Goffin Gives Belgium Lead

BELGIUM 1, FRANCE 0
Lille, France (Hard Indoor)

David Goffin, who advanced to the championship match at last week’s Nitto ATP Finals, continued his run of good form to give Belgium the lead in the Davis Cup final against France, defeating Lucas Pouille 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 on Friday. The 2015 finalists are now up 1-0, and within two points of clinching Belgium’s first Davis Cup title.

The top-ranked Belgian, who is up to a career-high No. 7 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, had trailed Pouille 0-3 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, but all of those losses came last year. The 26-year-old was even with Pouille at 5-5 in the first set, but Goffin took over from there. He is now 5-0 this season in Davis Cup singles action.

The French squad, under captain Yannick Noah, is attempting to claim a 10th title at the event. France is in the final for the first time since 2014. Its top player, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, will try to even the tie against ATP World Tour veteran Steve Darcis in the second rubber of the day. 

France will now need to win three of the tie’s final four rubbers to earn its first championship since 2001, which came against Australia.