Davis Cup Final | Belgium and France end opening day tied at 1-1
David Goffin has registered a win against Lucas Pouille in the opener of the Davis Cup Final which helped Belgium to grab the opening point. Later in the day, France leveled the score as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga handed Steve Darcis a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 defeat in the second singles encounter.
After beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the ATP Finals, Goffin came into the tie as a clear favorite. And he showed what he could do, continuing his good form, by defeating Pouille 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 in the tie’s opening match. Goffin, the runner-up at the ATP Finals, sealed the first point of the final by registering his first win over the 18th-ranked player. In front of over 25,000 fans inside the Stade Pierre Mauroy, Goffin made the telling break in the 11th game then served out to love to take the opening set.
Pouille never recovered from the first-set loss. Goffin got an early break in the second when the Frenchman's double-fault put the Belgian on his way to a two-set lead. Another quick break put Goffin in the driving seat in the third set and he closed the match out with ease with the final set ending 6-1.
In the second match of the day, Tsonga ensured that the day ended Even Stevens as he beat Darcis 6-3 6-2 6-1. Tsonga missed several chances to take an early hold in the first set but finally broke in the eighth to take a 5-3 lead with a deep forehand winner. Tsonga, then, claimed five consecutive games and served out the second set at love with a drop shot that hit the tape and fell over for a winner.
Tsonga continued to play consistently in the third set, including a series of reflex volleys which helped him register a win in straight sets and level the points table.
Nine-time winners France are looking to claim their first Davis Cup since 2001 while Belgium
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