FRENCH LEAD SPANIARDS
Paire, Pouille give Noah’s team control in Davis Cup semis
BENOIT Paire and Lucas Pouille earned contrasting triumphs as champions France took a grip on their Davis Cup World Group semi-final against Spain on Friday.
Paire made a remarkable Cup debut for France, outplaying an injured Pablo Carreno-Busta 7-5 6-1 6-0 in the opening rubber at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
After Paire had breezed to victory in less than two hours, French No 1 Pouille, back where he won the winning point for his country in last year’s final, battled from a set down to beat Roberto Bautista Agut in a classic five-setter 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4 2-6 6-4 in three hours 41 minutes.
France’s inspirational captain Yannick Noah praised his two opening day victors, saying Pouille had again “dug deep” while Paire played a match “of his dreams.”
The 2-0 lead for France means that the champions can book a place in back-to-back finals — and the last in the competition’s current traditional format — if Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut prevail in the battle of 30somethings in the doubles with Feliciano Lopez and Marcel Granollers.
They seem on course for a rematch of football’s World Cup final with Croatia in November. The Croats lead the US 2-0 in the other semi-final.
Paire had never been selected for his country in the ‘World Cup of tennis’ before, admitting himself that his explosive, erratic performances on court meant he could previously never properly be trusted.
Yet he has grown into a much more reliable and consistent performer this year which prompted Noah to select him for his first tie at the unlikely age of 29.
“I’ve waited a long time for this and it’s a dream to win on my debut,” said Paire. “Though it’s been a long time, hopefully it’s not too late for me and I’ll get more chances.
Playing with real flair and looking as if he was made for Davis Cup theatrics, world No 54 ranked Paire also showed real heart when struggling in the first set as thrice he had to battle back from a set point down.
Spain’s captain Sergi Bruguera admitted his Nadal-free team now face “the worst scenario” and he does not know yet if Carreno Busta will be fit for the reverse singles, which may see him have to turn to Albert Ramos Vinolas.