Australia beats France in Davis Cup play in Spain

Thanasi Kokkinakis (YouTube)

Australia has won their first tie in the group stage of the 2024 Davis Cup. On Tuesday in Valencia, Spain, Australia beat France two matches to one in Group B action.

Australia’s first win came in the first match, as Thanasi Kokkinakis of Adelaide, Australia beat Arthur Fils of France 7-6, 7-6. In the first set tiebreak, Kokkinakis won 7-4, and in the second set tiebreak, Kokkinakis won 7-3. One key statistic was the fact that Fils did not make the most of his opportunities. Kokkinakis had eight break point chances, and only broke Fils once. This was their first meeting head-to-head.

France tied the match at one. Ugo Humbert defeated Alexei Popyrin of Sydney 6-3, 6-2.

Then in the deciding rubber, the Australian duo of Matthew Ebden of Perth, and Max Purcell of Sydney defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. It has been quite the summer for Ebden and Purcell. At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Ebden teamed up with John Peers of Melbourne to win the gold medal in men’s doubles. Ebden and Peers beat the American duo of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in the final, 6-7, 7-6, [10-8]. Then in the men’s doubles final of the 2024 United States Open on Saturday, Purcell and Jordan Thompson of Sydney beat the German duo of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz 6-4, 7-6.

Australia next plays the Czech Republic on Thursday and then Spain on Sunday. Spain is facing the Czech Republic in Group B action on Wednesday. In other action, Belgium beat the Netherlands 2-1, Germany beat Slovakia 3-0, the United States beat Chile 3-0, and Canada beat Argentina 2-1.