HELSINGBORG, February 3, 2024

Brazil secured an impressive triumph at the Davis Cup Qualifiers against Sweden in Helsingborg, with their top-ranked player, Thiago Monteiro, leading the South American team to victory through a second singles win in the tie.

After an intense first day of action at the Helsingborg Arena left the score tied at 1-1, the doubles rubber proved crucial to the final outcome on Saturday. Felipe Meligeni Alves and Rafael Matos claimed a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Filip Bergevi and Andre Goransson in one hour and 28 minutes.

Initially dominating, the Brazilian duo won the first set, capitalizing on two of their 11 break-point chances and not facing a single break point on their own serve. Although the second set was more closely contested, with Alves and Matos facing a hiccup when serving for the match at 5-4, they managed to secure a crucial break, granting Brazil’s top-ranked singles player, Monteiro, the opportunity to clinch the tie in his match against Elias Ymer.

“Happy to have reached this point for Brazil,” said Alves. “It was a very difficult match, the first time we played a point like that in a 1-1.”

Matos added: “The energy was fundamental, both ours and the team’s support off the court.”

The highly anticipated clash between two top-ranked singles players in this tie unfolded as a tense battle. Sweden’s No. 1 Ymer took the opening set 6-4 against Monteiro and it seemed that the tie was heading towards a decisive fifth rubber.

However, Brazil’s World No. 119 fought his way back into contention during a tense second set, securing a crucial break of serve at 4-4. With the pair’s head-to-head record standing at 1-1 before the match, Monteiro tipped the balance in his favor, steering Brazil towards victory in the third set.

Breaking serve twice in the third set, Monteiro sealed a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 triumph, securing Brazil’s place in the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage in September.

Pure delight from the Brazilian #DavisCup team 🇧🇷😍

That winning moment ✨@cbtenis pic.twitter.com/Cj9JCgZUXR

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) February 3, 2024

“I’m just happy to help the team,” said Monteiro. “Everyone had put a lot of effort in to make this work. It is the job of the whole team. They have all put so much energy into this and I am proud to be part of this team.

“It is a huge confidence for us to have Rafa and Felipe play the doubles for us in this team and win and I just wanted to go out there and do the job.

“I tried to fight for every point. The key game of the match was at 4-3 in the second set when I turned the game around and broke in the next game.”