Led 2 points to 1, Belgium must react. To do this, Goffinwinner against Otto Virtanen (ATP 405) in three sets on Friday, confronts Rose mountain in the fourth match on the schedule. Belgian number one bretake the Finnish number one at the end of the first set and win the first showdown of the game (6-4). The Belgian starts the second set well, leading 2-0 quite quickly. Concentrated, well in his set, he does not loosen his grip, leading 4-1 then 5-1. He finally won the set with a score of 6-2, giving Belgium the equalizer at 2 units everywhere.
The decisive fifth game features a clash between Zizou Bergs (ATP 163), the Belgian number 2, and Otto Virtanen (ATP 405).
The winner of this duel between Finns and Belgians, played in five matches of two winning sets on hard surface indoors, qualifies for the final phase now played with sixteen countries, with the group phase in September and the final part in November.
Croatia, finalists for the 2021 edition, Great Britain and Serbia, invited, have already qualified. Defending champions Russia have been suspended”until further noticeon Tuesday by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Belgium had regained the world group thanks to their 2-3 victory against Bolivia on September 20 in Asuncion (Paraguay).
