With France 1-0 down to the Czech Republic after the opening rubber, Lucas Pouille put in an impressive display to defeat Jiri Vesely and put the tie right in the balance for the doubles match on Saturday. The 22-year-old won 7-6(2), 6-4, 7-5 in two hours 23 minutes in the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinal tie. 

Pouille wins set via tiebreaker

Lucas Pouille and Jiri Vesely both opened their service games with comfortable holds of serves. In just the third game, Vesely gave Pouille the run around which resulted in a break point opportunity. However, the Frenchman slammed an ace down, saved the point then won the next two points to stay in front. In the following game, it was the 22-year-olds turn to fashion a break point chance. With the score at 30-40, the 23-year-old Czech managed to erase the point and hold serve for 2-2.

Lucas Pouille reaches for a ball (Photo: Michal Cizek/Getty Images)
Lucas Pouille reaches for a ball (Photo: Michal Cizek/Getty Images)

Four games passed and with both players failing to get ahead, the Wimbledon quarterfinalist had a set point to his name, but Vesely hit an ace and saved set point. The Frenchman reached his second set point and once again Vesely denied the Davis Cup debutant and eventually held for 5-5. With nothing to split the players, the set went to a tiebreaker. Pouille dominated the breaker and won the opening set 7-6(2). 

Pouille wins crucial break, goes two sets up on Vesely

Pouille had the momentum on his side following the first set and with the crowd quietened down the Frenchman would take full advantage. With the score at 1-1, Vesely produced a double-fault and Pouille had three break point chances. Two were saved, but the Czech couldn't save a third and Pouille broke. He consolidated the break and seemed to be in control. However, this wouldn't be the case for the Frenchman as Vesely would strike back.

In the sixth game with the score at deuce, the world number 50 upped his game and got rewarded with a break point. Lucas Pouille served a double-fault and the scores were all level in the set. The world number 21 then stepped his game up and with the crowd now getting their voice back, the Frenchman silenced the crowd by getting the all important break in the ninth game. Pouille served his third ace and took the set 6-4 to go two sets to the good. 

Pouille levels the tie with straight sets win

Jiri Vesely levels had dropped significantly since Wimbledon and was climbing a mountain being two sets down. Pouille who rose to a career high of world number 21 after Wimbledon, got the first break of the set. In the third game, Vesely saved the first break point with an ace down the line, but couldn't stop the Frenchman from attacking and winning the point to break. Pouille wouldn't go on to consolidate as Vesely dug in deep to break immediately back on his third chance. In his first ever Davis Cup tie, Pouille was equipping himself well while Vesely was struggling to keep up with his opponent just a year younger than him.

Lucas Pouille celebrates with team mates following a straight sets win in his first ever Davis Cup match (Photo: Michal Cizek/Getty Images)
Lucas Pouille celebrates with team mates following a straight sets win in his first ever Davis Cup match (Photo: Michal Cizek/Getty Images)

As the set reached its conclusion, Pouille as he done for most of the match upped his game when he needed to the most. In the 11th game, the Frenchman grabbed a double break opportunity. Both were saved and the game was at deuce. The Frenchman would waste a third break point before eventually taking his chance and going 6-5 up. The debutant hit an ace and finished the match by winning in straights to get France back level. 

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