Gustavo Heide turned a match that was slipping away into another point for Brazil in the Davis Cup. On Friday, September 18, he defeated Stan Wawrinka 4–6, 7–6(4), 6–4 at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The result gave the hosts a 2–0 lead over Switzerland at the end of the opening day of their World Group I tie.
Joao Fonseca had already beaten Dominic Stricker in the opening rubber. Heide's comeback completed a day of two recoveries from a set down and left Brazil one win from the 2027 Qualifiers. Wawrinka, playing his final Davis Cup tie, had put himself in a strong position before the match turned.
Six points that changed the match
After taking the opening set, Wawrinka led 4–1 in the second-set tie-break. Heide then won six consecutive points to take it 7–4 and force a deciding set. Afterwards, the Brazilian described the result as the biggest win of his life, according to ge.
The official statistics underline how difficult Wawrinka was to break. The Swiss player hit 13 aces to Heide's six and saved nine of the ten break points he faced. Yet Heide finished with 95 points won, five more than his opponent. His single service break proved enough to complete the comeback. The official match record lists a duration of two hours and 38 minutes.
Brazil still needs the deciding point
The Brazilian Tennis Confederation's published schedule has play resuming on Saturday, September 19, at 2 p.m. Brasília time, with Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos facing Jakub Paul and Dominic Stricker in doubles. A Brazilian win would clinch the tie; a Swiss victory would leave the reverse singles to decide it.
The prize is a place in the 2027 Qualifiers. Brazil's 2–0 advantage brings that target within reach, but qualification has yet to be secured.