PARIS (REUTERS) – Brothers Elias and Mikael Ymer comfortably received their singles rubbers in opposition to Canada as seven-times champions Sweden made a roaring begin within the Davis Cup Finals in Madrid on Thursday (Nov 25).
The event started on Thursday with 18 finalists set to compete in six teams of three throughout three cities – Madrid, Turin and Innsbruck. Eight groups qualify for the knockout rounds and the ultimate going down in Madrid on Dec. 5.
Elias eased by Steven Diez 6-4 6-2 earlier than youthful brother Mikael loved a 6-4 6-4 victory over Vasek Pospisil. Andre Goransson and Robert Lindstedt made it a clear sweep for Sweden with a 7-6 (5) 6-4 win over Pospisil and Brayden Schnur.
Mikael was spectacular on serve, profitable 80 per cent factors on his first serve and going through only one break level.
“I attempted to remain within the second and tried to get pleasure from it. On the finish it’s only a sport, even when it’s lots we’re enjoying for,” stated the 23-year-old, who’s ranked 93 on the planet.
“While you play somebody like Vasek who’s so good in his offence it doesn’t give me, particularly with my toolbox, it doesn’t give me a whole lot of different choices then to attempt to counter.”
Former US Open champion Marin Cilic and Borna Gojo gave 2018 victors Croatia a 2-0 lead over Australia in Turin earlier than compatriots Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic accomplished the sweep in a doubles useless rubber in opposition to Alex de Minaur and John Friends.
Gojo fired eight aces to safe a 7-6(5) 7-5 victory over Alexei Popyrin, who’s 215 rungs above the Croatian within the ATP rankings, whereas Cilic got here again from a break down within the third set to edge previous de Minaur 6-1 5-7 6-4.
“That is nice path for me for going ahead for subsequent matches,” stated Cilic. “If I can construct up on this, construct up on this way, it’s going to be unbelievable.”
The Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac brought on an enormous upset on his Davis Cup debut when the 21-year-old, ranked 143 on the planet, beat Richard Gasquet 7-6(3) 6-2 to present his aspect a 1-0 lead in Innsbruck earlier than the French aspect rallied again to win the tie.
Gasquet fired extra winners at an empty Olympiahalle enviornment, which has no followers attributable to Austria’s reintroduction of a Covid-19 lockdown, however the 35-year-old made a number of unforced errors and allowed Machac to win 5 video games in a row at one level.
Adrian Mannarino levelled the tie by downing Jiri Vesely 6-7(1) 6-4 6-2 earlier than Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut handed France a 2-1 victory following a 3-6 6-4 6-3 win over Jiri Lehecka and Machac.
Defending champions Spain start their Group A marketing campaign on Friday in Madrid after they tackle Ecuador. ATP Cup winners Russia are additionally of their group, with world quantity two Daniil Medvedev and quantity 5 Andrey Rublev within the crew.