Belgians beat Italy to set up Aussie clash

David Goffin sent Belgium into the their second Davis Cup semi-final in three years on Sunday with a decisive victory over Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi in Charleroi.

Belgium will now host Australia in September for a spot in the final.

Goffin’s 6-3 6-3 6-2 triumph in front of a boisterous home crowd gave Belgium an unassailable 3-1 lead.

France sealed victory over Britain on Saturday and will face Novak Djokovic’s Serbia who also saw off Spain in two days.

Belgium, beaten by Britain in the 2015 final, had been one point away from beating Italy on Saturday only for Joris de Loore and Rubens Bemelmans to lose their doubles against Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi having had a matchpoint.

Any hope of an Italy comeback were snuffed out by Goffin though who was ruthless against Lorenzi as he took his record to 13 wins in 14 Davis Cup singles matches.

“I am very happy, I knew David had the level but you have to deliver and he did. He played a very professional match, handling the nerves,” Belgium skipper Johan van Herck said.

“I think we have a really good team. Australia do too … we have the home advantage. We have a chance to beat them.

“This doesn’t have to end here. We are going to go into the semi-final with a lot of ambition and try to reach our second final in three years.”

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!