Australia vs France Preview & Prediction | 2023 Davis Cup Finals | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Australia vs France on and what time does it start? Australia vs France will take place on Thursday 14th September, 2023 – not before 13:00 (UK)
Where is Australia vs France taking place? Australia vs France will take place at AO Arena in Manchester, UK
What surface is Australia vs France being played on? Australia vs France will take place on an indoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Australia vs France? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Australia vs France
Where can I watch Australia vs France? All matches can be watched on Tennis Channel International’s Pay TV, while all Great Britain matches will be televised and streamed on BBC platforms
THE PREDICTION
Australia may rue sending out fourth option Thanasi Kokkinakis instead of in-form Max Purcell on Wednesday but the Aussie came close in a three-set thriller against Jack Draper, who edge through in three hours to take a 1-0 lead for Great Britain. World number 12 Alex de Minaur then started poorly against British number two Dan Evans to go down a 1-6 in the first set and rarely troubled his opponent for long with an ultimately sorry performance handing the tie to Team GB 2-0. Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell, Wimbledon champions last summer, grabbed a crucial point back in straight sets over Evans and Neal Skupski in the doubles but Thursday’s clash with France will be as much about restoring some pride as anything else.
France have struggled in recent Davis Cup campaigns without an out-and-out star leading them but they suddenly look a consistent outfit capable of reaching the Finals after a superb 3-0 win over Switzerland. World number 34 Adrian Mannarino is the higher ranked player of the team but he was utilised well as second option, coming back from a set down to frustrate an early charge by Dominic Stricker, before world number 36 Ugo Humbert thoroughly impressed in straight sets over Stan Wawrinka. Seasoned doubles pros Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin coasted through a straight-sets win over cobbled-together singles players in Wawrinka and Marc-Andrea Huesler to prove the worth of having a dedicated doubles team and they could prove crucial in tougher ties to come this week.
Thanasi Kokkinakis will eager to make amends for Australia on Thursday but it remains to be seen if captain Lleyton Hewitt backs his man, as he so often does, to keep Max Purcell fresh for the doubles. Third option Jordan Thompson could well be the surprise choice here after beating Adrian Mannarino twice this summer but Mannarino leads that particular head-to-head 5-3 with two wins of his own this season, including indoors at the Dallas Open in February. Alex de Minaur leads Ugo Humbert 3-2 in their head-to-head but the Frenchman only recently beat the Aussie in straight sets at the Atlanta Open in July and he claimed the 2020 Antwerp Open title on an indoor hardcourt at De Minaur’s expense to lead 2-1 on hardcourts.
Australia have a lot to prove here but the tone of the tie will be set by their opening match as much as it was against Great Britain. This is a seriously tough call given the many different possible matches but take France to edge the tie with Humbert well capable of upsetting the version of Alex de Minaur we saw yesterday.
