November 27, 2017 | By Eric C. Peck
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France captured its 10th Davis Cup title, with a 3-2 victory over Belgium at Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France. World number 18 Lucas Pouille clinched the victory for the French with a 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 win over Steve Darcis, currently ranked 77th in the world.
Pouille entered the match having lost his past two Davis Cup matches, competing in a live Davis Cup fifth rubber for the first time in his career.
“I’m just so proud of my team,” said Pouille. “We really wanted this trophy, and we finally got it after 16 years … I’m very happy.”
It was the second year in a row that the Davis Cup Finals came down to a live fifth rubber, as Argentina defeated Croatia 3-2 in 2016.
David Goffin got Belgium off to a 1-0 lead with his opening finals match, a 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 win over Pouille. World number 15 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga tied it up for France in the second match with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Darcis. The duo of Richard Gasquet & Pierre-Hugues Herbert put France back up on top 2-1 with a hard-fought 6-1, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 win over the Belgian team of Ruben Belmans & Joris DeLoore. Goffin tied things up for Team France with a 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Tsonga. Pouille’s domination over Darcis sealed the win in the rubber match for France.
The last time France won the Davis Cup was in 2001 when they defeated Australia. France joins Great Britain in a tie for third all-time with 10 total Davis Cup championships.
“It was a victory we had been dreaming of,” said Noah. “It’s a united group and a tough weekend against a good Belgian team,” said Yannick Noah, Captain of Team France. “Lucas played a fantastic final match.”
Noah also served as Captain of the French team in 1991, when France won its first Davis Cup title in 59 years.
