The Briton won their third duel in four encounters to push France to the brink of the precipice. Adrian Mannarino erased two break points from his serve at 1-1. Led 0-40, the Val d'Oisien had to save three more opportunities from the Briton in the fifth game. It was on his sixth opportunity that the 25th in the world nabbed Mannarino's service in the seventh game. But at the time of wrap up, Evans foiled and was broken on a shutout. A respite for Mannarino who in the next game again lost his serve. Evans concluding the first act with a shutout (7-5).
The debates remained balanced in the second set.
The 25th in the world showing himself to be the most enterprising and the 71st, too feverish at key moments.
The Frenchman thus let slip two break points in the seventh game. Evans, for his part, took advantage of a poor game serving the Frenchman in the ninth game. Very solid, he was able to conclude with a shutout on his commitment.
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The rookie Arthur Rinderknech, preferred to Richard Gasquet, out of the shot Thursday against the Czech Republic, will have to achieve a small feat against Cameron Norrie, to maintain hope.
This year on earth in Lyon, the two men had clashed and the 58th world had offered a good resistance to the 12th.
He no longer has a choice if France wants to hope to continue the adventure.
Thursday, the Blues started with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic.
A success today against the British would allow France to validate its qualification for the quarter-finals.
In short, nothing is lost yet but in the event of a defeat against the British, the chances of the Blues to finish among the two best second would be extremely low.