The star of the Blues, sparkling the day before against Stan Wawrinka and company, has pale a little under the blows of racket of the Australians, finalists of the previous edition, out winners Thursday of the decisive double.
The two teams have a victory each on the eve of the clash between Switzerland and Great Britain of Andy Murray, which the French will have to challenge in a room announced full in Manchester (more than 13,000 seats), Sunday, at the conclusion of the group stage.
There will be Friday "a day to recover a little, digest, and after preparing well because it will be a big fight, with a Davis Cup atmosphere," commented captain Sebastien Grosjean at the microphone of BeIN Sports.
The top two qualifying spots for the Davis Cup quarterfinals, scheduled for November in Malaga, Spain, moved away on Thursday, despite a good start in the afternoon.
Mannarino hampered with adductors
The impeccable Adrian Mannarino (34th in the world) extended his invincibility this week by mastering Max Purcell (43rd), his attacking game and powerful serves (14 aces), as well as an adductor discomfort that he has been dragging since the US Open.
France's Ugo Humbert (l) beaten by Australia's Alex de Minaur, on September 14, 2023 in Manchester © Darren Staples / AFP
Even if he knows he is "always on the tightrope", the 35-year-old left-hander is "able to play (his) best tennis" so far, he told the broadcaster afterwards. "It's a bit of a mystery when I get up every morning, +how I'm going to manage to walk+, but for now it holds".
His physical condition adds a veil of uncertainty following the adventures and could, in case of complication, lead to a hasty launch into orbit for Arthur Fils, newcomer at 19 years old in the tricolor selection.
On Thursday, the first point reported by "Manna" (7-6, 6-4) was then erased by Alex De Minaur, 12th in the world, who enforced his rank against Ugo Humbert (36th), 7-6, 6-3.
The fate of the match was then decided in the doubles and, unfortunately for the Blues, the pair formed by Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Nicolas Mahut was no match for Matt Ebden and Max Purcell (7-5, 6-3), who appeared superior throughout the exchange.
© 2023 AFP