Having narrowly missed out on promotion to the Davis Cup’s World Group I after losing to Portugal at the Monte-Carlo Country Club at the start of February, Monaco have drawn Cyprus in the next round of the competition, a World Group II face-off that will take place in September.
The draw, which was held at the headquarters of the International Tennis Federation in London on 20th February, represents both an opportunity and a challenge for the Principality’s top players.
The team, featuring the likes of Valentin Vacherot, Benjamin Balleret, Hugo Nys and Romain Arneodo under the captaincy of Guillaume Couillard, is eager to bounce back after a heartbreaking defeat to Portugal in a recent World Group I play-off at home. That loss denied them promotion to the higher tier, making this upcoming Davis Cup fixture even more significant.
The Monaco-Cyprus match is scheduled to take place on either 12th and 13th September or 13th and 14th September, with both teams vying for a spot in the next round.
Monaco has a strong track record against Cyprus, having secured victories in their last two encounters in 2018 and 2021. However, past success guarantees nothing, and should Monaco falter, they will remain in World Group II, while a victory would keep them on the path for a return to World Group I via another play-off.
The Davis Cup, regarded as the premier international team event in men’s tennis, is organised annually by the International Tennis Federation and features over 150 competing nations. Monaco has participated since 1929 and will be looking to harness its long history and national pride to overcome Cyprus and keep its Davis Cup hopes alive.
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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department