Belgium rallies to beat Australia, advances to play France in Davis Cup final

David Goffin and Steve Darcis won their reverse singles matches as Belgium came from behind to defeat 28-time champion Australia 3-2 in the Davis Cup semifinals on Sunday, setting up a title match with France in November.

Back with the French team, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga earlier sent his country to its 18th final by defeating Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-2 in Lille. Around 100 kilometers (62 miles) away in Brussels, Belgium recovered from a 2-1 deficit on the indoor clay of the Palais 12.

France will host the final from Nov. 24-26 on a surface yet to be announced.

With Tsonga’s win, the French reached an unassailable 3-1 lead and the teams decided against playing the final rubber.

Belgium trailed after Saturday’s doubles but managed to turn things around in front of a buoyant crowd. David Goffin first rallied past Nick Kyrgios 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 before Steve Darcis defeated Jordan Thompson 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.

“It was so tough in the beginning,” said Belgium captain John van Herck. “Kyrgios was so tough, but David hung in and I think from then on we changed a little bit the momentum. It was a career-defining win for David. The way he played was unbelievable. All credit to Kyrgios and Thompson but I think we played unbelievable tennis.”

Goffin, who had not beaten Kyrgios in three previous matches, returned well and played astute tennis to counter his opponent’s big shots, extending his excellent Davis Cup record to 15 wins from 16 singles matches.

Goffin dropped his serve only once and fell onto his back after hitting two aces in succession to serve out the match after a three-hour battle.

“Everything is in the timing, I think,” Goffin said about his returns, adding “I see the ball earlier than the others so maybe that’s why I have a good return.”

Darcis was set to take on John Millman in the decisive rubber but Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt changed his lineup to send Thompson instead. The move did not pay off as Darcis put on a dominant display, converting five of seven breakpoints. He hit 34 winners and sealed the match on his first chance with a backhand volley that hit the net cord.

France avenged its loss to Serbia in the 2010 final and qualified for its first final since losing to Switzerland three years ago.

France won the last of its nine titles in 2001 against the Australians while Belgium will be chasing its first trophy in the team event after losing two finals.

“I’m relieved and happy,” said France captain Yannick Noah. “To win the Davis Cup is something extraordinary. Hopefully I will be able to win it with these lads.”

Noah already captained France to the 1991 and 1996 Davis Cup titles, and has not lost a final as team captain. As a player, he also won the French Open in 1983.

The French did a lap of honor after Tsonga won the decisive point against a depleted Serbian team that gave the hosts a tough challenge.