Sunday will be decisive in the first round of the world group I of the Davis Cup between Switzerland and Ecuador (1-1). If Marc-Andrea Hüsler (ATP 87) fulfilled his contract in the opening single in Salinas, Henri Laaksonen (ATP 123) then missed the boat.
Preferred to Dominic Stricker (ATP 124) for the place of Swiss no. 2, the Schaffhousois lost 6-4 6-3 to the best Ecuadorian player, Emilio Gomez (ATP 120). He found the resources to come back from 2-4 to 4-4 in the initial set, but cracked in stride by conceding five games in a row.
Doubtless crucial double
Established for the third time in singles in this competition, Marc-Andrea Hüsler has however mastered his subject on the hard court of the Salinas Golf & Tenis Club. He easily won 6-4 6-2 in front of the modest Roberto Quiroz (ATP 260), without having had to face the slightest break point.
The Zurich left-hander will therefore be under pressure on Sunday. He will first be lined up alongside Dominic Stricker in a double which promises to be crucial, once morest specialists Gonzalo Escabor / Diego Hidalgo (from 6 p.m. Swiss time). He will then have to face Emilio Gomez in the clash of our 1s.
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