Italy takes 2-1 lead over Kazakhstan in Davis Cup
Italy’s Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli defeated the Kazakh duo of Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 76 (86), 63, 67 (1315), 64 in Davis Cup doubles action Saturday, giving the visitors a 21 lead heading into the reverse singles.
Fognini and Bolelli, who filled in for Paolo Lorenzi due to the match’s pivotal importance, won on the strength of their superior return game, creating 10 breakpoint opportunities and converting three of them.
The Italians were only broken once during Saturday’s match at the National Tennis Center in Astana, and they managed to recover from that slight setback to take the first set in a close tiebreaker.
The Kazakhs, however, showed their resolve in the third set, staying alive by winning a thrilling tiebreaker.
Golubev and Nedovyesov also managed to create one break point in the final set their first such chance since the first set but they failed to convert it and the Italians clinched the hardfought, victory shortly afterward.
Kazakhstan now needs to win both of Sunday’s singles matches to earn a berth in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
The squad’s No. 1 players, Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin and Italy’s Andreas Seppi, will square off in the first contest, to be followed by a potential fifth and deciding rubber pitting Golubev against Bolelli.
France, meanwhile, finished off a 30 victory over Germany on Saturday, while the United States trails Britain 21 after winning the doubles.
The Czech Republic got on the board against Australia with a victory in the doubles but still trails 21, Serbia wrapped up a 30 victory over Croatia, and Belgium took a 21 lead over defending champion Switzerland, which is missing its top two players, Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka.
Argentina and Brazil are tied 11 and Canada and Japan also are knotted at one match apiece heading into Saturday’s doubles.