Australia narrowly defeated France in a thrilling Group B opener at the Davis Cup Finals on Tuesday, with Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell securing the doubles decider in Valencia. Meanwhile, defending champions Canada started strong with singles victories in Group D against Argentina, and Germany swept past Slovakia in Group C action in Zhuhai, China.
Australia, 28-time Davis Cup winners and last year’s runners-up, were set on the right path by Thanasi Kokkinakis, who overcame a 2-4 deficit in the second set to beat Arthur Fils 7-6(4) 7-6(3). France quickly equalized when Ugo Humbert dispatched Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-2. The tie was settled in the doubles, with Ebden and Purcell defeating the seasoned French duo Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-5 5-7 6-3. This marked the third consecutive year Australia has bested France at the group stage.
Canada, champions in 2022, secured a 2-1 win over Argentina, thanks to Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Shapovalov, rebounding from a recent dip in form, beat Francisco Cerundolo 7-5 6-3, while Auger-Aliassime confidently dispatched Sebastian Baez 6-3 6-3. Argentina managed a consolation win in the doubles.
Germany cruised to a 3-0 victory over Slovakia. Maximilian Marterer defeated Lukas Klein 6-4 7-5, and Yannick Hanfmann edged Jozef Kovalik 3-6 6-3 7-6(3). Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz then secured the clean sweep in the doubles.
Elsewhere, Belgium overcame the Netherlands 2-1 in Group A action in Bologna, with reigning champions Italy set to begin their campaign against Brazil on Wednesday, albeit without US Open winner Jannik Sinner.
Sixteen nations are competing across four groups in Manchester, Bologna, Valencia, and Zhuhai. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Davis Cup Final 8 Knockout Stage in Malaga, Spain, this November.
