France found itself unexpectedly trailing 1-0 at home in its Davis Cup semifinal against Serbia when Lucas Pouille was stunned 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(5) by Dusan Lajovic in the first singles match on Friday.
Pouille, the world number 22, was way too shaky in Lille’s Pierre Mauroy stadium, and he rapidly fell behind against world number 80 Lajovic, bowing out after saving five match points.
“This is what Davis Cup is about,” said Serbia captain Nenad Zimonjic. “Both players gave everything — they fought until the end.
“We know we need a miracle to win this tie but we believe in our team.”
France was heavily favoured with former Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic absent. But Pouille looked nervous early on, spraying the court with unforced errors while Lajovic made the difference with his forehand.
The results: At Lille: France 0 trails Serbia 1 (Lucas Pouille lost to Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(5). At Brussels: Belgium 1 leads Australia 0 (David Goffin bt John Millman 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.