Monaco’s Davis Cup team came agonisingly close to a remarkable upset against Portugal over the weekend but ultimately fell 3-2 in a tightly contested tie. The match, played in the heart of the Principality, was decided by fine margins, leaving the Monegasques with a mix of pride and frustration.

With the teams level at 1-1 after Saturday’s matches, Sunday’s doubles showdown saw Hugo Nys and Romain Arneodo take on Portugal’s Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral. The Portuguese pair took the first set 6-3 after an early break, with Borges dominating from the baseline. Monaco responded well in the second set, breaking serve at 2-2 following a powerful Nys forehand. They held their advantage to win 6-3 and level the match. But with the decisive set hanging in the balance, Nys and Arneodo lost serve at 5-6 after two costly errors, handing Portugal the victory at 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Valentin Vacherot then delivered a heroic performance to keep Monaco’s hopes alive in the fourth match. Up against the world No. 37 Borges, who was visibly fatigued from the doubles, Vacherot initially struggled, dropping the first set 6-4. However, he roared back in the second, cutting down his errors and breaking Borges twice to claim it 6-1. With momentum firmly on his side, Vacherot continued to dominate, securing a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory—his biggest career win.

The deciding match fell to Romain Arneodo, who was given the nod over Benjamin Balleret despite not playing singles on the ATP circuit all year. Facing Portugal’s Henrique Rocha, ranked 161st in the world, Arneodo started brightly, breaking early. But Rocha responded, breaking back to level at 5-5 before sealing the set 7-5. The second set played out in similar fashion, with Arneodo pushing his opponent hard but ultimately falling 7-5, 7-5, bringing an end to Monaco’s spirited campaign.

Despite the loss, Monaco’s players can take immense pride in their performance, pushing a higher-ranked Portuguese side to the limit and producing moments of brilliance throughout the weekend.

Image courtesy of MANUEL VITALI / COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT