Tennis – United Cup: Garcia and Roger-Vasselin win the doubles, France in the semi-finals!

Published on January 4, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. Aurélie Sacchelli

Thanks to the doubles victory of Caroline Garcia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, the French team will compete in the semi-finals of the United Cup on Saturday in Sydney against Poland.

Mission accomplished for the French team! The Blues will play the semi-finals of the second edition of the United Cup in Sydney. Opposed to Norway this Thursday, they won at the end of the decisive mixed doubles. After Caroline Garcia’s victory over Malene Helgo and Adrian Mannarino’s defeat against Casper Ruud, the destiny of the Blues rested on the shoulders of Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Caroline Garcia, three Grand Slam doubles victories between them. Opposite them: Ulrikke Eikeri (three doubles victories on the WTA circuit) and Casper Ruud (doubles quarter-finalist at Wimbledon). And it was the French who won: 7-5, 6-4 in 1h24! Even though they had to save seven break points (including three in their very first game), the Blues never lost their serve during this meeting and took that of their opponents twice.

It will take a feat against Poland

The match could have taken a completely different turn if the Norwegian pair had converted their three first set balls on the Blues’ serve at 5-4. But Eikeri and Ruud did not succeed and they were even the ones who lost their face-off on the following play. Garcia and Roger-Vasselin then concluded the set with their serve. In the second, the French converted their third break point at 1-1 and then did not leave the slightest chance to come back to the Norwegians, losing only three points on their serve. The Blues therefore join the last four, where they will face Poland on Saturday. Poles led by WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek and ATP No. 9 Hubert Hurkacz. If Mannarino is 2-2 in his confrontations with Hurkacz, Garcia is led 3-1 by Swiatek. It will therefore take a feat on the Sydney court to see the Blues in the final on Sunday.

UNITED CUP 2024
Quarter-finals
Wednesday January 3
Poland – Chine : 3-0
Australia – Serbia: 3-0

Thursday January 4
France – Norway: 2-1

Friday January 5
Greece – Germany

Semi-finals
Saturday January 6
Poland – France
Australia – Greece or Germany