We will play point by point and match by match. This somewhat boatload speech launched by Johan Van Herck on Saturday night when Belgium was led 2-0 by Bolivia seemed dull. However, our Davis Cup team succeeded in its recovery in its group 1 match and will return to the world group in 2022. A recovery orchestrated in three stages.
Favorite of the doubles match, our duo Sander Gillé-Joran Vliegen kept their rank to get rid of their Bolivian opponents in two small sets and give Belgium hope. In the second match of the day, Zizou Bergs, who suffered from cramps on Saturday before going to the hospital for tests, gave way to the other neophyte of the group, Michael Geerts, in a decisive match between the Antwerp and the best Bolivian player, Hugo Dellien (ATP 144). With the key to a success in three sets (6-4, 4-6, 6-2) of the 26-year-old right-hander who has been in great form for several weeks.
“Of course there was a bit of pressure before I met because in case of victory, the team could still win this match against Bolivia., explained the former student of the Topsportschool in Wilrijk. I focused on my game, my tennis and what I needed to achieve to perform well. In general, I managed my match quite well except in the second set where I did not have the right approach on break points. I had to be more aggressive on these opportunities. But I can say that I had a good game against a good player. It is one of the best victories of my career. Playing a game like this for your country is extraordinary. In addition the team was in a bad position. I was very happy to give Belgium a point and still have a chance to win the duel against Bolivia. “
All in very difficult playing conditions: “In the third set Hugo Dellien started to suffer from cramps. Me too, a little. It must be said that the conditions were very difficult with a temperature which rose to 38 degrees but also a lot of humidity. different from the climate encountered during the preparation week. It was a very difficult match and I was able to benefit at the end of the game from his physical problems. I played two sets of a very good level and in the end I was a little better than my opponent. We all sweated well with Zizou who had cramps on Saturday but also my opponent and me this Sunday. The conditions were complicated but we had no other choice but to manage them. “
With this equalization (2-2), Belgium resumed its status as favorite before the last match between Ruben Bemelmans (ATP 221) and Murkel Dellien (ATP 1332), Zizou Bergs striker on Saturday. Mistreated early in the game (5-2), our compatriot then managed to find better tennis in the first set to finally win in the tie-break. The 33-year-old left-hander, who served as a guide for his young teammates in Paraguay where the match was disputed, then spoke of his experience to dominate his opponent in the second round (2-6) and offer the point of the final victory to Belgium. A Belgium which has shown that it has character and respondent.
