Belgium’s David Goffin will open play Federico Delbonis of Argentina in the first singles match of their Davis Cup semifinal.
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Both players struck 44 winners, but Goffin had the edge with 39 unforced errors, nine fewer than Delbonis, who credited his opponent with applying the pressure that forced him into those mistakes.
Second-ranked Federer beat No. 144 Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to seal a decisive 3-1 lead for the Swiss in the best-of-five series. Though the Belgians started off slowly, they did fight-back which saw them clinch the third set after securing a break in the 11th game.
Darcis saved another match point in the final tiebreak with a forehand down the line but sent a return long on the next one on Berlocq’s serve. “It’s not catastrophic, it’s a shame because there would have been a way”.
Delbonis proved a tricky opponent for Goffin and broke back in the opening set after falling behind, only to falter at 5-5.
“It was a tough one, but the atmosphere is wonderful here in Brussels”, said Goffin during his post-match on-court interview.
“Always when I was break up he was playing so good and was really aggressive so it was always tough to finish the sets but in the end I’m really happy with the way I won today”.
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Argentina, who are contesting a 10th semi-final since 2002, will look to 39th-ranked Mayer for a lift as he comes off a seven-match winning streak in Davis Cup – including a record-breaking victory over Joao Souza in the first round, which lasted six hours and 43 minutes to keep Argentina’s title bid alive.
