UNITED CUP 2025 – First of two group matches for France, and first defeat in the decisive double against Switzerland, with hopes of qualification already almost buried.
Last year, the French team reached the semi-finals of the United Cup, a mixed team competition made up of a women’s singles, a men’s singles and a mixed doubles for each match. The Blues were this time placed in a complicated group with Italy and Switzerland, with only the winner and two of the best runners-up able to reach the quarter-finals.
It was therefore necessary to negotiate this first meeting with the Helvetians, but getting on the track looked complicated. If Belinda Bencic was making her comeback on the main circuit, she nonetheless remained intrinsically the huge favorite in her duel with Chloe Paquetwho replaced the injured Diane Parry at short notice. The difference in level was far too glaring for the Frenchwoman, beaten 6-3, 6-1 not without having fought, but which put France in a delicate situation.
Double disappointment
Fortunately, the following match looked much more favorable for the Blues. Ugo Humbert was in fact logically favored by the forecasts against Dominic Stricker300th in the world. Known for beating Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open 2022, the Swiss nevertheless offered great resistance in the second round, leading 5-2 and serving for the set before collapsing and bowing 6-3, 7-5. Head for the decisive double, as expected.
And while Léolia Jeanjean was announced, it is finally Élixane Lechemia who teamed up with Édouard Roger-Vasselin to face… Belinda Bencic et Dominic Stricker. French density was supposed to make the difference, but this was not the case. Submerged in the first set, the Blues reacted in the second, pushing their opponents to a tiebreak but never putting themselves in a real position to go for a third set. Defeat 6-1, 7-6 (4)lost meeting, place to Italy, favorite of the group, on the night of Monday to Tuesday. One more defeat, and the adventure will already be over.
