Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win a Grand Slam title, celebrated his third Davis Cup title as captain when Lucas Pouille crushed Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 to give the hosts a 3-2 victory in the final against neighbour Belgium on Sunday. Noah had previously won in 1991 and 1996, while it was the 10th title for France.
It was France’s first title since it beat Australia away in 2001 before three defeats in the finals in 2002, 2010 and 2014, while Belgium has yet to win the title, having now lost three finals after defeats in 1904 and 2015.
“It was a victory we had been dreaming off,” said Noah. “It’s a united group. It was a tough weekend against a good Belgian team. Lucas played a fantastic final match.”
Belgian Goffin was by far the best player of the final but his teammate Steve Darcis scolded himself for being “appalling”.
“I’m appalled by my performance,” said the experienced 33-year-old Darcis.
Being outplayed by Tsonga was no shame for Darcis, but for a man who had never lost a deciding match in the Davis Cup before, the thrashing he received from Pouille, who had never before played a decisive rubber, was less expected.
“I’ve been spanked twice even if I tried my best,” he said.