Belgium channels resilience into Davis Cup semifinal surge

In the vibrant hum of Bologna's Unipol Arena, Belgium secured a semifinal berth at the Davis Cup Finals with a commanding 2-0 quarterfinal victory over France. The indoor hard courts amplified every baseline exchange, where the Belgians' steady aggression outlasted French unpredictability. This triumph, echoing their gritty 3-2 qualifier win in Australia last September, reignites hopes for a nation twice denied in past finals.

Collignon weathers Moutet's spin storm

Raphael Collignon, ranked No. 86 in the PIF ATP Rankings, absorbed an opening-set onslaught from Corentin Moutet, falling 2-6 as the left-hander's underspin slices carved sharp crosscourt angles that skewed his footing. Midway through the second set, Collignon recalibrated with deeper inside-out forehands, forcing Moutet into defensive lobs and evening the score at 7-5. His down-the-line passing shots in the decider clinched a 7-5 edge, the crowd's rising roar mirroring the shift from vulnerability to control after nearly two hours of probing rallies.

The Belgian's endurance shone against Moutet's drop-shot traps, shortening points with aggressive one-two serves to disrupt the Frenchman's rhythm on the slick surface. This resilience, honed through a season of underdog battles, lifted Belgium ahead and eased the shadows of 2015 and 2017 final heartbreaks.

Bergs masters late pressure against Rinderknech

Zizou Bergs carried the momentum into the second rubber, overpowering Arthur Rinderknech—fresh from his Shanghai final—with topspin groundstrokes that claimed the first set 6-3. He faltered at 5-3 in the second, double-faulting under the weight of serving for the match as Rinderknech unleashed booming down-the-line backhands. Regrouping swiftly, Bergs turned to crosscourt patterns targeting the Frenchman's weaker side, prevailing in a tense 7-6(4) tiebreak after one hour and 34 minutes of escalating intensity.

The arena's Belgian contingent erupted as he navigated that wobble, his inside-in forehands exploiting Rinderknech's power fluctuations on the pace-friendly courts. This mental fortitude, drawn from the team's qualifier grit, sealed the unassailable lead and transformed seasonal fatigue into semifinal fuel.

Semifinal stage tests evolved Belgian resolve

Now, Belgium awaits a Friday showdown with either two-time defending champion Italy or Austria, the hard-court stage demanding the same adaptive edge that dismantled France. Their history as 2015 and 2017 finalists infuses this run with quiet defiance, every point in Bologna a step toward Sunday's championship. As the Final 8 unfolds, the Belgians' fusion of strategy and steel positions them not just to compete, but to claim what has eluded them for years.