Monaco has made Davis Cup history after defeating Finland 3-1 to secure a place in the 2027 Davis Cup Qualifiers for the first time.
The historic result played out in Espoo, Finland, where Monaco faced the home team in a World Group I tie on 18th and 19th September. Entering the weekend ranked 35th in the Davis Cup nations rankings compared to Finland at 20th, Monaco looked to continue its quick rise after reaching World Group I for the first time earlier this year.
CATARINA MAKES HIS RETURN
The weekend began on Friday with Lucas Catarina making his return to competition following his retirement last year, facing Finland’s Otto Virtanen, currently ranked world No. 108.
Having not competed professionally in more than two years due to injury, Catarina struggled in the opening set, losing 6-0. He put up a stronger fight in the second, but Virtanen ultimately secured the match with a 6-3 second-set victory.
Catarina later revealed to Monaco Life that he had not originally expected to compete in Finland. However, after returning to training ahead of the tie, his level proved better than expected and he was ultimately selected to play. Despite his appearance in Finland, Catarina confirmed that he does not currently plan to make a full-time return to professional tennis.
Valentin Vacherot then faced world No. 446 Eero Vasa in Monaco’s second match of the day. The Monaco representative, world No. 21, took the first set 6-3 before a closer second set went to a tiebreak, where Vacherot secured a 7-6(3) victory, levelling the score at 1-1 heading into Saturday’s competition.
MONACO TAKES THE LEAD
Romain Arneodo and Hugo Nys opened Saturday’s competition against Finland’s Patrik Niklas-Salminen and Harri Heliövaara in doubles.
After losing the first set 6-3, the Monegasque duo turned the match around to win the following two sets 6-4, 6-3, giving Monaco a 2-1 advantage heading into the remaining singles matches. The comeback proved crucial, putting Monaco within one victory of securing its historic place in the Davis Cup Qualifiers.
Vacherot returned to the court next, this time facing Virtanen, with the opportunity to secure the decisive third victory for Monaco.
The opening set remained close before Vacherot took the tiebreak 7-6(3). Virtanen responded with a 6-4 victory in the second, sending the match to a deciding third set.
Vacherot ultimately came out on top, taking the third and final set 6-4, securing Monaco’s third victory of the weekend and making the fifth scheduled match unnecessary.
HISTORY MADE FOR MONACO
The result marks another historic step for Monaco’s Davis Cup team, which reached World Group I for the first time earlier this year and will now advance to the 2027 Davis Cup Qualifiers for the first time.
Vacherot played a key role in the achievement, winning both of his singles matches across the weekend. He spoke about the development of the Monaco team, particularly over the last five years, as well as the longstanding relationships between its players.
For Catarina, returning to the Monaco team also meant being part of a historic first for the Principality. Having first joined the Davis Cup team over 10 years ago, he has witnessed Monaco’s progression from fighting to remain in the lower divisions to now earning the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s leading tennis nations.
“Being back with the team for me was a very strange feeling, between nostalgia of my life as a tennis player that I could feel again for a week and the excitement of being able to live that again,” Catarina told Monaco Life. “I thought I would never feel that again. Just to be there with my friends and feel the emotions was amazing, playing the match even more.”
Catarina also credited the team’s rise to the development of its players and the strong friendships built across generations of Monaco’s Davis Cup team, including former players Benjamin Balleret and Thomas Oger, as well as current captain Guillaume Couillard.
“We managed through the years to build strong friendships between all of us and it’s always a big week of joy to be all together,” he said. “Everybody wants to win for the friends.”
The historic qualification adds another chapter to what has already been a remarkable period for Monegasque tennis. It comes less than a year after Vacherot surprised the tennis world with his victory at the Shanghai Masters. He will now return to China for the Asian portion of his season carrying another milestone with him, this time one achieved alongside his team.
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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali