Morocco took an early lead against Colombia in their Davis Cup World Group I play-off after Reda Bennani won the opening singles match on Saturday.
The 18-year-old beat Colombia’s Adria Soriano Barrera in straight sets, 7-5 7-6, to give Morocco a 1-0 advantage in the tie, which decides qualification for World Group I.
Bennani held his nerve in two tight sets, showing strong resistance under pressure to secure Morocco’s first win of the contest.
Morocco reached the play-offs after an impressive run last year, beating Zimbabwe 4-0 and South Africa 4-1 to move within one tie of the world’s second tier of national teams.
Victory over Colombia would place Morocco in World Group I, where teams compete for a chance to reach the Davis Cup Finals, contested by the top 16 nations.
The Davis Cup, first held in 1900 and organised by the International Tennis Federation, is the oldest international team competition in tennis and is often described as the sport’s World Cup.
