France has won the Davis Cup 2017

Football Full Time   November 26, 2017   Tennis   Comment  

France won the Davis Cup for the 10th time as Lucas Pouille defeated Steve Darcis winning the decisive match as France ended a 16-year wait to win the Davis Cup Paribas title on a thrilling final day in Lille, France.


The hosts began Sunday's final day 2-1 up in the best-of-five tie, but David Goffin levelled for Belgium by beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-2.
World number 18 Pouille claimed victory for his country with an emphatic 6-3 6-1 6-0 win over an opponent ranked 76th.

France finally clinched the silverware their strength in depth has long deserved, eclipsing memories of defeat in the 2002, 2010 and 2014 finals by sealing a 3-2 triumph over Belgium for their first Davis Cup title since 2001 – and their 10th overall - amidst a carnival atmosphere of 27,000 fans in the Stade Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille.


Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win a grand slam title, celebrated his third title as captain after leading France to victory in 1991 and 1996.



Goffin has been in terrific form recently and was runner-up at the ATP Finals last week in London, where he defeated both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Despite fatigue and an ailing knee, Goffin carried his London form into the northern French city of Lille, where he swept past Pouille on Friday before Tsonga leveled at 1-1 with a straight-set win over Darcis. The French won Saturday's doubles. Pouille's win over Steve Darcis in the second reverse singles gave France its 10th Davis Cup title.

World No18 Pouille, who was born 75 kms from the stadium in Lille, held serve to take the first set and never looked back, claiming 12 games in a row and closing it out on the first match point when a sorry Darcis sent a shot long.
“There’s nothing more beautiful than winning as a team in front of my friends and family. Now we’re going to celebrate and enjoy it,” said Pouille after the final.