By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, September 16, 2017
Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahutswept Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic and Nenad Zimonjic, 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (3), putting France within one victory of a Davis Cup final return.
Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle/FFT Facebook
Grand Slam champions gave France a major lift toward the Davis Cup final.
Dominating net, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut swept Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic and Nenad Zimonjic, 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (3), putting host France within one victory of a Davis Cup final return.
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The 2016 Wimbledon champions combined for 13 aces and converted six of 12 break-point chances leading Les Bleus to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five match semifinals on red clay at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga can clinch France’s trip to its second Davis Cup final in the last four years when he faces Dusan Lajovic in tomorrow’s opening reverse singles. Tsonga won their lone prior meeting, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, at the Australian Open in January.
The fifth and final rubber pits France’s Lucas Pouille against 95th-ranked Laslo Djere.
Exhorted by a festive French home crowd, Mahut and Herbert swarmed the frontcourt blasting past the Serbian pair in a 28-minute opening set.
The second set featured several rapid-fire exchanges at net with France frequently coming out one shot better.
Herbert and Mahut served 75 percent and won 16 of 21 points on their serve in the second set as the pair plowed through to a two-set lead after one hour of play.
Serbia started to get in sync in the third set battling back from a break down twice.
Krajinovic and the veteran Zimonjic served 81 percent as the pair played with more clarity in the third set.
Mahut served for the match at 5-4 in the third set, but Serbia played a strong return game breaking to get back on serve.
Herbert and Mahut asserted their authority at net commanding the tie break. A net cord shot that befuddled the Serbians on match point helped France seal a one hour, 48-minute conquest.
It was the French pair’s third Davis Cup victory in four matches together.
The winner of the France vs. Serbia semifinal will play either Australia or Belgium in the November 24-26th Davis Cup final.