It is for his ability to take the game against non-peer defender Borna Coric, Jeremy Chardy (40th in the world, 25th in 2013) was aligned by Yannick Noah. The French had won the last duel, already played on clay.
Yannick Noah has probably never built his weekend so much. The change of formula this season, with the possibility of having five players on the score sheet and no longer four, allowed him to set up a three-day battle plan. Of course, it can crumble tomorrow night if the Croatians lead 2-0. But the quality of the opponent forced the captain to take options of anticipation, according to an internal source in the group: "Yannick wanted Chardy face Coric on Friday. For that, it was necessary that Lucas Pouille (No. 1) remains on the bench tomorrow before, most likely, to leave Sunday.
Jérémy Chardy does not have an extraordinary ratio against Borna Coric but he leads (2-1, 1-1 on clay) and he especially won the last duel on the ocher, in Monte-Carlo, last year ( 7-6, 3-6, 6-3): "It's always good to have beaten his opponent, to be able to rely on the tactics set up during the successes. Tomorrow's one will however be different. I must not focus too much on him but rather on me to get the victory. "
Noah: "Jeremy is a great attacker"
At the time, the Croatian (49th) was not yet the regular player (12th) he became this season (winner in Halle beating Federer, finalist in Shanghai, semi-finalist at Indian Wells). Nevertheless, the predictable opposition of styles seduced Yannick Noah: "Jeremy has enormous potential. I'm glad we did some things that he may not be used to working on. When one does exercises, matches, tests, he is always very efficient. A Davis Cup game wins. To win, you have to attack. And Jeremy is a great attacker. I expect him to play as he knows how to play, even if it's his first final. "
On clay courts indoor, conditions in which he learned to play in Pau , Béarnais is unbeaten in Davis Cup (Austria 2011, Great Britain 2017). According to a witness last week's training at the center of league of Flanders, Jeremy Chardy (40) was "better than Tsonga and Puglia, by far" . His big slaps very lifted in forehands have done wonders. What prompted him to mention a possible start on Monday: "There is always a fear, as for every big match. But stress and apprehension, it's a combination that allows you to get the best out of yourself. "
Pioline Bale Collector
He stayed on the same wavelength on Friday: "I feel good, I am well prepared. I can not wait to be there. It's a special match, a great moment, yes, but I know I'm going to have all my friends behind me. I must approach this meeting in the same way as another. "
Not so simple, especially since he has not beaten Top 15 since March and Miami (Grigor Dimitrov, 4th) and conceded his only loss in Davis Cup (4 capes), already on clay, in April, at the quarterfinal in Italy against Fabio Fognini (20th). Nor should his childhood memories overload him with emotion: "The Davis Cup has always been what made me dream. She has spent three times in Pau (Brazil 1999, Czech Republic 2002, Russia 2006) and every time I was there. First, I was even a ball-gatherer. I was 12 years old and the stress of doing blunders. There was Escudé, Grosjean, Santoro, Delaître, and Pioline. Today, Cedric is in our staff. I told him: You realize, I picked up your balls. Now, Yannick Noah's assistant picks up Jeremy Chardy's ...