FOURTH RUBBER: [7] David Goffin (BEL) vs. [15] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
Tsonga had the opportunity to win the Davis Cup for his team; after all he had a 4:2 advantage over Goffin and had won their last encounter earlier this year in the final in Rotterdam. However, this is Davis Cup and everyone was counting on him; the pressure was unfortunately too much for him to handle and instead of rising to the occasion, Tsonga folded. Although he had opportunities, ten break opportunities to be exact, he did not convert on any; considering the weapons at his disposal, one can only attribute that shocking statistic to nerves. In contrast, Goffin broke him three times and went on to win the match 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-2 to force a live fifth rubber.
FIFTH RUBBER: [18] Lucas Pouille (FRA) vs. [76] Steve Darcis (BEL)
Now the championship was on the racquet of either Pouille for the French team or Darcis for the Belgian Team. This was the first time that they were playing each other; yet, the advantage went to Pouille. Darcis came into the tie with a right arm injury and unfortunately for the Belgians, his injury seemed to worsen after his match with Tsonga. Today, he was clearly in pain and his game was severely compromised, so much so he could offer up very little resistance. Pouille shrugged off his loss from earlier in the tie and came out playing aggressively from the very start. He was determined to redeem himself and that he did. There was very little that Darcis could do and his frustration and disappointment was obvious on each changeover as he realized that the match was rapidly slipping out his grasp. The end was inevitable and Pouille won 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 to give France their tenth Davis Cup championship.
France defeated Belgium 3:2.
SOURCE OF IMAGES: Bing search
