The Spanish team beat France 2-1 on Friday in their second Group B match in the preliminary phase of the Davis Cup Finalsthanks to the victories of Roberto Bautista against Arthur Fils by 2-6, 7-5 and 6-3 and of Carlos Alcaraz against Ugo Humbert by 6-3 and 6-3, thus obtaining a ticket for the Knock-out Phase of this tournament, which will be held from November 19 to 24 in Malaga.
The team captained by David Ferrer He faced his second match with the cushion of his positive debut, where he beat the Czech Republic 3-0.and the one from Jávea repeated the formation with Bautista opening fire and Carlos Alcaraz supporting.
However, things did not start well at the Fuente de San Luis Pavilion in Valencia, with Bautista dominated by a Fils team that had a shaky hand at the most inopportune moment for him. The first point of this match, crucial for the French team after losing three days ago in their debut against Australia, already foreshadowed a tough encounter.
The 20-year-old Frenchman took the first set but then Bautista’s veteran status came to the fore and with suffering he won the second set to decide in the third with Fonteta pressing.
Next, Alcaraz took to the field to face Humbert, who has been in good form over the last few weeks.And the Frenchman showed some of his virtues with serve and volley in the opening game. Then he strung together three successful games with serve and to love, until in the fifth the Murcia native took the lead and created a break point and headed for victory in the first set.
On the back of the Fonteta, Alcaraz won this duel after one hour and 20 minutesensuring the overall victory and the ticket to the Final 8.
The doubles match in which Pablo Carreño accompanied the specialist Marcel Granollers was a mere formality which fell on the French side.
Malaga will see the national team led by Carlos Alcaraz from November 19 to 24 in search of their seventh Salad Bowl.
