Led 0-1, the Blues are counting on the neo-retired Richard Gasquet who must beat the Italian Flavio Cobolli.
France is led 1 to 0 by Italy during the decisive duel for the accession to the final of the Hopman Cup, a mixed tennis event between six nations, Friday in Bari (southeast of Italy). Chloé Paquet, 156th in the world, lost 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 10-8, against Lucia Bronzetti (64th) in the first simple, not without having pushed two match balls to 5-3 in the second set.
The French chances of accessing the final are now based on the shoulders of Richard Gasquet, released at 39 years from his retirement taken at Roland-Garros to compete in this competition. Gasquet (182nd) must beat Flavio Cobolli, recent quarter finalist in Wimbledon and 19th in the ATP ranking, to bring the two teams tied. If Gasquet’s success, the fate of this duel will be played in the evening during a mixed double.
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Victory or door
In the event of a defeat of Gasquet, France will be eliminated and Italy qualified for the final where it will face the group’s winner on Sunday, composed of Spain, Greece and Canada. On Thursday, France beat Croatia, title holder, 2 to 1. Italy also beat Croatia on the same score on Wednesday at the opening of the competition.
The Hopman Cup was from 1988 to 2018 one of the first meetings of the season in Perth in Australia. After four years of interruption, it took place in Nice, in France, in 2023. It did not take place in 2024 due to the Paris Olympic Games.
