Ugo Humbert ensured a winning start for France in Group B of the Davis Cup Finals on Tuesday, defeating Stan Wawrinka to guide the 10-time champions to a decisive 2-0 lead in Switzerland.
The left-hander completed a perfect match against Wawrinka in Manchester, defeating the former world No. 3 6-4, 6-4 in 89 minutes of play. Because of this victory, Humbert placed France as the leader of Group B after the first round.
At the beginning of the day, Adrian Mannarino imposed his talent on the Swiss #NextGenATP Dominic Stricker, the recent executioner of Stefanos Tsitsipas on the way to the fourth round of the US Open last week.
Mannarino hit 22 winners and broke three times to come back 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 after two hours and three minutes of play. One of the great veterans at the age of 35, he has won six of his last eight Davis Cup matches. France is aiming to reach the Davis Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2018.
This week 16 countries compete in the Group Stage of the Davis Cup Finals between Tuesday and Sunday, hoping to reach the Final on November 8 in Malaga.
The countries will meet in four groups spread over four cities – Group A in Bologna, Group B in Manchester, Group C in Valencia and Group D in Split – advancing the top two countries from each group to the knockout stage within two months. .
France and Switzerland make up Group B along with Great Britain and Australia.
Dusan Lajovic and Laslo Djere wore the Serbian stripes in Valencia, where they achieved victories to defeat South Korea 2-0 in Group C in the Group Stage of the Davis Cup Finals.
In the first match of the day, Lajovic defeated Hong Seongchan 6-4, 7-6(3) after two hours and one minute of play to take the lead in the Balkans. Saved by the world No. 52 off all three broken balls faced to seal the win.
Djere ended Serbia’s victory in the first round of Group C, defeating Soonwoo Kwon 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Serbia, the 2010 Davis Cup champion, is looking to reach the quarterfinals for the third time in the last four seasons.
