Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Monday 27 noveMber 2017
Noah ends ‘losing culture’ as France wins Davis Cup title

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN cas Pouille who ended the
AP Sports Writer drought for France, win-
LILLE, France (AP) — Mission ning the decisive match for
accomplished. the hosts.
When he was re-appointed Pouille’s lopsided 6-3, 6-1,
France’s Davis Cup cap- 6-0 win over Steve Darcis in
tain two years ago, Yan- the second reverse singles
nick Noah said he had a ended a run of three losses
“clear plan.” in finals.
The former French Open “There are no words need-
winner put it into practice, ed,” said Pouille, after
and brought back the Da- playing for the first time in
vis Cup trophy to France for a decisive fifth Davis Cup
the first time in 16 years on rubber. “Just look at the
Sunday. atmosphere and the emo-
Noah, a charismatic figure tion. We really wanted this
in France who became trophy and finally we got it
a successful singer, led after 16 years.”
France to its 10th title in the Pouille had lost his two pre-
team event with a 3-2 win vious Davis Cup matches
over Belgium in the final. — including his opening
Noah, who captained the singles against Goffin on France’s captain Yannick Noah celebrates as Belgium’s Steve Darcis plays France’s Lucas Pouille
team to his third victory af- Friday — but was in total during their Davis Cup final single match at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille, northern France,
ter winning the Davis Cup control against Darcis and Sunday, Nov.26, 2017.
title in 1991 and 1996, said did not face a single break (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
the key to success was to point.“Too bad for those of serve in the set gave never looked back, taking after winning 12 straight
end the “losing culture” who had buried me on Fri-
that had taken hold of the day,” Pouille said. “I want- Pouille a 4-1 lead and he the second and third sets games.q
French team. ed to destroy everything
“Over the past 16 years on court.”
everybody got used to de- France joined Britain in third
feat,” Noah said. “I had place on the list for the
never felt that before and most Davis Cup titles, be-
it destroyed me. I fully real- hind the United States (32)
ized it during the semifinals. and Australia (28).
It was tough.” France had won its last title
France had a relatively in 2001, and lost in finals in
easy path to the title this 2002, 2010 and 2014.
year, while Noah’s prede- Goffin had earlier kept
cessor Arnaud Clement alive his country’s hopes of
had to deal with the likes a first title in the team com-
of Roger Federer and Stan petition by leveling the tie
Wawrinka in France’s pre- at 2-2. Goffin beat Jo-Wil-
vious final against Switzer- fried Tsonga 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-2
land in 2014. in the first reverse singles
In victories over Japan, Brit- match in the French city of
ain and Serbia this year, Lille.
Noah’s players gained from Pouille, who was born close
the absence of Kei Nishiko- to Lille, used his powerful
ri, Andy Murray and Novak groundstrokes to unsettle
Djokovic, respectively. And Darcis, who had a perfect
in the final, apart from Da- 5-0 record in decisive fifth-
vid Goffin, Belgium players rubber Davis Cup matches.
were not up to the task. But Darcis never got into
Back in 1991, Noah helped the swing of the match and
France create one of the looked in trouble through-
biggest upsets in Davis Cup out.
history when it captured its Pouille made the most of his
first title in 59 years by beat- Belgian rival’s many errors
ing defending champion in the first set, converted his
United States. first break point in the sec-
In contrast Sunday, any- ond game and wrapped
thing other than a win up the opener after drop-
would have been regard- ping just eight points on his
ed as a failure. serve.
“Now we are going to surf Despite being known for his
that successful wave,” said fighting spirit, Darcis looked
Noah, whose future at the out of his depth and
helm of the squad remains dropped his serve again in
unclear. the third game of the sec-
On the indoor hard court of ond set, surrendering to
the Pierre Mauroy stadium, his opponent’s forehand
it was the 18th-ranked Lu- onslaught. Another break