Australia scored a strong start to the 2024 Davis Cup with the team out to make amends for the past two years.
The Aussies rolled France 2-1 to kick things off in Group B on Wednesday morning (AEST).
They’ve been runner-up in the international competition the past two years.
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Thanasi Kokkinakis won his singles clash against Arthur Fils, before Alexei Popyrin went down to France’s No.1 player Ugo Humbert to level things up.
In the doubles, Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Edouard Roger-Vasselin saved a match point then took the second set of the decisive match but ultimately lost to Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
Australia served 16 aces to France’s nine, and had only 17 unforced errors to their opponent’s 37 for the tie.
France were better at the net and won 18 points there in contrast to Australia’s 15.
“We were unlucky not to get the second [set], but we knew we just had to reset and play another good set,” Ebden said.
Kokkinakis was thrilled to win his match after being a late call-up to replace the injured Alex de Minaur.
“Obviously we’ve got a lot of options and great depth at the moment, so I still wasn’t sure if I’d get the call-up,” Kokkinakis said.
“I’m happy that Lleyton (Hewitt) trusted me to go in there and do the job.”
Watch the 2024 Davis Cup tennis for free on 9Now.
Italy beat Australia for the 2023 title.
Among other big names competing this week are Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and British player Jack Draper, who made it to the US Open semi finals last week.
Even without world No.2 Alexander Zverev, Germany defeated Slovakia 3-0.
Four groups play across four cities this week to qualify for the Final 8 knockout stage to be held in Malaga, Spain, in November. The top two in each four-team group will advance.
Germany and Slovakia were the first teams in action playing in China in Group C, which also includes the United States. The US plays China on Thursday.
Germany sent out Maximilian Marterer in the first singles match and the 104th-ranked player won 6-4, 7-5 against Lukas Klein. German Yannick Hanfmann then saved a match point and fought back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) against Jozef Kovalik in the second singles match.
US Open finalists Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz completed the German win by claiming the doubles match 7-5, 6-3 against Klein and Igor Zelenay.
Playing in Group D, Denis Shapovalov converted all four break points to defeat Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-3 and give Canada an early lead.
Felix Auger-Aliassime then beat Sebastian Baez 6-3, 6-3 to clinch Canada’s victory. It ended 2-1 after Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni came from behind to beat Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in doubles.