Noah’s joy as France clinch Davis Cup

France won their 10th Davis Cup title when Lucas Pouille crushed Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 to give the hosts a 3-2 victory in the final against Belgium yesterday.

Pouille was never threatened in the decisive rubber in the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille, after David Goffin had given Belgium both their points with impressive displays in the singles.

Les Bleus, however, had more strength in depth, winning a singles through Jo-wilfried Tsonga on Friday and then Saturday’s doubles with Richard Gasquet and Pierrehugues Herbert, who had never before played a competitive match together.

It was France’s first title since they beat Australia away in 2001, before three defeats in the final in 2002, 2010 and 2014. Belgium have yet to win the title, having now lost in three finals after defeats in 1904 and 2015.

Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win a grand slam title, celebrated his third victory as captain, after leading France to glory in 1991 and 1996. “It was a victory we had been dreaming off,” said Noah. “It’s a united group. Lucas played a fantastic final match.”

The final match proved an anticlimax as Pouille went for the throat, racing to a 3-0 lead against Darcis, who never seemed to stand a chance on the indoor hardcourt.

Pouille 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.