France beats Spain to reach Davis Cup final

Veteran pairing Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut have booked France’s place in another Davis Cup final as they won the doubles to seal the champions’ 3-0 victory over Spain in their World Group semifinal.

The two 36-year-olds defeated another experienced duo in 32-year-old Marcel Granollers and 36-year-old Feliciano Lopez 6-0 6-4 7-6(7) on Saturday to wrap up the tie before Sunday’s reverse singles.

“Julien and I have known each other for more than 20 years and we’ve dreamed of playing this kind of match,” Mahut said.

“We didn’t play the final last year but today was history – and I think we’ll remember this one for ever.”

???????? FRANCE WINS ????????@julienbenneteau and @nmahut defeat Granollers/Lopez 60 64 76(7) to send France into its 2nd straight #DavisCupFinal

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— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 15, 2018

The victory means Yannick Noah’s team now have the opportunity to win the last Davis Cup to be played in its current traditional format, taking on either Croatia or the USA in November before the ‘men’s World Cup of tennis’ gets a major facelift next year.

The USA kept its hopes alive after winning a dramatic five-set doubles rubber on Saturday against Croatia in Zadar.

Mike Bryan, alongside Ryan Harrison, used all his experience as the world No.1 doubles player at the age of 40 to prevail in an epic, a must-win match after Croatia had won the opening two singles rubbers on Friday.

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Harrison and Bryan, who defied his 40 years over four hours 43 minutes of gruelling combat, won 7-5 7-6(6) 1-6 6-7(5) 7-6(5) over Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic.

The Croats are still strong favourites to make their second final in three years as their powerful singles players Marin Cilic and Borna Coric hunt their second wins of the tie on Sunday.

Croatia’s world No.6 Cilic will face Steve Johnson while Coric, who defeated Johnson in the opening rubber, tackles debutant Frances Tiafoe, who lost to Cilic on Friday in straight sets.

What a day of doubles!!

After 4 hours 43 minutes, USA kept their hopes of reaching the #DavisCupFinal alive!

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— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 15, 2018

But back to France’s victory.

Following victories for Benoit Paire and Lucas Pouille in Friday’s singles, Benneteau and Mahut, who won both their previous Davis Cup rubbers when teamed together, were fancied to finish the job in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

The pair are on the last lap of distinguished careers, with Benneteau retiring to take over the captaincy of France’s Fed Cup team next season.

They began in dazzling fashion, taking the opening set in 18 minutes for the loss of just four points.

They captured their one break point to seal the second and after repelling a fightback from the Spaniards, who held a 4-1 lead in the third, the French duo won on their third match point as Benneteau’s brilliant backhand service return sealed the rubber and the tie in just over two hours.

“This is the best tennis I’ve seen from my team in three years,” French captain Yannick Noah said. “I didn’t have a beer for a week – I deserve my beer!”