MADRID, 25 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Davis Cup 2021 Finals began this Friday with the first group qualifiers in the three tournament venues, Innsbruck, Madrid and Turin, a step forward for France, Sweden and Croatia, who beat the Czech Republic (2-1), Canada (3-0) and Australia (3-0).
The renewed French team achieved a very sweaty victory over the Czechs, decided in the doubles point that Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert won over Jiri Lehecka and Tomas Machac. The French duo rallied (3-6, 6-4, 6-4) their match and the tie that began in the Czech color for Machac’s victory.
Richard Gasquet (7-6 (3), 6-2) relented and Adrian Mannarino lifted him against Jiri Vesely, despite also going in tow with a set against 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2 . In an Olympiahalle without an audience due to the latest restrictions from the Austrian government due to the coronavirus, France took the first step in a Group C that will now face Great Britain.
Meanwhile, Sweden defeated (3-0) the current finalist, a Canada that returned to the Spanish capital without Felix Auger-Aliassime or Denis Shapovalov, with the Ymer brothers, Elias and Mikael. Both added the individual points to leave sentenced the tie that opened Group B at the Madrid Arena.
Elias edged Steven Diez 6-4, 6-2 in the first point and then his brother Mikael left another brilliant performance (6-4, 6-4) against Vasek Pospisil. The doubles, if necessary, were also won by Sweden with Robert Lindstedt and Andre Goransson against Pospisil and Brayden Schnu (7-6 (5), 6-4), to bring Davis’ quarters closer, where they have not arrived since 2011 .
In addition, at the Turin headquarters and within Group D, Croatia got off to a good start in their attempt to reconquer Davis. Borna Gojo, who already had to assume responsibility in the Croatian debacle two years ago, beat Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (5), 7-5, and Marin Cilic had a victorious return to the team against Alex de Miñaur (6-1 , 5-7, 6-4). Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic made it 3-0 in the doubles.
