Results

Davis Cup

03/06/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/06/2021 06:00

Perfect Poland ease past El Salvador

Poland capped off a perfect performance in Kalisz with a 6-4 6-2 victory in Saturday's doubles to clinch their Davis Cup by Rakuten World Group II tie 3-0 against El Salvador.

Doubles world No. 11 Lukasz Kubot, who oozed confidence at the Kalisz Arena, teamed up with Jan Zielinski and the Polish pair needed exactly one hour to overcome Marcelo Arevalo and Lluis Miralles.

Kubot and Zielinski never looked troubled on their own serve - in fact El Salvador didn't have a single break point in the match - yet they piled on the pressure with attacking returns, targeting the more inexperienced Miralles in particular.

The match started on an even keel, with the first six games of the opening set showing no signs of what was yet to come. But when Miralles went 15-40 down at 3-3, Zielinski produced a huge backhand return winner, which sent the momentum spiralling towards the hosts.

Two more breaks of serve followed at the start of the second set and suddenly El Salvador's hopes of pulling off an already unlikely comeback seemed nigh on impossible.

For Poland, who didn't drop a set against El Salvador, this performance underlines their aspiration to be pushing for a place in the top flight of the competition.

In the meantime, they will have to be content to wait for the outcome of the remaining World Group II ties in September before finding out whether they have secured a spot in the 2022 World Group I Play-offs.

El Salvador will contest the World Group II Play-offs in February next year.

More to follow…