BOLOGNA, Italy — Raphael Collignon beat Corentin Moutet 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday, giving Belgium a 1-0 lead over 10-time champion France.
Since the 2019 reshuffle, both teams have returned to this stage of the team competition. The Davis Cup quarter-finals in Bologna will be the sixth time the championship has been decided at a neutral venue.
Moutet’s tennis was solid until the 12th game of the second set, when he double-faulted twice and scored easily after trying a shot between his legs, losing his serve as Collignon forced a decider.
A similar situation unfolded in the third set, with Collignon getting a decisive break in the final set.
“It was a crazy game,” Collignon said.
French player Arthur Rinderknech faced Zizou Bergs in the second singles match. The tie will be a best-of-three set: two singles and one doubles.
France have won each of their past four meetings with Belgium, including the 2017 final.
The winner will face top-ranked Italy or Austria in Friday’s semifinals. The final two quarterfinals will take place on Thursday, with second-seeded Germany facing Argentina and Spain facing fourth-seeded Czech Republic.
Spain was without No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who withdrew early Tuesday with a hamstring injury.
