Davis Cup: Belgium in the semi-finals. France beaten, now awaits Italy

Belgium is the first semi-finalist of the Davis Cup Final Eight, taking place in Bologna. The team captained by Steve Darcis beat France 2-0 and awaits the winner of the quarter-final between Italy and Austria. Therefore, the Belgians could be our opponents in the semi-final: it certainly wouldn’t be a walk in the park but it wouldn’t be an impossible challenge either. One step at a time, anyway. In this first quarter of Bologna there wasn’t a big favorite, but the impression is that perhaps it was France who had a little more. As often happens, however, when the Belgians see the Davis Cup they transform and become better players than the ranking says.

2-0 Belgium: Bergs and Collignon win

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The first, very heavy point was taken home by Raphael Collignon (n.86 Atp) against Corentin Moutet (n.35 Atp), with a score of 2-6 7-5 7-5. The Frenchman, a player as talented as he is unpredictable (and not in a positive sense), will long remember that unfortunate shot under the legs at 6-2 5-6 15-15 in his favor, with the ball not even hit being sent clumsily into the net instead of supporting a very comfortable volley that would have brought him to within two points of the tie-break. But no: an error, an unfortunate shot that allowed Collignon to go ahead 15-30 and then break Moutet and win the second, and then also the third set. “Everyone will call me a clown,” said the Frenchman at the end of the match. Collignon confirms himself as Davis’ hero, after his incredible feat in Australia, where he even beat de Minaur. The victory that gave Belgium the semi-final then came from the wild Zizou Bergs (n.43 Atp) who beat Arthur Rinderknech (n.29 Atp) 6-3 7-6(4). Perfect match for Bergs, as often happens in Davis, who had the short arm at 5-4 and serve in the second set, when he didn’t close the match, but then played a great tie-break, beating a Rinderknech who appeared significantly less fit compared to the incredible performances of recent times.