HELSINGBORG, March 4, 2022
Sweden and Japan are level at 1-1 after the opening day’s singles rubbers in the Davis Cup by Rakuten Qualifiers tie in Helsingborg.
In front of about 2,000 spectators inside the Helsingborg Arena, Yosuke Watanuki got the away team to a flying start with a 6-4, 6-4 win over World No. 327 Dragos Nicolae Madaras, who replaced Sweden’s top-ranked player Mikael Ymer. The World No. 85 was forced to withdraw from the match due to a wrist injury.
Watanuki capitalized on all of his five break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 21 minutes.
Later in the evening, Mikael’s older brother Elias Ymer defeated Japan’s No. 1 player Taro Daniel 7-5, 6-4. The World No. 133 struck 19 winners and broke his rival’s serve three times to secure victory in one hour and 57 minutes.
Sweden 1⃣ 🆚1⃣ Japan @eliasymer🇸🇪 sees off @tarodaniel93 🇯🇵 7-5 6-4 to level the tie in Helsingborg#DavisCup #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/X1uQ2xA1JF
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) March 4, 2022
In Saturday’s doubles rubber, Andre Goransson and Dragos Madaras are scheduled to face Yasutaka Uchiyama and Ben McLachlan. The reverse singles rubbers will be played afterwards.
