Zeballos, fifth in the world in the doubles ranking, and “Machi” González (24), consummated their victory in one hour and 29 minutes on the Guillermo Vilas central court of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, before no more than 2,000 spectators who supported stoic the rain for most of the game.
The Argentine team, with the debut as captain of William Coriaachieved the point he needed to rub shoulders with the elite Davis countries since his last participation in 2019, in the Finals that will be played next September.
Argentina had been one point away from winning the tie on Friday after the wins achieved by Sebastián Báez over Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7-4) and 6-3, and by Diego Schwartzman against Tomas Machac 2-6. , 6-2 and 6-3.
The importance of the doubles point motivated the Czech captain to change the formation, since he had announced Vit Kopriva and Zdenek Kolar last Thursday during the series draw, but with the score 2-0 down, he decided to include his two best tennis players , although it did not work as Zeballos and González were far superior.
At the beginning of the game, under a light drizzle, Zeballos from Mar del Plata started better, looser than “Machi” González and owner of the best points, especially those he defined in the net.
Argentina’s first advantage came with a return by “Machi” González to Lehecka’s body that allowed Machac to break serve and take a 4-3 lead just as people began to open their umbrellas to shelter from the rain at this intense height.
With Zeballos inspired and González from Tandil accompanying very well, it was not surprising that the Argentine couple won the first set 6-4 to unleash the first celebration of the afternoon with the public singing loudly “Come on, come on Argentina, come on, let’s win” , a football and tennis classic.
In the second set, the Argentines maintained the intensity with the field that favored them, increasingly heavy due to the rain, although somewhat slippery, and thus they broke Machac again with a lucid forehand from “Machi” González, to get 1- 0, an advantage that was later stretched to 2-0 with a good serve from Mar del Plata.
The Czechs, two singles players who took on the doubles point to try to achieve a sporting feat and reverse the tie, could not find answers before two specialists like “Zebo” and “Machi”, so it was not surprising that the “albiceleste” couple maintained their dominance .
The closing was full orchestra with Zeballos at the service and Machi volleying in the net with luxurious touches and with a total command of the stage and the Argentine bench prepared for the celebrations.
Argentina achieved the victory by 6-4 and 6-4 with the second match point that he had and made concrete with a formidable right hand from Zeballos that unleashed a great celebration throughout the stadium, from the people and from the other members of the national team.
The “Wizard” Coria, who made a successful debut as captain, entered to hug Zeballos and “Machi” González, and then Báez, Schwartzman and Federico Coria joined.
In addition, the celebration included two Davis Cup champions such as Corrientes Leonard Mayerwho collaborated with the coaching staff of “Wizard” Coria throughout the week, and Frederic Delboniswho had been summoned but was sidelined from the team by a hip injury.
With the series decided in favor of Argentina, the “Wizard” Coria and the captain of the Czechs Jaroslav Navratil agreed to play only the fourth point between “Fefo” Coria and Vit Kopriva.
Federico Coria, Guillermo’s younger brother and ranked 69th in the ATP world ranking, prevailed over Kopriva (168) after an hour and 25 minutes in the match that closed the series, without rain as in the previous double.
The reality is that Argentina did not fail and confirmed their favoritism on the pitch, and that by defeating the Czech Republic they won one of the 16 places available for the group stage of the Davis Finals, which will be played from 14 to Next September 18 (after the US Open), in four different venues that will be announced in mid-March.
Source: Ambito
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