Pouille Tops Seppi To Give France Early Lead
ITALY 0, FRANCE 1
Venue: Valletta Cambiaso ASD, Genoa, ITA (clay - outdoor)
Lucas Pouille withstood a strong comeback effort to beat Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1 in Genoa.
The World No. 11 began well, breaking six times en route to a two-set lead, but Seppi fought back in front of his home fans to force a decider. Not to be denied, Pouille re-established control and raced to victory in the fifth set to secure defending champion France a 1-0 lead.
“The emotions are the maximum,” Pouille told DavisCup.com. “It's great to win that type of match. I was two sets up, he came back; that was so tough for me in the fourth set. I tried to fight as hard as possible and in the end I decided to be more aggressive and I was very happy at the finish.”
Italy will look to level the tie as Fabio Fognini takes on Jeremy Chardy in the second rubber. Italy has lost just one of its past seven Davis Cup ties at home.
SPAIN 1, GERMANY 1
Venue: Plaza de Toros de Valencia, Valencia, ESP (clay- outdoor)
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal returned to action for the first time since the Australian Open on Friday, beating Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in Valencia.
The Spaniard hit 28 forehand winners throughout the two-hour, 33-minute clash at the bullring venue to score his 23rd consecutive Davis Cup singles victory and level the tie at 1-1. “It's positive of course, winning in straight sets,” said Nadal. “It was a solid match. I feel comfortable back on the clay.
”It's always special to play at home at a bullring stadium, it's very unique. It's a great feeling to be back, coming back from injuries is always difficult, but it's great to be in front of my crowd on a very memorable day. I'm very happy with the match.”
Nadal was under pressure to deliver a crucial first point for the home side after Alexander Zverev secured the opening point of the quarter-final with a convincing 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over David Ferrer.
Despite dropping serve on five occasions, the World No. 4 broke the Spanish veteran 10 times to earn three-time champion Germany an early lead in eastern Spain after one hour and 55 minutes. The Miami Open presented by Itaú finalist moves to 3-0 in 2018 Davis Cup play after wins over Australia’s Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios in the first round.
“I am just happy to get the result,” said Zverev. “I played more aggressively as the match went on. It is my first clay-court match in a very long time so it was great to find my rhythm so quickly.”
Germany is bidding to become the first team to beat Spain at home since Brazil in 1999, with Spain winning its past 26 ties on home soil.
CROATIA 1, KAZAKHSTAN 0
Venue: Varazdin Arena, Varazdin, CRO (clay - indoor)
Marin Cilic began Croatia’s bid for a second Davis Cup World Group semi-finals appearance in three years with a dominant 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 win over Dmitry Popko.
The World No. 3 looked in fine form throughout the one-hour, 41-minute contest hitting 32 winners past the Kazakh to seal the first rubber in emphatic style. Cilic, who led Croatia to the Davis Cup final in 2016 (l. to Argentina), improves his Davis Cup singles record to 25-10.
Borna Coric will be looking to increase Croatia's lead, and continue his recent run of form, in the second rubber against Kazakh No. 1 Mikhail Kukushkin.