Heroics of Goffin and Darcis see Belgium book France Davis Cup final
Belgium will face France in the Davis Cup final after David Goffin and Steve Darcis secured memorable victories over Australia's Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson on Sunday.
Australia had led the semi-final 2-1 following a win in Saturday's doubles rubber, but Goffin came from a set down to defeat Kyrgios 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-4 6-4 in Brussels to level the tie.
Kyrgios had appeared in ominous good form early in the match, claiming the first set in a tie-breaker with an emphatic ace down the T.
But Goffin, cheered on by a raucous home crowd, steadily grew into the contest, dropping just one point on serve in the second set before levelling it up at 1-1 with an ace of his own.
And there was no stopping the world number 12 after that, as an inspired Goffin chased down every ball and repeatedly hit the lines with unerring accuracy.
A costly double fault saw Kyrgios fall 5-4 behind in the fourth set, the enraged Australian destroying his racquet before Goffin held to love to send the semi-final to a decisive fifth rubber.
What. A. Win! @David__Goffin completes a stunning 67(4) 64 64 64 win over Nick Kyrgios to force a live 5th! #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/DUHWunvHLw
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 17, 2017
Gritty veteran Darcis then finished the job, the 33-year-old winning a marathon rally - the best of the day - in the second set before securing a double break in the third to see off the valiant Thompson 6-4 7-5 6-2.
A 49-shot rally!!
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 17, 2017
Great from both @stevedarcishark and @jordanthommmo2 #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/FyEH9GnTlc
Earlier, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga recovered from a slow start to beat Dusan Lajovic 2-6 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 and seal a 3-1 victory for France over Serbia in Lille.
@tsonga7 defeats Lajovic 26 62 76(5) 62 and France will contest the 2017 #DavisCup Final! pic.twitter.com/HCBq6ZlDUJ
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 17, 2017
Tsonga, the world number 18, was broken twice to lose the opening set but did not give up his serve after that, as France progressed to their second final in the space of four years, having lost the 2014 decider to Switzerland on home soil.
Belgium, appearing in their third final, will be hoping to make up for the disappointment of falling to an Andy Murray-inspired Great Britain in 2015.