Fernando Gonzalez defeated Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to give Chile an unbeatable 3-1 lead in their first-round series and a place in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Davis Cup tennis event.
Chile will face the Czech Republic in the next round that will be played in July.
The Davis Cup series in Chile started a day late after the Israeli team had problems arriving in the country following the earthquake that hit just over a week ago. The match was played in Coquimbo, located about 300 miles north of Santiago.
Chile’s Jorge Aguilar was playing Harel Levy of Israel in the last singles match later Monday.
Sela admitted he had not played his best tennis and had regrets about chances lost in previous matches. “I should have won over Massu on Saturday” he said. “Things would have gone in a different way if we had been 2-1 ahead today. Facing Gonzalez when going 1-2 is very difficult.”
“The important thing was to win, whichever the way,” Gonzalez said. “We are very happy with this victory, and we hope it is something to get happy about, even if it’s small happiness, for all the people affected by the earthquake.”
Regarding the tie with Czech Republic, Gonzalez is cautious. “It’s going to be really tough," he added. "I know them very well, it’s a team I respect very much and it will be not easy to face them. But if we all are well, we may beat them."
Source AP/Davis Cup
