From our special correspondent in Pau,
To discover
Davis Cup: Schedule and results
With the victories the day before Adrian Mannarino and Arthur Rinderknech, the Blues were only one victory away from qualifying for the second phase of the competition scheduled for September.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, respectively eighth and seventh in doubles, were clearly favored in the predictions against the Ecuadorian pair Gonzalo Escobar (40th) and Diego Hidalgo (138th).
During the last edition of the competition, the two South American left-handers had twice hung a third set against Russia and Spain.
Distrust was therefore in order for the winners of the last Masters of Turin.
But as almost always in the Davis Cup, the duo responded.
To the delight of the people of Pau.
The atmosphere has gone up a notch again this Saturday at the Palais des Sports.
It must be said that the
attendance was more provided than the day before with 3850 spectators.
And puns have flourished in the stands: "We have Pau to be there" or "Chapau les Bleus" ...
Led by a good Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the Blues immediately took the opposing service on their third break opportunity thanks to a winning forehand return from the Alsatian.
To make matters worse for the Ecuadorians, Gonzalo Escobar had his right shoulder massaged during the change of sides, while his team was trailing 3-0.
A medical time out was taken by the visitors.
The Ecuadorian's left shoulder held, like the French break lead.
Solid on their commitments, the two tricolors won the first act 6-3 in 39 minutes.
With 5 aces and 65% of points gained behind their first balls, the Blues did not tremble.
Back to the wall, the Ecuadorians in turn broke the tricolor pair in the sixth game of the second set.
Helped by a double fault from Herbert which allowed them to break away 4-2.
Stung, the former world number ones in the specialty immediately broke thanks to a winning missile in return for a long-line backhand from Pierre-Hugues Herbert, surprising Escobar.
The South American duo erased a first break point at 6-5 against him.
Not the second.
The essential Herbert succeeding in an unstoppable winning cross backhand passing.
The veteran Mahut, despite two double faults in the final game, finished the job on his serve to offer himself a logical success 6-3, 7-5 and a qualification for the second phase of the competition in September.
