination by winning a five-set doubles rubber on Saturday. Mike Bryan teamed up with Ryan Harrison and they held off Mate Pavic and Ivan Dodig 7-5, 7-6(6), 1-6, 6-7(5), 7-6(5) after four hours and 41 minutes.

“They played a great third,” Bryan praised the Croats. “The fourth could have gone either way. So we feel fortunate to get out of there with a victory…7-6 in the fifth, I’ve never played a match like that. I’ve never played as long of a match like that. It was just a dog-fight; could have gone either way. Luckily I had a great partner in Harry. He stepped up there
at the end, and he played great.”

“I think that just coming through that environment is very exciting,” Harrison added. “I’m really grateful I had the opportunity. Mike’s been really great all week about helping me out with just so many years of great doubles experience, helping me on where to be and what to do. (It) made my job easy.”

“We’ll find out tomorrow,” captain Jim Courier said of the doubles victory’s potential impact on the remainder of the tie. “Certainly there’s been some momentum built today and we’ll see if we can use that momentum and kind of use it as a bit of a boomerang for us after the 0-2 start, and kind of capture that momentum and just sling-shot our way into the finish line.”

Marin Cilic and Steve Johnson are scheduled to square off in the fourth rubber on Sunday afternoon, while a decisive fifth would likely come down to Borna Coric and Frances Tiafoe.

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