Darcis Dodges Moldovan's Upset Bid, Gives Belgium Lead

Belgium's No. 2 singles player and captain Steve Darcis gave his country a 1-0 lead over Team Moldova on Friday with a 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5 victory against Alexander Cozbinov. But for the former World No. 38, it was was anything but easy.

On paper, Darcis had a substantial experience advantage, having won 116 tour-level matches, including three against the Top 10. World No. 818 Cozbinov had never played a tour-level match, and he is 0-3 on the ATP Challenger Tour.

But the ATP Cup provides a stage for players like Cozbinov to shine, and he did that by pushing a veteran — who owns a win against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon — to the brink in a three-hour, 10-minute marathon that featured plenty of changes in momentum. Ultimately, despite letting slip a break advantage in both the second and third sets, Darcis held his nerve to give Belgian No. 1 David Goffin an opportunity to close out the tie for his country against Moldovan No. 1 Radu Albot.

Visit Official Website, ATPCup.com

Darcis, the two-time ATP Tour titlist who is retiring after this year’s Australian Open, was broken three times in the first set, with Cozbinov intelligently remaining patient despite Darcis' probing backhand slices. However, the Belgian surged with an around-the-net forehand for a winner to clinch the opener, leaping in celebration as his countrymen jumped out of their seats in Belgium’s team zone. 

When Darcis broke to lead in the second set, it appeared his class would allow him to cruise the rest of the way. But Cozbinov was fighting for not just himself, but his country, and he relentlessly battled. Even a 4/0 lead in the second-set tie-break was not enough for Darcis, with the Moldovan winning seven consecutive points to force a decider. And although Darcis let slip a break late in the set — even with Cozbinov appearing to cramp — the Belgian finally closed out Sydney's first match of the ATP Cup.

During the match, Thomas Johansson, who is Goffin's personal coach, assisted Darcis with advice. Darcis will quickly return to Ken Rosewall Arena to serve in his captain role as Goffin tries to close out the tie against Albot. The 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up leads Albot 3-0 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2rTse7I