Ymer backed up his words with an excellent presentation on Thursday, November 25, and then cheered on his brother Mikael, in the other singles game, which ensured Sweden a win over 2019 finalist Canada in Group B.
Sweden also won the doubles match against Canada, after Ymer beat Steven Diaz 6-4, 6-2 and Mikael Ymer beat Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4. In the doubles match, Andre Goransson and Robert Lindstedt defeated Pospisil and Brayden Schnur 7-6 (5), 6-4 to give Sweden all three points.
Sweden is in 14th place in the Davis Cup standings and appears for the first time in the reconfigured tournament. He is seeking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2011.
France and Croatia also won victories on the first day, while defending champion Spain was left without one of its main attractions, after 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz tested positive for Covid-19. Spain will debut on Friday 26 against Ecuador for Group A.
France needed a comeback against the Czech Republic with a three-set win during the doubles match, after veteran Richard Gasquet lost in the first singles match.
CROATIA-AUSTRALIA
In Turin, Borna Gojo and Marin Cilic gave 2018 champion Croatia a victory over Australia, 28 times champion, by Group D. Gojo, number 276 in the world, defeated Alexei Popyrin, number 61 in the ranking, 7- 6 (5), 7-5 after lifting all five break points he faced. Cilic, 30th in the ranking, beat Alex de Miñaur, world number 34, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.
CZECH REPUBLIC-FRANCE
The Czech Republic took a 1-0 lead over France as 21-year-old Thomas Machac led 7-6, 6-2 (3) over veteran Richard Gasquet in Group C in Innsbruck. Gasquet allowed 11 aces against Machac, world number 143.
France tied the series when Adrian Mannarino came from behind to beat Jiri Vesely 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2 and later Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Nicolas Mahut also erased a disadvantage to beat Jiri Lehecka and Machac by 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Via AP
Photo: Swede Mikael Ymer returned a shot from Canadian Vasek Pospisil in a Davis Cup match
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